The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-07-20
Washington Not Surprised at Suggestion of Him
 for President
STORY OF REGENT
 CLASH WITH BRYAN
Party Leaders in the House Pursued Their Own Course-Undcrwoo Admired Most by Those Who
 Know Him Best
By WALTER HARPER

By WALTER HARPER
 Washington, July f9,-(Special.l--Ths Age-Heralds suggestion and insistence that there is good presidential timber in Oscar W. Underwood of the United States, chairman of the ways and means committee of Inc House and acknewI- .edeed working leader of the democratic sty. meets with the conservative ap- fh al Of all those who have been in a po- sitfoA 10 get real estimate of his quali- ties.
 The people of Birmingham do not know
 this man Underwood. During vacation
 he moves among his neighbors and friends like man of leisure His modulated
 manner Of speech gives no hint of the 1 force behind 1t. His quiet movement and restful expression have too often been
 mistaken for incidence. l It is the inactive volcano. repressing it's
 power that shakes the earth when it does
 wake up.
 Oscar Underwood has the power that
 lasts-that grows. It is never speetaeu- | lar. It can never be- | When William Jennings Bryan q few | days ago mentioned a long string of presidential cordwood and mischevously | neglected to include the name of the gov | ernor Of Ohio, he, in the same breath slishted the active leader of the party. When he mentioned a dozen or more names that brought smile of incredulity from thousands of the unterrifed and for got the name of Oscar Underwood it was either a reflection on his judgment, his good sense or his professed loyalty to the party.
 Mir. Bryan's Motive
 You do not have to seek far to find Mir. ! Bryans motive in overlooking the name of MT. Underwood The fact that MT. Underwood lives in the south cannot be urged as his reason for this oversight. He mentioned others from the south who are not even known far beyond the bounds of their respective states 1 A study of MT. Bryan's probable mol tive is worth a few moments of your
 time On a recent occasion MT. Bryan
 and MT Underwood came to the parting
 of the ways on leading issue of party
 policy and government economy. The in- cident is well remembered. Mir. Bryan was very plain and outspoken in his dis approval of MT. Underwood's course. You
 will recall the outcome of this short but 1 breezy controversy.
 MT. Bryan had and still has faithful
 followers in the United States Congress
 and In the country. Some of them would follow him most anywhere. What did
 they do in this crisis? Did they stand by their old leader?
 l The answer is unnecessary. l MT. Underwood was at the helm. He
 had the responsibility of steering the | party over one of the most trying situa-
 tions that has faced the party since the
 war. 1t was a time for harmony in tho | party. It was most desirable that every | man stand to his gun and that there
 be no dissension MT. Underwood was
 ca ptain of the active forces. He was on l the firing line, where the party Is malS- l ing its record for either success or 1 failure.
 He had worked hard in caucus, in his committee and on the floor of the House.
 He had toed at night time and In per- | sonal conference.
 Was a Critical Moment When it was rumored that MT. Bryan, the old leader of the party, was prepar- ing to cricise the course of the party MT. | Underwood, the speaker of the House and other leaders held one or two con- | ferences, have been told. to consider l what course to take. It was a critical moment in the history of the party The fact that MT. Bryan had some almost fanatical followers in the House was fully appreciated. It was a time for pray ing.
 A break meant disaster. The only hope of the republicans is split or some blunder in the democratic party. i It was desired that the speaker take E | the matter in hand and meet MT. Bry- | ans assault when it came. The speaker | is said to have declared emphaucally, | NO, Mir. Underwood Is the man to as-
 sume the responsibility. He can do It | better than l."
 | We all know what happened, but have | vou considered the full significance? MT. | JJnderwood's position was bold firm and decisive. He did not consult the Bryan partisans in his party or anyone eise. 1 In the privacy of his office he worked ont the problem for his party. He felt
 confident of the ultimate result though he fully realized that he was playing ] with powder Some of the leaders had | advised that it would be best to ignore l Mr Bryan. MT. Underwood thought l otherwise. The party must know who ana | what polcy must control the working
 end of the organization. This was his
 opportunity.
 | no other man has done in the party since | the war.
 |, a most critical moment he threw
 bomb into the ranks of a popular faction and brought that faction to willing sub-
 mission-al parts of It on the firing line.
 
 | The Bryanites in Congress did not
 waver. But they stood by MT. Underwood | and are still standing by him. MT. Bryan | seems to be the only man who has not | forgotten the incident. | To leave the name of MT. underwood | from a list of democrats who deserve to | be honored by the party just at this time | ia a. slight so patent that MT. Bryans en- tire suggestion falls of its own ridiculoss | weight.
 There is no other man in the party today that could have steered it as clearly and | as truly through the rugged shoals or uncertain record making as has MT. Un-
 derwood in the present extra session
 which was called for political purposes in the interest of the administration. MT.
 Underwood has grasped the opportunity 10 turn 1t to the advantage of his party.
 Began at Disadvantage | His party was called into session at a ' great disadvantage They had just come | into control of the House and had not . had time to organize forces and lay plans. | The republicans expected the democrats l to get confused quarrel among them 1 selves and pave the way for certain disas- CONTINUED ON FACE 12l