The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-04-23
NORTH STRONG FOR UNDERWOOD
Sentiment Practically Amounts to CALL" Says W L Percy.
Labor and Business will Both Be Satisfied With Him.

II no sentiment 1Or nueTWoo'
through the north. and especially il
New York, amounts practically to q
cnll,' said W. l.. Percy. secretary Of
the Dobls Il Wey company. who col
back home yesterday after a three
weeks trip through Cincinnati, Column
bus. Hu"aIo. New York city and Other
points.
1.-THE Republicans don't want any
body. to tell the truth Roosevelt is t"u
much Of dcmagogue. Taft has been
unwise, La Toilette is SD much OF a
progressive that he is practically Il
Socialist, and Cummins Is not In the
running. OF the Democratic candidates
Underwood is the only man who meets
their demands for a constructive
statesman. one who knows the practi-
cal side Of government
North Strong For Underwood.
"Nine out Of every ten Republicans
think Underwood would make a good
president, and Of those nine the ma
1Ority are ready to vote for him. or
course there are not few who always
vote the straight Republican ticket.
was talking to one of these. who had
expressed his dissatisfaction with all
his party's candidates. and asked him
about Underwood.
"'Well, | would he inclined to for.
get that 1t was election day if YOU
nominate Underwood answered this
straight ticket Republican.
1.-The north has paid more attention
to the last session OF congress than
has the south. They know what Tn
derwood Is doing. and they have learn
ed about the man. For this reason
there Is a demand for him that was
a revelation to me, anu am from the
SOUTH"
Such Is the gist Of a recountal by
Mr.. Percy Of his trip, containing the
most remarkable view Of the presiden-
tial situation In the north that has yet
been presented here. His trip was Il
revelation to the man from the south, n
man who left Atlanta not counted
among the Underwood supporters. but
who returned enrolled under that ban.
ner "beause Underwood Is the man Of
the hour, the man Of destiny at the
psychological moment IN the history Of
the Democratic party"
Talked With All Glasses.
Mr.. Pcrcy's statements are not drawn
merely from scratching Of the pOlit-
zeal surface In the cities and states
through which he passed. lie talked
with labOring men and, by the way. 1t
was from them that he heard the first
favorable mention Of Underwood; nc
talked with business men who control
thousands Of dollars. and II might he
added that he took lunch with nm ac-
tive candidate for the presidency. not
Mr.. Underwood. which. however. did
not blind him to the fitness of the
southern man.
Underwood Much Talked About.
"When | left Atlanta l knew little Of
Oscar Underwood. thought when he
was mentioned that he was all right as
congressman. but beyond that never
went
"rhe first thing that set mo thinking
OF him and his chances for the preSi-
dency was n conversation which but.
ted into nj Buffalo. had Just return
ed from Niagara Falls and was wait
Ing for my train 4 group Of lahoring
men. mostly railroad men. were dis
cusSing politics. and entered into the
conversation without their knowing
who or what | was. One of them was
Il rank Roosrvetlan. but he was inter.
rup,ed 10y one of his friends, n man
dressed in overals
i've been watching that fellow
Underwood. | like what he says. and
l like what he does. ami I'm going To
vcte for him
Then I Talked Politics.
THAT SET me To thinking. and from
then on | talked politics every time
got the chance. And then | CON-
menced to notice funny thing about
the Republicans, and that Is that they