The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-06-20

ent. The republicans had to admit in
 their hearts that MT. Underwood had
 done more in short length of time than l the tariff board had accomplished during it's entire existence. His excuses for
 the board served only to reflect greater
 credit on the great Alabama tariff legis- l lator.
 But I intended to say something about | Nr J'nderwood's personality. and his method of work.
 One word covers this feature of the man. Work.
 ,fe has been always plodder-a plodder after facts. When he gets a fact it never gets away from him. On his feet in debate no interrupting interrogation sur prises him or finds him lacking for quick and satisfying reply. His store of ready information on all tariff matters Is not only a surprise but a shock to the men who have heretofore claimed all the power and ability for such important legislation.
 As I said before, MT. Underwood never tells a story. A few weeks ago one of the brightest newspaper men in Washing ton, serving a New York paper, saw MT. Underwood boarding a train at the union station for New York. The newspaper man thought he saw an opportunity to get close to the Alabama leader while he was away from duty and, for the moment free from the duties of leadership. He boarded the train with MT. Underwood, and appropriated him in a cozy corner of the Pullman. He tried to draw MT. Underwood out. He tried to get him to tell an anecdote. He fshed tor gossip about himself. The quest was useless. 1 There was plenty of logis, sound philoso- phy, out never a story. The newspaper
 man was disappointed. He returned to
 Washington without reporting his failure i to his paper.
 Samuel c. Blythe, in one of his char acter sketches charges that MT. Under wood is very fond of dogs and has a large kennel of bull dogs at his home in Birmingham. MT. Blythe is one of the most resourceful writers in the country but he straihed himself for material here. MT. Underwood not only has no dog, but has never owned one since he was a small boy and that was a common cur.
 MT. Underwood is not a sport. He some- times plays golf but I am told that he does not play well or with relish. He avoids social functions. He dislikes fat tery but Is always pleased with words Of approval from his constituents.
 He dresses simply but faultlessly and Is extremely systematical in his work. A book or paper out of place on his desk will not be tolerated. He cannot work until everything is in its place. sitting square and just where it belongs. A useless string on the farther end of the table in his private office must be re- moved before he can be at ease.
 If has been said of him that one hair on the wrong side of the dividing line dan gerously near the middle of his moon shaped" head must be replaced with a quiet stroke of the hand before he can make the motion to adjourn that is part of his duty as leader of the majority. Every letter that is received in his days mail must be answered and the answer mailed that day. If 1t calls for some i'm formation that requires longer time an acknowledgement of the request must be | mailed at once. He is religiously care
 full about this and his desk is remark
 ably clean of accumulated correspon- dence. Indeed, his desk contains but very few papers or books of any nature. It appears always as though it had just been cleared for instant action on new business.
 After vote on Schedule K is taken Tuesday or Wednesday, Oscar Under wood, the chairman of the ways and means committee ana the ledder or the
 House majority, will run over to Atlantic City for few days rest. Mrs. Under wood is now at Atlantic City for the summer.
 The friends of MT. Underwood who may have fears that the strenuous duties that have fallen upon him during and preceding the assembling of the special session, are trying on his health are very much mistaken. He is not only looking unusually well but declares that he is
 feeling in first-class shape, though he declares that a few days rest will help him to hold his present good condition. | MT. Underwood is the hardest working | man in Washington. but he can accomp- | fish so much without apparent effort that | 1t does not wear him. He is like a ma | chine that remains in the best condition ] while it Is In operation.
 | The experts in the ways and means l committee room are now busy assem- bling statistics and fisures in the forma- l tion of the cotton schedule of the tariu
 and that will be the next to place be-
 fore the House.
 There are 14 schedules and the wool O | Schedule K is the first to be considered There are 13 yet remaining. This does
 not include the Canadian reciprocity and
 free list bills which also affect the tariff.