The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-06-20
UNDERWOOD NOW
 MOST TALKED OF MAN IN CAPITAL.
tCoyTrsUEp FROM PAGE D

but every member who is in reach of the capitol and is aware that MT. Under wood is to speak crowds into his place and hangs on every word. He never tells a story unless it is logical and religious ly apropos to the argument. The same speech recited by any other man on the floor would fall on empty benches and an indifferent few that have no other way to pass the time. In substance 1t is his thought, his unquestioned knowl- edge of the subject in hand his firm con- viction, his earnestness.
 Republican leaders on the floor of both houses have for number of years fndulged in sneers of democratic leader ship. MT Cannon, the late speaker or the House, and czar of American legisla- tion, has repeatedly declared that the democrats had no leader or the ability to follow a leader if one should arise. He and others have declared and with con- viction that no man in the democratic party had the ability to frame tariff leg islation
 Even the members of the republican dominated ways and means committee did . not realize that there was a moon Meaded," quiet member of their helpless minority who was all the time storing strength and information that would not only fit him for wise constructive tariff legislation but would prepare him for the undisputed leadership of his party.
 Through all the years that Mir. Under wood &vas a minority member of the s, zass/ and means committee he studied tariff legislation under the midnight oil. He studied it because he liked It. Per haps he was wise enough to foresee the leadership that awaited him-the oppor- tunity that should not find him lacking
 He was not admitted into the councils Of the majority deliberations on tariff questions. He had not the advantage of the information that was brought before the committee except such as was dropped in the public conferences. He had to go 1t independently. It is no won der that his colleagues of the republican party stand aghast at his profound knowledge. He had had no opportunity.
 But like Moses, he was ready to an- swer the call of his party and lead it through the dangerous rapids of its peril ous career. History repeats itself in pro- ducing the man for the crisis.
 MT. Cannon has honestly admitted the worth and power of Mir Underwood on the floor of the House. In speaking of the wood schedule, perhaps the most inn portant and difficult in the Underwood tariff measure, the New York Sun said a few days ago that 1t would neither praise or condemn it." Leading republic an members of the House and Senate freely admit that MT. Underwood is leader without a peer.
 He leads because he does not assume to lead. He does it with silence, calm ness and that mysterious force that car ries no chastisement.
 Power does not intoxicate him. Sue cess and praise brings no additional col or to his face; criticism no paleness to his cheek. No man has ever yet caught him off his guard to iritate him or eX- cite him to boastng.
 His friends and his political enemies declare that he Is the one man that his party needs. More than one erstwhile would-be leader has realized this fact and has quailed in his presence.
 Nicholas Longworth of Ohio, the son. in-law of Col. Theodore Roosevelt, made vigorous attack on MT. Underwood and his wool schedule on the floor of the House last Friday afternoon. He re- ceived but little applause even from the republican side. His argument was weak and ineffective He hinged it on a weak defense of the tariff board. eritcising Mir