The Washington herald., 1912-02-08
Be Exploited Through
Advertising in Weekly
Newspapers.
MISREPRESENTATION
A Determined Effort to Be Made to
Interest the South in Alabama
Mans Candidacy.

The Underwood Presidential boom has
assumed -suchsformidable proportions that
the friends of the other candidates who
are contending for the Democratic nomi-
nation have begun to SIT up and taxi,
notice. The Underwood campaign COM
mittee. headed by Senator John H. Bank
head, of Alabama, has made a deter
mined effort to secure delegates from
the South, and the activities in this d.
rection has thrown a big scare into the
following of Gov. Woodrow Wilson, in
Washington, who have counted upon a
solid Wilson delegation from the South.
Senator Bankhead has undertaken to
enlist the support of the weekly press
OF the South, and through il to reach
the people OF that section. lie has writ
ten to the editor of every weekly paper
in the South a letter. trying to arrange
for the circulation Of a special Under
wood supplement, giving the reasons why
Representative Underwood should be
nominated by the Democrats. He pro-
poses a strictly business transaction, and
states that the Underwood campaign COM
mittee believes It TO be allowable in every
way by the ethics of good journalism.
VIII Pay for Supplements.
Senator Bankhead proposes to compen-
safe the papers that circulate the Under
wood supplement, and in his letters to
the editors he mentions a sliding scale
OF prices to prevail. This scale is based
upon circulation and varies from so to
papers having fewer than 1000 circulation
to $50 for papers having 1000 and more
circulation.
1t is the fact that the Underwood cam
paign committee is at work in earnest,
coupled with the recognition OF the
value of the systematic work that has
been undertaken, that has alarmed the
friends OF Gov. Wilson and other would
be candidates. They realize that Rep
Il sentative Underwood Is in the race IN
all seriousness, and that his friends are
at work earnestly in his behalf
The letter which Senator Bankhead
sent out to the editors Of weekly papers
in the South follows:
Text of the Letter.
Gentlemen: The friends OF Hon. Oscar
". Underwood desire to give the widest
publicity 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 pre-
pared four-page, seven-column news
paper supplement, which is intended for.
circulation through the entire South.
I am now writing to ask II arrange
ments can be made with your paper TO
use the supplement II will contain
nothing but material bearing upon the
candidacy Of Mr.. Underwood: there will
be no criticism OF or attacks upon the
other Democratic candidates, or upon
the Republican candidates.
The committee has directed me to offer
a sliding scale Of prices for the use o5 che
supplement. dependent in part upon circu-
lation, as well as upon the inability Of
the committee to offer a larger cOmpensa-
tion, namely. SO 10 papers whose circula-
tion does not exceed LOO: $3.50 to papers
with a circulation of from 1.O00 to 1,jO0;
SIS to papers with circulation of from
100 10 1000. and so TO papers with a
circuls ton of 1000 and upward
III this suggestion meets with your con-
please let me hear from you by
return mail, with date of publication,
number OF circulation, a clipping Of sec
ton containing the head Of your paper,
your nearest express Office. and any
other particulars which would expedite
the delivery of the supplement to you.
THE use OF the supplement would not
be intended to in any way commit you
to Mr.. Cnderwood's claims for the nomi- |
nation. The whole transaction is purely |
A business one, and is allowable in every
way by the ethics of good journalism
It IS proper to say further that the sup
pIement will in all respects conform to |
the postal laws and regulations.
Awaiting your prompt attention, I am,
Respectfully yours.
u. H. BANKHEAD."