The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1911-08-08

Bryan said in The Commoner about
Underwood:
The action of Chairman Under
wood in opposing an immediate ef-
fort to reduce the iron and steel
schedule reveals the real Under
wood. Speaker Clark and other tar
iff reformers tried to secure the
passage of a resolution instructing
the ways and means committee to
take up other schedules, includ-
ing the iron and steel schedule,
but Underwood and Fitzgerald, of
New. York, the Fitzgerald who saw
ed Cannon in the last Congress
succeeded in defeating the resolu-
ton.
Mr.. Kitchen, a member of the
committee reminded Mr. Under
wood that he had told the country
that all his worldly goods were
tied up in the iron and steel indus
try and that a failure 20 report a
bill covering that schedule might
be attributed to his correction with
the business, but even this did not
move him.
Some of the Democrats thought
Mr.. Bryan did Mr.. underwood an
injustice when he charged him
with being tainted with protection
what do these democrats think
now-since Mr. Underwood has put
himself at the head Of the opposi-
ton to Speaker Clark's tariff re-
duction program?
The tariff on wool was the cam.
els nose. The animal is trying to-
enter the tent. The unmasking of
Chairman Underwood will serve
a useful purpose If it arouses the
Democrats to an understanding
of the mistake made in putting Mr..
Underwood at the head of the COM
mittee-if it solidifies his policy Of
delay.
The most effective way to shear
of his power is to change the cau-
Gus rules so as to require a public
record vote on every question af-
fecting the party's policy. Protec-
ton is a nocturnal; it shuns the
light. A record vote, open to the
newspapers would have enabled
Clark to have carried his resolu-
ton. The caucus rules ought to be
changed at once.
The above article appeared in the
Jommoner of August 4 and was bas'
ID on the following special dispatch
rom Washington to the Philadelphia
nuuirer, under date OF July rs. The
dispatch said:
Champ Clark, speaker Of the
house, and Oscar W. Underwood,
floor leader of the democrats IN
that body, came to the parting OF
the ways in the democratic caucus
today, and after bitter fight the
forces controlled by Underwood
were victorious.
The battle in the caucus was the
most serious the democratic party
has witnessed since 1t came into
control of the house. Sjeaker Clark
had introduced a resolution call
ing on the ways and means COM
mittee, Of which Underwood Is
chairman, to report bills revising
the steel and iron schedule and
measures revising all the other
schedules; he was completely
bowled over by the Underwood
forces and the sum total of posi-
tive action in the caucus was the
unanimuos vote in favor of consid-
ing the cotton bill.
1t was decided, os result of
the vote that dowred the Clark
resolution, that the democrats Of
the house would not pass any more
bills revising the. tariff after the
cotton bill has been acted upon.
The vote upon this proposition
was close; though 1t was taken vi
va voce, the Underwood victory
was clear.
Claude Kitchin, of North Caro-
lima made a speech, bitter in which
he said that the chairman Of the
ways and means committee, lMr.
Underwood, had proclaimed to the
country the fact that all his money
was tied UP in the steel business,
his district including the big mills
at Birmingham, Ala, and that un-
less the steel and iron schedules
were revised the nation would
gather the impression that the
democratic party had been side
tracked by its floor leaders con-
nections. 1.-THE Democrats would
know that such an impression
would not be justif; ed by the fact"
said Kitchin in an effort to take
the sharp, edge off Of his remarks,
but the impression would 60 into
1t nevertheless.
The only way we can offset
such an impression, said Kitchin,
"is to revise the steel and iron
schedules at once" The remarks
Of Mr.. Kitchin did not change the
position of Mr.. Underwood. He
made it clear that he was acting in
the best interests of the country,
stating that there was no necessity
for further tariff action at the
present time. He was strongly
supported by Representative Fitz-
gerald, of New York, chairman OF
the appropriations committee, who