Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-08-02

Amid scenes of wild excitement the
House of Representatives today de-
throned its ancient idol. William Jen-
nings Bryan, the peerless leader. and ele-
his place. The solid democratic side Of
the House cheered Underwood to the echo
when he denounced as an absolute false
hood Bryans authorized interview, given
out in Lincoln, Neb., yesterday, charging
the majority floor leader with having de-
feated revision of the iron and steel
schedule at this session OF Congress be-
cause he was financially interested in the
industry.
Even Claude kitchin, old-time friend
of the Nebraskan. repudated him when
called on by Mr.. Underwood for a state
ment. He ccrroborated Mr. Underwood
in declaring that there was not one word
of truth in the Bryan charges against
Underwood, and indorsed the majority
leaders policies in every particular.
Mr. Underwood, when he secured the
floor Immediately after the House met. at
II O'Clock this morning, with the an
nounced intention of replying to the Ne
braskan, received the most tremendous
ovation that has been accorded member
of the House in years. For five minutes
the chamber rocked with the racket as
the majority leader stood at his desk.
waiting to be heard. 1t was noticed that
even those members of the House who
always have been known as ardent fol.
lowers of the Nebraskan joined in the
applause.
Il thank my friends for this expression
of confidence in me- said MIR. Under.
wood when the noise had died away. II
rise to question of personal privilege
l wish to answer certain statements by
William Jennings Bryan
More Applause Given.
Then there was more applause, and at
its conclusion Mr.. Underwood sent to the
clerks desk and had read the authorized
statement issued by Bryan to which he
took exception. 1t recited that i'm the
democratic caucus on the cotton bill Mr.
Underwood had succeeded in defeating
resolution proposing revision of the steel
schedule, that he had put himself at the
head OF the opposition to Speaker Ciark's
tariff program and that he was on the
outs with the latter. The interview also
declared that Underwood had been ..un-
masked and that he should be shorn OF
all power.
THE statements in that interview are
absolutely false. cried the majority
leader, when the clerk had concluded
reading the interview. IF those re-
fiections rested only on myself
wouldn't take up the time of the House
to answer But the statements con-
tanned in that article are reflection on
the only body of the democracy that is
in control. And as the representative
leader of this majority on the floor Of
the House. / would be untrue to myself
and to you if l did not arise and stamp
those utterances with the brand of false.
hood-as you know they are
Declares It False.
Now as to the facts. The gentleman
who has issued that statement, Will
liam Jennings Bryan of Nebraska,
charges that the chairman of the ways
and means committee, standing in the
interests of a protective tariff, has led
the House into lines unworthy of any
democrat in the land. l know 1T is
false. Mr. Speaker, you know II Is
false. and so do all the democrats on
this side of the House.
Tben Mr. Underwood had to wait again
until the applause died away.
"Nr Bryan" he resumed. says that
NV leadership on this side of the House
could not stand In the open. There Is
not a democrat here that does not know
that il l misrepresentec the democrats