The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-16
Forum Of The People
Democratic Primaries

1 1O tHc Ol 1Ho ASc-11cId1u
 Just a few words on the fly-leaf of a scrap book. In The Age-Herald of today, in the column of Forum of the People, read G. l T. McElderrys letter, Barred From the Democratic Primary" In my opinion MT McElderry's views are correct so far as they go. There is more truth than poetry in what he says, and might add, his style of writing is more poetic than prosy. -' r'
 To an old farmer sitting on the bridge of sighs" as looker-on in Venice, sweet city of the sea, reading the inscriptions on the political floats as they pass by in the unique and wonderfully mixed parade, we see new figures and features and strange bedfellows. The old regime is passing away and the new is progressing.
 There was a time when the voters of the South could be wrapped in political napkin and laid away for future delivery. Not so today. The science of government has pro- gressed, as was so clearly demonstrated in the Smith Underwood pact in the national convention of the Democratic party at New York City few months ago. A mistake was made in assuming that the South was "hog- tied," and could be delivered to any 'saugh- ter house," at any time, at any place, by any candidate. Remember the one hundred and second ballot in the Democratic presidential nomination in New York City lest ye fall by the wayside. Now what are the real condi- tions? I can simply give the opinion of an old farmer, perfectly free from the ism and cism, and Klans and Rotaries,. and subsidized chambers of commerce. I-mean those things that rusty, crusty, hard-boiled political law yers get into just before election time in or der to lead the "Israelites out of the wilder ness" Those fellows who go to the Alabama legislature and come home as retained coun- sel for many corporate interests.
 1 We will aSSump these lawyers have had or will have the state Democratic executive committee to fix the qualification of the Dem ocratic voters of the state, on the vote for the Democratic nominee for president of the United States All right you 'hog-tied' the Alabama delegation to Underwood. Can you 'hog-tie" the people to Davis?
 Now there are Southern people, Southern temper, and Southern genius perfectly inde- pendent. The humblest tiller of the soil with moderate degree of development of mental and moral character does not yield superior ity to any man so far as his privileges are se- cured under the bill of rights" Though less fortunate, they are of the same blood, bone and sinew that characterizes the dogged- ness and determination ol this Democratic executive committee of the state of Alabama. The gist of the subject-it is so plain to an outsider that 'any one who runs may read" No use covering a serpent with roses. Under | wood tired 10 rlue the hlan issue Into Cne nomination for president with spurs and whip, and the mule threw him. Better let that old mule alone; better let him quietly and peacefully graze in the green pastures by the still waters.
 Hasn't any fool sense enough to see and to know and realize, not by personal contact, but as through radio that the Klan is com posed of the best brain and intellect and morals in the land. If this mandatory quail ification of Democratic voters becomes fact and increases this "hard-boiled attitude would it not be reasonable to suppose that Klansmen who are Democrats would step aside to let the political procession pass, and hold their fire until they could see the white in UnderwoodS eyes ill the next Democratic primary to nominate a new senator from the state of Alabama? don't think these Demo crats are concerned about Coolidge. In writ ing this l simply wish to throw little oil upon the w0ters, and to express a consensus of public opinion in the state of Alabama among the agricultural people.
 Every physician who diagnoses a case should prescribe remedy. I believe if Un- derwood were eliminated from state politics and an honest, outspoken, close man to the hearts of the people of the state were guar anteed in the next race for the United States senate the political situation would be recon ciled, and peace and harmony would reign with a united people.
 JAMES OSCAR PRUDE.
 Tuscaloosa. Ala, Sept. 13, 1924