Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-03-29
OSCAR UNDERWOOD
BETRAYED INTERESTS
OF FARMERS UNION
He Disregarded Wishes of
Farmers Union Heads in
Supporting Man for Chair
man Agricultural Committee


That Congressman Underwood. Of Ala
bama. betrayed the interests of the
the Craftsmanship Of the agricultural
committee after the Farmers union
heads had found that man unfriendly
and antagonistic particularly to a bill
urgently advocated by the union. to
prevent gambling in cotton futures and
make the price of cotton subject only to
supply and demand-that Mr.. Under
wood, of Alabama, as chairman Of the
committee on committees, turned down
the personal and written pleas Of Farm
ers' union heads and gave Mr.. Lamb OF
Virginia, his support for the Chairman
ship of the agriculture committee. is the
charge which Woodrow Wilson head
quarters shot at the Underwood cam
paigners in Georgia, Tuesday, defying
them to disprove it and dispel the open
inference that Mr.. Underwood is not
at all times the great friend OF the
southern farmer that he would appear.
I'm this respect, Mr.. Underwood Is
woefully lacking before the farming in
terests Of Georgia., said one OF the
campaign managers Of Mr.. Wilson's
headquarters, Tuesday. HE is not in
touch with the farmers. His constituency
in Alabama is the almost alien popula-
ton Of the Birmingham district. which
has little to do with farming and draws
practically all OF its prosperity from
iron mining and manufacture
HIS REAL ATTITUDE.
Therefore, when he saw to It that
Mr.. Lamb. of Virginia, was named chair
man Of the agriculture committee he
manifested his real attitude toward the
farmer-one Of indifference-never an
ticipated that so soon thereafter he
would need a better record on which
to come before the farmers OF Georgia
and ask for their votes.
The very fact that Lamb, OF vfr-
ginia. is chairman of the COMMITTEES on
agriculture. through Mr.. Underwood's
support, is responsible for the bill
against cotton futures gambling being
where it is now-in a pigeon hole OF
congress"
Here is the statement from head
quarters, Tuesday:
There is a certain man in congress,
known as John Lamb, of Virginia Mr..
Lamb demonstrated his unfriendlinness
to pet measure of the Farmers union.
known as the anti-cotton futures
gambling BILL and when the Democrats
gained control of congress. the Farm
ers' union, by personal applications,
by strong letters, and by kilograms.
plead with Mr.. Underwood not to put
John Lamb at the head or the agracul-
tural committee, which would have to
pass upon this Farmers union bill. IN
congress.
how Mr.. Lamb had fought them on this
same bill previously. and they argiied
with him how vital II was TO the inter-
ests of the cotton grower that the
gambling hand Of Wall street should
be stayed from juggling in the prices
of cotton; that cotton is the great sta
pie and crop Of the south, and its price
should be regulated by supply and de-
mand, instead of by manipulations IN
Wall street.
''Their arguments, their applications
and their pleadings were in vain. for
Mr.. Underwood supported Mr.. Lamb for
the place of chairman Of the agrlcuI-
tural committees; he was elected to the
position, and when this Farmers union
bill came up for consideration Mr.
Lamb was the only man who voted
against it and who carried the matter
into the house on a minority report
and has it throttled ana hung up till
this day.
Does this look like Mr.. Underwood
IS very much devoted TO the farmers
of the south. whose principal and
staple crop Is that Of cotton? He Ger
tainly took the Wall street end Of Hhis
proposition, and his conduct, no doubt.
greatly endeared him to those interests
Then. again, when Congressman
Henry and other Democratic leaders
sought 90 have an investigation made
in congress as to the money trust, and
to have that trust thoroughly probed.
they offered a resolution calling upon
congress to appoint a special commits
tee specially charged with a speciflc
duty of probing and investigating the
money trust.
UNDERWOOD AND WALL STREET.
"Mr. Underwood. the leader Of the
house, fought this resolutions The
view that Wall street took of it was
that the investigation should be re-
ferred to the regular committee on
finance in congress, where 1t could be
laid away in "moth-b balls" there to re-
pose indefinitely, with no Inconvenience
to Wall street This is the form or
resolution that Oscar w. Underwood
advocated, and in this form it passed
congress The result is. Wall street
is delighted; there will be no investt-
cation of the money trust-all brought
about by the influence and great power
in congress of Oscar W. Underwood.
"The people of this country do not
want any man as president about
whose name there is any suspicion OF
undue connection with Wall street.
Woodrow Wilson is absolutely tinap-
proachable by Wall street or any other
influence that does not come directly
from the people themselves He. could
have had Ryan's money, in any amount.
but he refused it, and his refusal has
brought down upon his head the wrath
of Wall street and all of its millions"