Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-02-09
WHO IS PUTTING UP
UNDERWOOD MONEY?
ASTOUNDING LETTER
That the Underwood Candi-
dacy Is Backed by Strong
Financial Aid From Some
where Is Sure
BY RALPH SMITH.

WASHINGTON, ID. g, Feb. S-Some
idea OF the activity Of the Underwood
candidacy for the Democratic nomination.
and the financial strength behind that
candidacy is revealed by circular letter
which has been sent 10 all the weekly
newspapers in the southern states, offer
ing to pay for the publication OF a special
supplement in each OF these newspapers,
booming Underwood.
The letter is signed by Senator John H
Bankhead. Of Alabama who, according
70 his letter-head, is the chairman or
the Underwood campaign committee
who the other members Of the COM
mittee are the letter-head offers no IN
formation.
In as much as there are several thou
sand OF these weekly newspapers in the
south. il Is obvious tnat the Underwood
campaign committee is plentifully sup
pied with funds. The payments to the
newspapers win aggregate large sum,
Ina addition 10 which there viii be the
cost OF the supplements, the expense OF
distributing them to the weekly papers,
and the heavy postage bill necessary TO
make the arrangements With each OF
the letters which Senator Bankhead has
sent out there is enclosed a stamped en-
Vel0pe for the reply Of the editor 70
A report current here which adds in
teresg TO this revealed financial strengfh
On the part OF the Underwood campaign
committee. is that Senator Ban-.head has
Just returned from a visit 70 the fine
country home In Virginia OF Thomas +.
Ryan
Mr. Ryan. II viii be remembered, was
suggested as a possible financial hacker
10 Gov. Woodrow Wilson. and the gov
ner which so sorely offended Col. Henry
Watterson. II might not be surprising
here were il discovered that in this case
the Ryan rocks rejected by Woodrow
Wilson are TO be used to erect temple
for Representative Underwood
SO far as Democrats here know, there
has not been in many years such mani
festation Of easy financial conditions y
a Democratic candidate for the nOmina-
ton. The similarity to the methods OF
the late Mark Hanna, who was prepared
and willing 10 pay for any service rem
dered his candidate. is remarked in this
case as peculiarly striking.
Senator Bankhead's letter TO the editors
Of the weekly papers In the south is as fol-
lows.
Gentlemen. The friends of Hon. Oscar
W. Underwood desire to give the widest
publicity to his claims and fitness for
the nomination TO the presidency at the
hands OF tire Democratic party.
To hat end. his campaign committee
has prepared four-page. seven-column
newspaper supplment. which is Intended
for circulation through the entire south
Il am now writing to ask n arrange
ments can be made with your paper to
use the supplment- Il viii contain moth
ing but material bearing upon the can
didacy OF Mr.. Underwood, there viii be
Of m attacks the
either Democratic candidates. or upon the
Republican candidates. The committee
las 1iFected me TO offer a sliding scale
OF prices for the use OF the supplment.
dependent in part upon circulation. as
well as upon the inability OF the com
uitEee r. OFFER a larger compensation.
namely. SO. TO papers whose circulation
with a circulation from loo to 1.500: SIS
20 papers with a circulation from 100
up to 2.O00 and so TO papers With a
circulation Of 900 and upwards
IT this suggestion meets with your
concurrence. please let me hear from
you hy return mail. with date Of publ
cation. number CT circulation, a clipping
OF section containing the head Of your
paper. your nearest express ONCE. and
amy other particulars which would expe-
dite the delivery Of the supplment to
you
The use OF the supplment would not
be intended 10 in any way commit you
10 Mr.. Underwood's claims for the nomi-
nation. TIE whole transaction is purely
a business one. and is allowable in every
way by ths ethics Of good journalism
n is proper to say further that the
supplement viii IN all respects conform
TO the Tostal laws and regulations.
Awaiting your prompt attention. / am
Respectfully yours.
-. NJ BANKHEAD"
Senator Banlhead's assurances re-
speeding the ethics Of journalism and
The postal laws indicate that he recog-
nizes his proposition as new and novel
I'm Democratic pre-conventiOn contests.
n G hcpInIII TIDE ppopE