Omaha daily bee., 1911-08-04
IT MAY HAVE BEEN MISTAKE
Says Alabama Man Can Have il Read
in House and Deny It.
WROTE EDITORIAL HIMsEIF
If it Was Based Upon an Error He
Will Retract It.
HAS OTHER THINGS To SAY
VIII Take nm EARLY Opportunity tn
Give Mr Underwood some other
Matters to Discuss-whnt
Report said.

CHICAGO, Aug. s.-winiam Jennings
Bryan today replied 10 the criticism OF
Representative Underwood made In tho
house yesterday by declaring that the
statements which Mr.. Underwood criticised
were based on a Washington dispatch
which appeared in an Omaha paper.
III that report is Incorrect" said MIR.
Bryan, Il take II for granted that Mr..
| Underwood will read the report before the
house and deny it. II the report is correct,
l have nothing to withdraw. II It is erro-
neous, 1 shall withdraw my criticism OF
Mr.. Underwood so far as It is based on
his action in that particular case. What
ever the outcome of this particular Instance
1 do not withdraw my criticism of Mr..
Underwood on other occasions, and intend
to take early opportunity to give him some
other things to discuss
Wrote 1T Himself.
| Mr.. Bryan took full responsibility for
| the editorial which caused the stir in con-
| gress. and was quick to call for an ex-
plicit denial by Mr. Underwood OF the re-
port on which the editorial was based.
Yes, I read the report of Mr.. Under
woods speech in the morning papers," said
Mr. Bryan. THE criticism to which he
refers is contained in an editorial which I
wrote myself.
THE report on which the editorial was
based" said Mr.. Bryan. appeared last
week after the house caucus OF July 25.
l am not sure of the exact date, but 1t was
not earlier than Wednesday of last week
and not later than Sunday morning The
| dispatch from Washington said that
| Speaker Clark offered resolution-a mod
| ifcation of or substitute for a resolution
| by another Notwithstanding the ways
and means committee to proceed with the
preparation of other bills. The dispatch
| stated that Mr. Clark was supported by a
| number of members. but that Representa-
tives Underwood and Fitzgerald led a fight
against the resolution and defeated 1t.
The report also quotes Congressman
Kitchin as insisting on the introduction OF
| a bill reducing the tariff on iron and steel.
| and quotes Mr.. Kitchin as calling attention
to Mr.. underwood's holdings ~ the eseet
company. and as expressing the fear that
in case of failure TO proceed with the re-
duction Of the tariff on iron and steel such
failure might be attributed to Mr.. Under
woods interests in the business. My edi-
torial was based on this published report"
Mr.. Bryan was in the city between trains
and Is now on his way to Iowa.
Underwood Stands Firm,
'EASiliNEION' aug. S-Democratic
Leader Underwood today stood squareiy
upon his answer to w. J. Bryan's attack
upon MIN on the iron and steel tariff re-
VISION de had little comment to make
on Mr. Bryan's interview in Chicago to-
oay' IN which the Nebraskan again chal-
lenged his position.
Mr.. Bryan says ought to give a fun
report Of the caucus to the house" Mr.
Underwood said. "I did give a report vea-
terday, and my statements were confirmed
by the other members OF my party as 10
what took place in the caucus have NOT
seen the newspaper dispatch upon which
Mr. Bryan based his criticism OF me. but'
judging from his statements il did No.
agree with the facts"
Mr.. Underwood would not discuss Mr..
Rryan's declaration that he had othe,
points Of difference with him.