The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-12-27
UNDERWOOD IS
GUEST OF HONOR
Democratic Floor Leader Raps
Initiative and Re-
ferendum
SENATOR SWANSON
AMONG SPEAKERS
He Refers to Alabama Repre-
sentative As Good Presi-
Dental Timber-En-
joyable Occasion

Principles of the initiative and
referendum were ridteuled ny Con
xressman Oscar w. Underwood. OF
Alabama a Democratic presidential
posi- bility, at banquet given in MS
honor at the Commonwealth Club last
night by Mr. Malvern {. Patterson
the Richmond tobacconist, his hihs-
man by marriage.
Nothing, he believed, was more
dangerous than this system which
was being tried In several States, par
ticuiarly in Oregon, where its foi-
lies had already been shown.
ANYBODY, he said, would sign
petition, and that was how such Il
system was first set in motion. lie
then cited an instance down In Ala
bama when he was asked 10 sign
petition for postoffice in dlstrict
beyond the bounds of his own CON
stituency.
When he baked on this account
he was told that he had just as wei
go ahead and sign IL. anu stop MS
foolishness. as IL MADE no %HIIefehc@
where the sixners lived. In fact eV-
cry man in that part of the country.
including the negroes, vas signing
the paper. and there was no reason
why he should hold OF.
This. the Alabama eohgressi'a
said. was a fair illustration OF the
WAY the initiative would work.
While he was opposed to tRe re-
cali system On general principles, MT
Underwood saw no harm in the rel
erendum as applied to the Legislature
when II came to questions OK ia' go
moment, particularly In the matter Ok
big bond issues and other puphe I'M
provement measures
The organic law was good enough
TO stand by. and 1t MAS good enough
for him. Indeed. it Was rather the
peoples duty to exert themselves ana
see that good officials are placed in
offies. and then the law will look after
itself. There was no better bul"arh
for the nation. In his opinion. than
the constitution drafted by Thomas
jefferson, a native tGSiniah
MIR. Underwood WAS introduced as
"A Southern Democrat. and he Ger
tAiniy made good, II the liberal APP
plxusa and cordial reception no re-
ceiyed at the hands of the one hun
dred guests assembled around the ban
quet table are a criterion.
Swanson Speaks
Senator Swanson, who preceded Mr..
Underwood, referred TO the distin-
guixhed Alabamian as excellent presi-
dental timber. The Senator did not
usa this language exactly, but that
was the meaning his words conveyed
IL was practically the only allusion To
the presidential possibilities of the
honored guest OF the occasion.
The Senator WAS especially proud
that Mr.. Underwood was South
erner. educated al the University of
Virginia. Then he proposed a dry
80 txfh 3rh h.Nxa sxk2s ,fxrt L.
Byrd. patron of the Byrd liquor law.
to join HIM In this. however. he was
mistaken. for all the assembled guests.
to a man. arose and drank their cham
payne dry" much to the astonish-
ment of the Junior Senator from Vir-
gtnia-
Mr.. Byrd First Speaker.
Mr.. Eppa Hunton, in the capacity
OF POSTMASTER. first introduced MIR.
Richard Evelyn Byrd. who defended
Democratic principles and incidental
ly paved the way for more oratory OF
the same variety.
Then followed the Rev. Dr. George
W. Mcdaniel. pastor OF First Baptist
church. who displayed q familiarity
with Democratic principles and doc
trines that astonished his hearers. In
fact. the doctors talk was pronounced
the best of the evening. with the
possible exception OF that which flowed
from the lips Of the honored guest.
As he wasl eavinE the hall at the
close Of the banquet Or. Mcdaniel
was showcred with CONGRATULATIONS
on every hand and was even mention
ed ~ a presidential possibility iiims
self. To this he dryly replied that he
had rather be pastor than be pres
ident.
Tells His Teddy Joke.
Mr.. c. d. Langhorne. father OF the
famous Langhorne beauties told some
OF his inimitablo jokes which were
well received. az usual. Among them
was his celebrated Roosevelt joke.
On one occasion several years ago.
he said. It 70 happened that Mr..
Roosevelt came down from Washing
ton to spend q few days at Pine
Knot in Albemarle. 1t also SO hap
pened that he (Mr. LanEhorne) was
spending q few days at his estate in
the same county. 1t likewise befell
that he was too busy duriny this
period to 90 and cali on Mr.. Roose-
welt.
Feeling somewhat aperieved at the
slight, Mr.. Roosevelt asked one OF the
Langhorne girls what had become
Of their father.
why, he IL just too busy for any
thing in the world and can't find
time to 90 anywhere" was the ready
reply.
Whereupon, Mr.. Roosevelt remark
I'd. with an unusual display OF teeth:
why. thought had broken up all
the business In the country long ago."
At the close Of Mr.. Underwood's
talk. Mr.. Hunton proceeded to rap
his friend. Egbsrt Leigh, for insist
Ing before the banquet that he should
be allowed ct least five minutes to
expound hts Views.
'<Of course. the request was per-
smptorily refused" said Hunton. but
4 reckon We can stand him for a
little while"
Mr.. Leigh enjoyed the joke along
with the rest Of them. hut he dis
covered that some one wanted to SEE
him Outside the banquet room Just
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