Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-08-03

representatives. stood up on their
chairs, waved handkerchief and yell
ed at the top of their voices TO-DAY,
thus acclaiming Rep. oscar w. Cnder-
wood Of Alabama, Democratic leader IN
the House. when be fired Feres!
broadside at William Jennings Bryan
for criticizing his position on extension
of the tariff revision program 1t was
the most remarkable scene in the House
since the beginning of the extra session
of Congress. Mr.. Underwood denounced
Mr. Bryans statement as false. de-
Tended his Underwood 81 attitude as
to revision of the iron and steel taflif
schedules, and said Bryan had placed
upon every Democratic MEMBER I'M
plications unfounded in fact. He called
on his Democratic colleagues on the
ways and means committee for eorrob-
Grafton of his attitude in committee
and in caucus.
Mr.. Underwood was backed up in a
similar striking speech by Rep. ktchin
of North Carolina, long devoted
friend of Bryan. Kitehin expressed
surprise that any Democrat should so
malign Mr. Underwood and the party.
Throughout all this arraignment not
voice was raised in defence of MI.
Bryan.
1t all came about from published
interview which purported 10 be 'au-
thorized" by Mr.. Bryan. This said 1t
was time MIR. Underwood was I'm
masked
'tThe action of Chairman Underwood
in opposing an immediate effort TO re-
n oh
the real Underwood, said the alleged
Bryan interview Speaker clark ana
other tariff reformers tried to secure
the passage of a resolution instructlng
the ways and means committee TO take
up other schedules including the iron
and steel schedule. but Underwood ana
Fitzgerald the Fitzgerald who saved
Cannon in the last Congress, succeed
ed III defeating the resolution.
1.-THE unmasking % Chairman Under
wood will serve useful purpose, added
the interview, "if it arouses the Demo-
Gratis to an understanding of the mistake
made in putting Mr. Underwood at the
head of the committee if he solidifies his
policy of delay"
The House listened instantly while the
entire interview was read from the
clerks desk. The Republicans applauded
it, Word of the answer that Underwood
was to make to Bryan had been passed
among Democrats and almost full mem
bership on the Democratic side greeted
the tariff leader. Cheers and applause
which lasted for several minutes greeted
him as he rose TO speak.
When the clerk finished reading the
in I'm n Nj
even tones. opened his speech. In his re-
ply. remarkable for its bitterness and
vigor, it was not more so than the gen.
eral applause which greeted his sareas-
tic references to the Nebraska leader,
and his specific and complete denals of
the charges attributed to MIR. Bryan.
He said that because of the iron and
steel mills in his state. Alabama, he had
urged the ways and means committee at
the very beginning of the session to save
him embarrassment by taking up the
iron and steel schedule at once.
This had not been done by the COM
mittee, he said, because it had deter
mined that the textile schedules over
which there is the greatest complaint by
the public should be the subjects of
earliest revision His opposition in the
recent caucus to a resolution calling for
a revision of the iron and steel schedule,
he said, was because it had been deter
mind no further tariff program should
be worked out until it was found what
would be done by the President.
Mr.. Kitchin confirmed Mr.. Underwood S
statements in every respect, and declared
that Mr. Bryan had launched his crit
icism without having any specific infor-
nation as to what the caucus had done,
MIR. Underwood stated the fact
clearly to the caucus said Mr.. Kitch-
in. He did state before the commit
tee at the beginning of the session that
he was interested in the steel and iron
business and il would relieve him of
embarrassment if the committee would
take up that schedule at once and get
rid of it. But it was the judgment of
the committee that the most iniqui-
tious schedule that had ever been put
ON the statute books, the wooden sehed-
ule ought first to be revised"
Mr.. Kitchin referred to Mr.. Under
woods frank statement about his iron
company holdings and said he had ex-
pected that might be made IAN occa-
sion by our opponents to SANDER and
Incl the Alabaman and the position of
this Democratic House, but | never
dreamed any Democrat in this country
would attempt to malign Mr.. Under
wood or the Democratic party"
Mr. Bryan is not responsible" SAID
Mr., Kitchin, amid laughter on the Re
publican side. for he was not in our
caucus; he must have gotten his in
formation from somebody, and he was
the most badly informed man in the
world.
Mr.. Bryan's statement published to-
day as having been made in Lincoln,
Neb., said that Mr.. Underwood and
Rep. Fitzgerald of New York, defeated
resolution which Speaker Clark and
some other tariff reformers worked
for. instructing the committee on ways
and reans to take up and revise the
iron and steel schedules.
THE action of Chairman Underwood
in opposing an immediate effort to re-
duce the iron and steel schedule re-
veals the real Underwood" Mr.. Bryan
is reported as saying 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
,,,,ty .if