Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-10-14

' Y LETTER
n. B. WALKER
HoBsoN-UNDERWooD FIGHT
Star stan Correspondent.
Star Bureau.
Metropolitan National Bank Bldg,


Metropolitan National Bank BIdgo
WASHINGTON, Oct. IA.
No incident during the present adj
ministration has so aroused political
interest in Congress as the attack in
the House yesterday of Richmond
Pearson Hobson upon Oscar w
Underwood. Aside from the dramatic
nature of the wordy duel between
the two rival candidates for the
vacant Alabama senatorship, the in
cident took on significance and I'M
portance because Hobson's speech
was generally understood and inter-
preted as being a criticism OF the ac-
ton of President Wilson in securing
the Withdrawal of Congressman
Henry CLAYTON, who was also can
didate for the senatorship. In induc-
ing Clayton to withdraw his candi-
dacy, Underwoods chances of win
ming have been greatly increased, ne
and his friends believe, and they are
grateful to the President for having
interfered in Underwood's behalf.
Although Hobson did not directly
criticise the President, his declaration
that neither he nor the people OF Ala
bama would permit anyone to dictate
to them was taken by those who know
the circumstances to be an indirect
slap at Mr. Wilson for having given
aid to Underwood in the fight.
The alliance between the President
and Underwood is one of the most
peculiar twists in the record OF the
political whirligig of the last few
months. In the Baltimore convention,
which nominated Wilson, the follow
ers of the New Jersey leader de-
nounced the Alabama man as the
candidate of wall Street and the
special interests 1t was charged that
his campaign had been almost wholly
financed bv Thomas Fortune Ryan,
whom William Jennings Bryan at
tackled personally on the convention
floor as an enemy Of Democracy.
Underwood later admitted the Ryan
contributions to his campaign FUND,
but said that he had not, known any
thing about them at the time, as ne
was so busy with his work on the
WAYS and means committee. passing
the tariff bills which formed the basis
of the Democratic campaign last ran,
that he had taken no part In his own
fight.
Those who anticipated trouble be-
tween Wilson and Underwood after
the formers inauguration have been
amazed at the close relations which
almost Immediately were formed ne
tween the two men. Placed IN charge
of the tariff legislation, Underwood
worked in closest harmony with the
administration. He deferred his own
jrdsment to that of the President ana
Welded to every demand made by the
latter. When the currency bill was
urged by Mr. Wilson it was Under
wood who. although not personally IN.
terested in the subject. took mold OF
the situation when Glass and Palmer,
the supposed leaders, were unable TO
handle the big Job and jammed the
bill through caucus and through tne
House without delay.
OF the two Alabama candidates Tor
the seat vacated by the recent death
of Senator Bankhead, Hobson Is the
radical and Underwood the conserVa-
tive. and it was predicted until re-
Gently that the administrator Ia
vors. if any were shown, would go TO
Hobson The latter, however, has
Hearstism.' AS the joint proprietor
with William R. Hearst of the Japan
csc "yellow peril war scare, and an
enthusiast over a big navy pro-
gram, Hobson has been more con-
spicuous as writer and lecturer
than as a congressman. And Whiie
he has been out on the lecture plat
form. Underwood has been in Wash
ington working with the President
along practical lines, to redeem the
tariff and currency pledges OF the
dominant party. So it was to Under
wood that the executive favor went.
and in a way that was surprising and
decisive.
There were two other would-be cam
didates. Henry Clayton had an
hi Co1f in
Thomas Helm. who has recently ac-
quired some cheap notoriety for his
eccentric and incorporate attacks
upon woman's suffrage and suffra-
gists, talked about becoming cam
didate. 1t became apparent that 1T
was Hobson against the field, and
that. with the field divided among
other candidates, Hobson might win
in the Alabama primaries next
spring.
So the man in the White House
got busy in a quiet way. 1t was
only a few days before Hefiin an
nounced to friends that he did not
think he would become can
didate. Clayton's vanity was APP
pealed to. Practically, the President
told him, in a public letter, that the
judiciary committee, of which he is
chairman, would be the committee in
charge of most of the important leg
islation in the next year or two, and
urged him to sacrifice himself and
remain at the head of that commit
tee. so that the administration could
have his assistance. In effect, the
Wilson letter is generally interpreted
as a promise to Clayton that if he
got out of the way for Underwood in
the senatorial fight, he would be rec
ognized by the President as Under
woods successor in the House leader
ship. And Clayton got out of the
way. Underwood and his friends be-
lieVe that the Presidents action has
given him a clear path to election to
the Senate. and they are correspond
ingly grateful.
The administration favor for In
derwood has been generally applaud
ed in Congress, where Underwood is
very popular, and Hobson is very
unpopular.