Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-08
OPENS A BRISK FIGHT
Effort to Get Southern Dele
gates for Underwood.
USE OF THE WEEKLY PRESS
Proposed to Pay for the Issue of
Four-Page Supplements Boom
ing Albanian.

Oscar w. Underwood, the WAYS and
means committee chairman and leader of
his party in the House, is an active con-
tender for the democratic presidential
nomination. OF course. Mr.. Underwood
has been repeatedly mentioned by his
friends as a possibility but that he
had a campaign committee a campaign
manager and a campaign fund, did MOI
become known until today. Now it is
apparent all of sudden, that the Tn
derwood boom has assumed such proper
tions that the friends of the other demo-
Gratis who are contending for the nomi-
nation have begun to take notice. They
have learned that the Underwood cam
paign committee headed by Senator
Bankhead of Alabama, has made a dead
set for delegates from the south. and the
activities in this direction have given
scare to the followers of Gov. Wilson in
Washington, who have counted upon
solid Wilson delegations from the south
ern states.
Seeking Aid of Southern Papers.
Senator Bankhead has undertaken to
enlist the support of the weekly press
Of the south and through it to reach the
to the editor of every weekly paper in
the circulation of special Underwood
supplement giving the claims why Rep
reSentative Underwood should be nomi-
mated by. the democrats. He proposes
strictly business transaction and says
that the Underwood campaign committee
believes it to be allowable in every way
by the ethics of good Journalism. Sena
tor Bankhead proposes to compensate
the papers that circulate the Underwood
supplement.
There is no longer any doubt that the
Underwood campaign committee is at
work in earnest, and it is this fact that
has stirred the friends of Gov. Wilson
and other candidates.
Senator Bankhead's Letter.
The letter which Senator Bankhead
sent out to the editors Of weekly papers
in the south says:
Gentlemen: The friends of Oscar w.
Underwood desire to give the widest pub
licity to his claims and fitness for the
nomination to the presidency at the hands
of the democratic party. To that end his
campaign committee has prepared four
page, seven-column newspaper supple
ment, which is intended for circulation
through the entire south.
Il am now writing to ask If arrange
ments can be made with your paper to
use the supplement. 1t Will contain nOtn-.
ing but material bearing upon the candi-'
dacy of Mr.. Underwood. There will be
no criticism attacks upon the other
democratic candidates or upon the re-
publican candidates.
Sliding Scale of Prices.
1.-The committee has directed me to offer
sliding scale of prices for the use of
the supplement. dependent. in part, upon
circulation as well as on the inability of
the committee to offer larger compensa-
ton. namely, $40 to papers whose circu
lation does not exceed 1000 $3.50 to pa
pers with a circulation from 1000 to
1900. SIS to papers with a circulation
from 1.JO0 up to 1000 and so to papers
with circulation of 1000 ard upward
IF this suggestion meets your concur
renee please let me hear from you by
return mail with date of publication,
number of circulation, clipping of section
containing the head of your paper, your
nearest express Office and any other par
ticulars whit would expedite the de-
livery of the7euDplement to you.
The use Of the supplement would not
be intended in any way to commit you
to Mr.. Cnderwood's claims for the nomi-
nation. The whole transaction is purely
business one and is allowable in every
way by the ethics Of good journalism
1t is proper to say further that the sup
plement will in all respects conform to
the postal laws and regulations Await
ing your prompt attention. 1 am respect
fully yours, j. H. BANKHEAD"