The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-30
VIEW OF VETERAN NEWSPAPER MAN Underwood Now FOmida-
 ble Man in Field HE DESERVES PRAISE Washington Writer Tells Age Herald Correspondent Why Alabama Is
 In Such Strong
 Position
HE DESERVES PRAISE
By WALTER HARPER

Washington. November 9-.tSpecial.)- One of the wisest and best informed of the old time newspaper correspondents in Washington was discussing the deniocrat- ic presidential possibilities with group Of the younger correspondents tonight. Tt is my honest opinion that Oscar ". Underwood of Alabama has as good show for the next democratic nomination for President as any man that has been men, tioned," he said
 MT. Underwood has suddenly devel- oped into the strongest man in the party as legislative worker and manager He mas been able to hold. the democratic forces in Congress together and accom- plish things at a time when most men would have failed His generalship has been indeed remarkable And it has not failed to draw the attention of the coun- try to him.
 "Withcut any effort on his part he has almost as suddenly developed into a most formidable presidential possibility. He has given no encouragement to the boom that his friends have started for him. He has declared that his duty is in his place on the floor of the House and as chairman of the ways and means committee. He is indeed needed there now and will be every day of the coming session. It is his fidelity to duty and his ability to remain firm ard unconcerned with the clamor of public approval ringing about his head that makes the man of such peculiar presidential; size.
 '"The fact that he is conducting no pub- licity campaign and will not permit it will be greatly beneficial to his cause when the time comes for the party to se- lect it's leader. There is hardly any ques- tion hut that the next convention will be divided on the first one or two ballots. No man can go to the convention with two thirds majority. When the deadlock comes the convention will necessarily look about for candidate who will be strong enough to lead the party to success and at the same time carry the support of all or a majority of the factions represented In the convention.
 Most of the aspirants for the office have been and will continue active in pub licty campaigns. They will say some hard things about each other and more or less feeling will be aroused among them.
 When Underwood's name is urged as it certainly will be. he will stand clean before the convention. His friends nave said nothing to Injury any other aspir- ant. The delegates of the other canli- dates can combine on his name better than on that of any other man whose friends as publicity agents have been ac- tive in boosting their respective favorites and perhaps have not been too careful in renecting cn the availability of the other candidates
 MT. Underwood will stand before the convention with record of good and faithful deeds, of course, assuming that te gees through the next session of Con gress with the same mastery of the sit utaion as he handled the last session.
 Underwood is growing every day. He deserves all that is being said of him. His popularity is growing in the east and west well as in the south. Sectional ism seems to have been forgotten. It is all outweighed by the personality and ability of the man, and this is as it should be.
 Tt will not surprise me one bit if Un- derwood is the final unanimous choice Of the convention after the other favorites have run their course in the convention. ''