The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-01-17
TENNESSEE MIDDLE IS ALMOST SOLVED First Indication of Harmony
 Shown TALK OF UNDERWOOD Neither Harmon Nor Wilson Will Get Entire Tennessee Delegation and Outsider May Get It.
 Underwood the Man
 
TALK OF UNDERWOOD
By PAUL w. TRAINoR

Nashville, January 16.-(Special) )-After one of the toughest tangles that a polIt- ical party was ever involved in, the war ring democratic factions are tonight un- der truce, with a probability that the party will in the main get together as a result of the meeting today and tonight of the state committee of the regular wing of the democrats, the latter adopt ing primary earlier than, that of the independents and forestaling the plans of the Montcastle faction, that has all ready called a primary for April 30.
 However, the independents will be all lowed to name three primary commit teemen, who, in conjunction with a like number of regulars, will select a seventh man and all will constitute the primary board to hold an election April 27, for the selection of candidates to the national convention.
 Was Bitter Fight
 In the bitter fight that has been go- ing on between Vertrees and the followers Of Monteastle since the former received such a cold deal at the hands of the na- tional committee the state has been stirred up more than at any time since the tragic times following the murder of the late Senator E. w, CarmacS.
 It was a fight of the Vertrees, brothers, one the national committeeman of the regulars, and the other the state chair man of that faction. against the field and this was plainly demonstrated in the enen session of the committee today when the speakers, including former United States senators, present senators, ex- governors and leaders from over the state pleaded with the committee to get to- gether and head off the threatened sue cess of the republicans of the state and presidential race.
 The newspaper of the Vertrees brothers took the stand that no more consideration should be shown the independents for having fndorsed Governor Hooper in 1916 than to allow them to take part in a pri- mary and apportion them fair portion of the election officers.
 Equal Representation
 The committee tonight in adopting a plan to give them equal representation on the primary board turned the fight into a dogfall, and if a platform can be agreed upon ct the May convention that will suit both factions, the democrats have good chance to win the November election.
 But this is the rub and only one speaker today had the courage to venture so far on the proposition and he was a Nash vile lawyer, Col. Frank P. Bond, who em- phasized the fact that the race could not be won without an agreement on the whisky question, and the only honorable agreement would be to repeal the manu- lecturers laws and allow restricted sale of liquor in the larger towns.
 The regulars will fight to the last ditch to accomplish this and the republicans, lead by Governor Hooper, have already gone on record as opposed to any tamper- ing with the statewide law. Many believe the reDublicans can hold enough votes on this issue to win in Tennessee. Anyway the prohibition question will be fought over again in Tennessee in the November election and ali of the old bitterness of past fights renewed.
 The result of state committee meeting was also a dogfall in the contest between Harmon and Wilson for the Tennessee delegation. In the primary to be called Harmon will get none of the independents and Wilson will get none of the regulars.
 Talk of Underwood
 Hundreds of democrats think that some outsider could capture majority of the votes over either Wilson or Harmon and Underwood is the most talked of man for this Champ Clark ranking next.
 United States Senator Taylor. who came from Washington to urge harmony, left for the national capital tonight without knowing the result of the committed s plan Senator Luke Lea will follow after he sees the full result of his professed ef- forts for harmony