The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-07-04


Washington, July 31(special.) 1.-THE
story of underwood's great fight upon the
floor In the democratic national con-
vention is full of dramatic incidents. and
when it is once grasped and the details
fully known by his admirers all over the
country it will bring out in bold relief
those characteristics of the great Ala
baman which have endeared him to the
people.
The battle ragged through 45 long roll
calls. during which the forces of Under
wood held their own unwavering under
the threats, cajolery and promises of the
leaders Of both the two leading candi-
dates.
Ignores Tempters
During that long and weary fight I'm
derwood was time and time again lead
out upon the mountain top and invited to
listen to the tempting phrase of "all
these things I will give unto you,' but
he turned his back upon his tempters
and remained true TO his principles and
to his people.
The last day of the struggle came with
the Underwood leaders still hopeful that
his chance would come. Illinois with its
IS votes had promised to swing from VIII
son to Underwood during the day. New
York was expected to follow suit, the
promise being to give Mr.. Underwood a
tryout, just as Clark and Wilson had
: been tried. ss
But when the foi Is MT .vh~3fot scame
and went down into history and Illinois
did not come to Underwood, the Under
wood leaders decided that 1t was time
to "call the hand of Illinois, and when
that was done. Roger Sullivan SAID that
he proposed to switch Illinois back to
Clark on the forty-sixth, Throwing Will
son.
At that moment Senator Bankhead,
Representatives Heflin and Clayton, and
in fact all the Underwood leaders decided
that the Underwood strength was simply
being used as a basis for deadlocking the
convention and they informed Sullivan
that I'VE do not propose to see Under
wood used as a mere buffer to prevent
the nomination of Wilson or any other
man. We are not now and have never
been in the trading business"
1t required only a moment of consulta7
tion among the friends of the Alabamian
to decide that the moment had come to
Withdraw their canul0dIe TO prevent the
success of the trick devised to use them
as the means for deadlocking the conven-
ton and put them and Mr.. Underwood S
candidacy in false light before the
American people.
Illinois Was Vascillating
Illinois had undoubtedly given assur-
ances to the Underwood people that they
were coming to him, but when asked for
something tangible, they were told that
the vacillating Sullivan delegation meant
to vote again for the speaker, whom they
had supported through some 40 fruitless
ballots, it left them no conclusion ex-
cept that the bosses We're attempting
to use the Underwood vote as a pawn to
further delay a nomination and that they
had nothing to gain and much to lose by
negatively agreeing to such a pro-
gramme
The prevailing opinion in Washington
today is that Mr.. Underwood came out
of the race at the psychological moment
and has establihed himself in a higher
position In the esteem and confidence OF
his party.
One of Mr.. Underworld friends de-
clared today when the Illinois conting-
ent informed us they were coming to
us we felt that. that would of course bring
us other promised accessions, but the
moment they told us that they would
go back to Clark for a few ballots we
saw that they were merely trying TO tie
up the convention, and we refused to be
a party to it and Senator Bankhead inn
mediately and without hesitation with
drew our candidate. l cannot feel but
what it was for the best"
Bankheads Course Vindicated
Some of Underwoods friends thought
that his name should have been kept be-
fore the convention, but the general opin-
f~,, fc hot \. oA Nod Nc q
wisest and can result in nothing but a
decided fame to the majority leader.
The only criticism of his fight upon
the convention floor. has come from a
4 few thoughtess supporters of Speaker
Clark. who claim that he ought to have
retired from the fight when the speaker
attained majority of the votes on the
tenth ballot. careful analysis of the
situation at that time. however does no,
justify this view, even from the stand
point of the speaker himself.
Had Mr.. Underwood retired he would
have been compelled to have done so
Just in the same manner as he did finally
In other words, been Obliged to release
his delegates and permit them to vote
their individual preferences. and it Is
well known that a majority Of the I'm
derwood delegates preferred Wilson tc
Clark and had Mr.. Underwood delega ties
Underwood retired then. the nomination
Of Champ Clark would not have re-
suited
Besides that. his friends had at that
time assurances 3f strong support tha,
was to be delivered to him later in this
fight, and they felt 1t their duty to hold
Mr. Underwood before the convention
Just as long as they believed he had a
chance for the nomination.
Gain in Prestige
Mr.. Underwood's course has the STAMP
of approval from the general public
both democratic and republican. and ht
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