The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-01-10
uNDERwooDs BOLD PROGRAMME

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 From the Mobile Register.
 MT Underwood has let the pubic glimpse his programme for this session or Congress; and should he carry that pro- gramme through there will scarcely be question anywhere that the country has in the young Alabaman one of it's great est of modern day statesmen and political leaders.
 To accomplish his plans he must be able to hold the democrats of the House se- curely in hand and also obtain substan- tia support from the republican Senate. This is as to the tariff, on which issue there are great differences of opinion. At the same time he intends to go against the individual interests of members of Congress by insisting upon economy in the money bills.
 It is a risky proceeding, and failure will play havoc with MT. Underwood's presi- dential chances. MT. Underwood knows that well enough; but the presidential bee does not buzz so loud in his bonnet as to disturb his mental equilibrium. He has stated positively that he is not seeking the presidency. If the office comes his way he will gladly take it; but he is not going to abandon a course he thinks is best for the country in order to be President; and he wishes that to be known now, and kept in mind, lest it be foolish-
 y said that he threw away his oppor- tunity. He voted against the pension grab because he felt it was his duty to do so he demands economy at a time that appropriations have been long waited for and really would be most welcome; and he is going to put to his party some tariff schedules that will make it's mem bers wlnce-the sugar schedule, for ex- ample Truly he is a very bold leader. He commands admiration evep from those who do not follow him. Possibly this very boldness will prove to be the salvation of his programme.
 The method of procedure, according to Mr. Underwoods statement made last Friday, is as follows: The first tariff bill to go through will be one providing for revision of the iron and steel sched- ue The reductions in this bill will rough ly approximate 30 per cent on tonnage iron and steel and 40 per cent on the higher grades of the manufactured product. After this the chemical schedule will be tackled, and then sugar. By the time this is done MT. Underwood hopes the demo- cratic clerks of the ways and means com mittee will have completed the compari- son they have been directed to make be- tween the tariff boards figures and the democratic statistics on which the wool bill of the special session was based. A fta 41,o a similar boards figures on cotton and the committees statistics.
 A good general should be confident; and at the same time careful and resource full. Underwood is such a leader. He is not going to get through the session without some hard fighting; and if he wins the battle on half the ground he purposes to cover he will do wonders Successful thus far, there is good hope of a large measure of success for him in his present undertaking.
 With the party in Congress held true to democratic principles and policies, and something tangible accomplished in the relief of the people from the exactions of the tariff, the November election can be faced with strong expectation of demo- cratic victory. It Is to this end Mir JIn- derwood is working. If that victory should include himself as the winning candidate he will be pleased; but foremost with him is the maintenance of the right atti- tude toward all the people and their in- terests. If the party does this, he will be satisfied, no matter what happens to him personally.