The Meeker herald., 1911-09-09
The New Democratic Leader In
Congress

Descendant OF PROUD race, OTCef
w. Underwood Is the intellectual
superior of those of his forbears who
have figured prominently In Ameri-
can history and Is probably blessed
with more of the genius Of leadership
than was any other chairman Of the
Ways and Means Committee since
the Civil War. This may read like
heresy to the admirers Of william
L. Wilson, William r. Morrison,
Samuel J. Randall, Roger Q. Mills,
william Mckinley, and Nelson
Dingely, but II they will readjust
their spectacles and anaiyze the facts
they will be forced to admit their ID
justification for the statement.
Mr.. Underwood is credited with be-
ing better informed on the tariff than
any other living Democrat. This re-
putation is not entirely due to the
fact that he is chairman Of the Ways
and Means Committee Of the lower
House Of Congress; rather has the
exalted office come to him as the re-
suit of years Of study and experience
in the making of tariff measures. 1t
is doubtful II more capable and
highly trained expert-Democrattc,
Whig or Republican-ever attained
to the position and certain 1t IL t:iat
none before him has ever welded 20
much power before. For, be It
known. the Ways and Means Com
mittee Is also Committee on Commit
tees In the Sixty-second Congress.
Therefore, as chairman, he practical
ly directed the appointments to all
other committees-a right which
| vested in the speaker of every Con-
gress from the Second to the present
one and 80 wisely was the work
done that those who hastened to CEN
sure are now glad to praise.
In the past few months, Mr.. Under
wood has taken the country by the
ears with his vigorous replies to Will
liam Jenning Bryan. Twice has the
Nebraskan attacked him and twice
has the same Nebraskan come out
second best; in the latter encounter,
at least, was he called anything but .
truthful person In as highly polished
and categorical language as parlia-
mentary usuage would permit IN
Underwood has Bryan fe1nd -
- M, n r. 6tes xh1 = -
! be seek not to be : foe, dodgss NO
battle for fear Of adverse political
consequences.
One big thing about this astute
statesman Of the South is that he
steers such an even course, pilots 10
such a mastery fashion. as to win
the unqualified admiration even Of
his bitterest political opponents. Re-
dictionary Republicans indulge on the
floor of the House in q lot Of high
sounding ridicule of his acts, but in
the protected confines of the cloak
room they tell an entirely different
story. On one recent memorable oc-
casion, when the Farmers free List
bill was under discussion, brilliant
and stand patting John Dalzell testi-
fed publicly to his regard for Mr..
Underwood's courtesy and ability.
Another big thing about Underwood
is that he is seeing that the Demo-
crafts of the House make good their
party's chief pledge-genuine down.
ward revision of tariff.
Have you ever seen this person of
whom you heard comparatively little
SO late as a year ago, but who has
quickly become the second most
powerful man In the land, President
Taft being first? II you have, you
have beheld clean-cut' well-groom-
ed, soberiy attired, scholarly looking
gentleman. 1 will pass rapidly over
that correctly trimmed hair, parted
in the middle and plastered tight to
his Uranium; that clean-shaven face
with the smile which has never worn
Of; that freshly pressed suit and
those glistehing boots. Much has
been written about them. It Is only
worth while to say they are not In
the least due to affectation. This
neatnes simply bespeaks the we'll
bred, orderly man. And above all
things is Underwood orderly. 1t has
been said of him that he started life |
with card index system for his
marbles, his horseshoe nails and his
jack-knives. Under many y chair
man was there chaos In the offices of
the Ways and Means Committee.
bnt to-day these resemble the suite
Of Wall street bankef.-From "Un-
wood, of Alabama, Democracy New
Chieftain," by r o b 8 t Wickliffe |
Woolley, in the American Review Of
Reviews for September.
Still, few would have heard Of the