The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-10-29

Of the nerviest acts of his career. Bryan charged him with blocking a revision or the iron and steel schedule because of his personal interests in the industry. In view of Underwoods record such a charge was ridiculous, but Underwood took his political life in his hands by | answering the attack on the floor of tho House and calling Bryan liar.
 His convincing statement of the tase demonstrated beyond doubt that he hao done more than anybody else to have the ways and means committee take up the lowering of duties on iron and steel. It was a very dramatic moment when he called on Claude Kitchin. whom Bryan had given as authority for his statement. to give the facts.
 Kitchin is q strong Bryan man. When he arose and declared that there was | mot a word of truth in the statement
 and that MT. Bryan was misinformed," the whole democratic side burst into pro- | onged applause.
 l It called for no little courage for Un- | derwood to assail Bryan as he did-a man who, however great his merits, was only 1 just becoming a national figure. to attack
 the leader of his party. To one who knows 1 Underwood the event was all the more re-
 markable, for he is no "scrapper." He
 never shirked a fight in his life and he
 never sought one. Mr. Bryan made a
 serious mistake when he picked out the quiet man from Birmingham as a good
 candidate for his bludgeon.
 | Mir. Underwoods second wife is her l husbands real helpmeet. She helps him | at his work, but does it in thoroughly l feminine way and Is not in the least inter-
 ested in modern female fads. She is fond
 of psychology and philosophy. is widely
 travelled, but cares nothing whatever for womens clubs or any of the ordinary in-
 teiIectual activities of women.
 l Underwood Is ore of the most genial
 men in the world and fine companion, 1 but nobody has any stories to tell about
 him. He 10 yes a good story and his laugh
 ut one is quicker and louder than that of
 anybody else in the company where 1t ,s
 told, but he never tells one. He never
 condescends to anybody. The humblest l man who goes to meet him is received on | precisely the same terms as the greatest
 He has only one manner; 1t is the same
 to bootblack as to President
 He never pretends to be story teller a good fellow, or, for that matter, a high I brow; he is the same yesterday, today
 and forever. I have come to the conclu-
 sion after many years of acquaintance with him that this unity of manner ls 1 not due to any policy, but simply to the fact that Oscar Underwood cannot ,nder any circumstances be other than himself; | that there is only one Underwood and that that one is on exhibition all tht timc; and that if he ever had any momen-
 tary disposition to turn another side of himself to the public he abandoned it be-
 cause he found out that it was not pos
 sible to do such thing. It might be lpossible for other people, but not for 1 Oscar Underwood | He is very likely to be the next Presi- | dent of the United States. The indus A.&1 t.. n..l~- ~t<~. t- | his only bar to that distinction now We
 may as we'll give up talking about liar l mon.
 Tt will be democratic year unless all | the soothsayers are wrong.
 | That being the case it is worth while "a l know that the successor of William H. | Taft is quite likely to be sober minded 1 man of ripe experience; and gentleman
 who does not need to remind people of | the fact.