The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-08-11
Parents Neither Rich Nor Poor

|
 l streams
 Parents Neither Rich Nor Poor 1 MT. Underwood is. the product of
 neither poverty nor anluence. Ills l parents belonged to that great body 1 of Americans known as well-to-do. They were neither rich nor poor Of Virginia stock, they removed to Ken | lucky, where the majority leader or l the House was born on May 6. 1862.
 The youthful lawmaker did not have | to work his way through college. He
 was offered the most liberal education As Mr. Underwood expressed 1t: | T did not have to battle for my
 education, but had sense enough to I take it."
 | Leaving the University of Virginia Mir Underwood took up love and law at the same time. The combination
 was confusing but enticing. The Sher-
 man antitrust act was not then in effect He hung out an ornamental | brass plate proclaiming he was an at | torney He found 1t cost twice as much to keep two as one. He was not l discouraged. He settled down to the steady grind of advising clients, eX- amining witnesses and saying pleasant things to judges in Birmingham. He made his own way and did not have
 to fall back on his people for assist
 ance or seek aid from his wife's rela- I tions. From the age of 23 he has
 been self-supporting.
 | In 10 years MT. Underwood estab lished a lucrative practice. He became | a substantial citizen. He took no part | in politics beyond attending a conven tion now and then or making a speech l for some friend seeking office. And then, in 1895, he went to Congress as | a democrat.
 Career Based on Mathematics Mathematics is not only the corner- stone but the entire foundation of MT. | Underwoods public career. Figures naturally flocked to him like humming birds to a pretty girl in pink dress Percentages, averages and net results | simply oozed from his brow. He could master a difficult problem more read | ily than any boy in his class at col | lege. It was a gift, a legacy of for | tune that has made him famous. | On entering the House of Represen- tatives Underwood took up the study of economic questions as a hobby. He delved into revenue and taxation topics
 He adopted specific and ad valorem as his twin children. He became de-
 votee at shrine of the tariff. His spc- cialty won him membership on the ways and means committee. He fought the battles of the minor ity, of which he was also whip, in the sad and sorrowful days when Uncle Joe" Cannon was the czar and
 democrats were but little more numer-
 ous than widows in India. And then
 came the revolution and the landslide
 MT Underwood became chairman of the
 committee where he once sat at the
 foot of the table. He rose as master
 full figure in the House. He overshad-
 owed the speaker, shorn of his locks
 In four brief months he increased this
 prestige, until last week MT. Mann, the
 republican leader declared that MT
 Underwood was the majority" And
 there be few who begrudge him the
 honors attained.
 Personal Appearance
 Forty-nine years of age, but not
 looking a day beyond 40, MT. Under
 wood stands exactly six feet in height
 and weighs 195 pounds. No cotton bat
 ting Is required to demonstrate that his
 shoulders are broad. He is well pro-
 portioned and looks the trained ath-
 lete. His abundant light hair is part
 ed so nearly on an even keel that en- vious and haldheaded persons assert it is divided in the middle. It is patted down to nicety. His forehead is broad and regular. His face is round and
 smooth, with a clear complexion that speaks well for his habits. His mouth is firm. His eyes are of the huctuating type Hazel, they take on darker col ors according to the light His smile is pleasant and frequent; his teeth are regular and his chin indicates no char lacterstic.
 | The enemies of MT. Underwood say he | is a dude. He denies the charge He wears his watch on a lapel chain: a neat pearl, set in gold, his scarf, and broad, substantial black shoes, so much affected by southern gentlemen. He wears tan shoes only when his others I are being half-soled. He clings to the | old time weakness of having a Sunday suit. On that day he comes forth in l black coat, flannel trousers and white shoes. On pleasant evenings he wears a Tuxedo coat. He does this more ire
 quently than any other member of the l House