The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-04-24
HE POLITICAL SITUATION

4
Unless some unforeseen occurrence inter
venes TO prevent, it is now certain that Mr.
Coolidge will receive the Republican nomi
nation for president. Last week the mum
Der of delegates instructed for him totalet
eight more than the requisite majority, while
indications are that several score will ye,
receive similar instructions. Therefore, it il
now Coolidge against the Democratic fielt
and also a possible progressive third party
headed by LaFollette.
On the Democratic side, however, there
has also been a narrowing down, so that
Mr.. Underwood, for a number of reasons
appears to be steadily progressing towards
the coveted goal. AS between Mr.. Coolidge
with an administration that has much to its
dscredit, and Mr.. Underwood, representa-.
tive of. party against whose constructive
administrative record no charge of wrong
doing has been found, it is evident that the
distinguished senator from Alabama Occur
pies a strong position. Mr.. Coolidge's fail
ure to inquire theoretically into the in
tegrity of public servants and his reluctance
to assume the vigorous policy the situation
has evidently called for, have served to
modify what was at first a generally APP
proving attitude on the part of the people.
Any hint Of tolerance towards betrayal of
high public trust is not likely to appeal to
citizens defrauded of honest administration
of public affairs. There is no suspicion of
any sort against Mr.. Coolidge, but there is
active disrelish of his cautious hesitancy in
the face of astounding revelations as to the
official conduct of his advisers.
Mr.. Coolidge has given the irregular ele-
ments in his party just the opportunity they
have been looking for. If they cannot be
led as they believe they should be led, these
men will prefer to split the party and lose
the election, rather than keep the party in
tact and sacrifice the purposes for which
they have worked Nor will their sacrifice
be as great as may at first appear, for
they serve constituency that will stand
by them, no matter what course they may
take; therefore, their own seats are SAFE
Whether Republicans or Democrats are in
power, the Republican irrcgulars occupy
much the same position They have the fac
ulty of allying themselves with either the
majorty or the minority on the various
questions that arise, basing their support or
their opposition upon the merits of the issue
as interpreted through the medium of their
principles, prejudiccs or predictions.
When it comes to test of solidarity, how
ever. it has been found that the Democrats
cling together more clannishly than the Re
publcans. schism led by LaFollette is al
most tantamount to a national victory for
the Democrats, unless they should commit
some Unprecedented blunder. If the Demo-
Gratis Keep themselves resolutely free from
the dictation of bosses and from any affilia-
tion secondary to considerations of good gov
eminent, then their success will folloT de-
voted effort Underwood has beeAs falsely
called a conservative. That is not true. He
is progressive in the true sense of the
word. He does not cut himself loose from
all proved moorings in order to swing into
the maeistrom of political experiment, but
he is easily arleader among statesmen who
are really constructive. If to be a progress
sive is to be always proclGimins or lauding
some new thing, the newer and more bizarre
the hotter, then this nation needs to be
saved from the ultra-progressives.
What this nation needs is not to be led
into untried paths, but to have its feet set
solidly in the road which the compass of
civilization unerringly shows to be right
The human race is not marching towards an
indefinite goal, but towards destiny that
is very definite. We need only to move as
the light guides, knowing by experience that
we carry our own lantern, and that, as we
step forward, so in equal degree does the
illumination by which we progress move like
wise We need not strain our eyes to peer
into the shadows. Far better would we use
our eyes to discern the objects within our
range of vision, that we may recognize and
use them. 1t is thus that civilization has
found its way and won its prizes of lasting
merit Even within the circle of light lie
detectives quite remote enough to exercise
our intelligent speculation. 1t is believed
that Oscar Underwood is sufficiently. close
to earth to be practical and on an elevation
sufficiently high to qualify him for efficient
leadership. That is what the nation needs
today ~