The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-06-26
Underwoods Opposition To Klan
 Clearly Set Forth By Johnston;
 Phelan Heaps Praise On MAdoo
Former Californian Sen. atOr Halts At BOu-
 quet Throwing PARTY DEPENDS
 ON THIS MAN Complete Understanding Of Nations Needs At- tributed To Ex-Secretary

,
 
 NEW YORK, June 25-William G. McAdoo was placed in nomination for the presidency at the democratic na- tional convention today by Former Sem ator James D. Phelan of California with the decloration that he is the natural leader of progressive thought and achievement"
 'This year demands the return of triumphant democracy" said MT. Phe- Ian. 'The progressives of the nation look to the democratic party for their leader. Shall we give him to them There is room in America for but one reactionary party, and the republicans have pre-empted that field. The party's s chance of success depends upon its choice for candidate for the presidency of this man."
 Traces Career Tracing Mir. McAdoo's carer both in the government service and in private life, Mir. Phelan declared that the vast problems of the continent are his fam iliar themes the prosperity of farm and forest and mine, factors of natural growth and strength and transportation ! and irrigation; these are not strange subjects borne of restricted environ sment and narrow Outlook."
 ''In the broadness of bis vision, his sympathetic understanding, his ag- gressive personality, his burning pa triOtism, he is an ideal American" con- tined the speaker. And so the coun- try will accept him.
 '"The vast machinery of the govern ment rumbles discordantly along the road; the parts do not fit; the crew recreant and rebellious and the chosen chief engineer has been succeeded.
 Where should the people in all prudence turn? Continue the inexperi- enced and inept, or take a trained and tried chief who can at once step into the cab and give command. We want man who knows where he is going and who is going where the people want him to go-capable progressive, confident of his power and alert and eager to serve."
 CIeansed Treasury
 While Mir. McAdoO was secretary of the treasury, the convention was told, he cleansed it of the foul growth of favoritism and repelled the insidious attacks of the powerful, made it the repository of the peoples hopes and the. instrumentality of sound finanse, the safeguard of honest business and industrial prosperity
 "We honor President Wilson who left a great heritage of character and achievement to the democracy" con- tinuel Mir. Phelan, "but we shall not forget the toiIer by his side, the in- splrer of ideas and the doer of things the great Secretary of the Treasury in the most exacting and soul-testing administration since Lincoln's."
 Asserting that Mir. McAdoo under stands the farmers problems liar bet ter than any aspirant for the presi- dency-either democrat or republican, Mir. Phelan added:
 "Erom every side today come urgent demands for adequate solution of agri- cultural problems. What man is bet ter equipped to solve them than this man who was raised on a farm, who during his long administration of the treasury department of the farm loan bureau and of the railroads came into daily contact with farming problems ot every description, and who had then and has now the vision to see the rem edy and the courage to effect it."
 As for MT. McAdoo's administra- tion of the railroads, Mir. Phelan had this to say
 Labor Sentiment Known
 '"The workers knew his sentiments toward labor. He gave them the eight hour rule and overtime and other wise ameliorated their condition. As- suming complete control, he brought order out of chaos, relieved conges- tion, opened ports and loyally support ed his men, successfully moved to tide water-a vital operation-the tied-up troops and supply trains.
 While doing justice to railroad la bor he yet remembered always the interests of the public. It is a strik- ing fact that the total increase in the wages of railroad employees made in 1918 by McAdoo were approximately $6OS, 100000 while his successor furth- CT increased these wages $394, 100000 making the total of all increases under federal control $1,OO2,O 100000.
 "When on March 1, 1920, the rail roads were restord to private control under the Esch- -Cummins act, which ,es- tablished the United States labor board