Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-10-13
Declares His Colleague Sc
cured Support for Presidency
Under False PretenSeS.
CHEERS FOR UNDERWOOD
WHEN HE RISES TO REPLY
Resents the Charge and Points to
Record as Party Worker in
Refutation.

A bitter attack upon Oscar Under
wood was made by Representative
Hobson OF Alabama late this after
noon. Mr.. Hobson charged that Oscar
Underwood had obtained the support of
the people OF Alabama under false pre-
lenses during the campaign before the
Baltimore convention. His attack,
which lasted fifteen minutes, came at
the end of a tame reply lasting hair
an hour to Representative Donovan OF
Connecticut, who had charged Mr.. Hob
son with being absent practically all
the last four months.
Mr.. Hobson began his attack on Under
wood by quoting from the Senate hear
ings on campaign contributions. Mr.. Hob
son read the name Of Thomas Fortune
Ryan, who gave 5000 to the Underwood
fund in the preliminary presidential cam
paign. Then Mr.. Hobson began to bring
in state and national politics. standing
within a few feet of Mr.. Underwood and
shaking his fist at his face.
"The choice of the people for Mr. Tn
derwood,' he said, was obtained under
false pretenses, but the choice of him for
the Senate shall not be obtained the
same way"
Quotes From Bryan.
Mr. Hobson quoted from the writings Of
William Jennings Bryan in the Common
er. in which the Secretary of State was
quoted as saying that Harmon and I'm
derwood were reactionary candidates.
Before the campaign 1 told Bryan that
was for Oscar Underwood. I told VIII
son. then governor, the same thing.
said was In accord with the Wilson pro-
gressive policies, but that l was for Un-
derwood because of state pride.
Finally charges began to be made that
the Underwood campaign was being
financed from Wall street. / did not
know what to do. Finally I gave out a
statement that had great pride in the
state of Alabama, but that did not pro-
pose to submit to the Wall street backing
Of Oscar Underwood.
II want to say now that my support
and the support Of the proGressfvcs
under false pretenses. Had / known
that Thomas F. RxNB. who was de-
nOunced by Bryan. was financing the
d-campaign in great measure
would have fought him. and, further.
choice Of the people Of Alabama.
Il hereby declare that the choice OF
him TOR the Senate, shall not be OBJ
tanned the same way"
Great Ovation for Underwood.
At the end Of his speech he was ap-
plauded and Oscar Underwood arising
for recognition. received one Of the great
est ovations ever seen on the floor Of the
House as he started to reply.
mo man. however great he may be.
has ever used me as a tool said Mr..
Underwood. while nearly ever man on
both sides OF the House applauded
loudly. The people OF the United
States have seen me placed in q posi-
ton where temptation was strong to
yield to influences, and I challenge any
one to point to q single blot on my
career. great trust was placed In
my hands and l challenge the gentle
men from Alabama to show that any
influence has been used in my admins
tratfon of that trust"
Representative Underwood continued:
1.-THE gentleman has charged that my
delegates to Baltimore from Alabama and
other southern states were obtained I'm
der false pretenses, and ] want to say
that when the campaign came on 1 had
been selected to attempt to carry through
a tariff bill that would challenge the at
tention of the American people and build
a platform on which this country could
be carried.
Asked by Friends to Enter Race.
Friends of mine had asked me to
be a candidate for the presidency
first refused, and then l said that l
might be a candidate on the condition
that 1 should stay in my office OF the
House of Representatives and do my
duty here. / did not leave here once
to make a speech because my party
was on the firing line l took no part
in the campaign. 1 was in my head
quarters just three times.
II kept my pledge to my party and Ia
bored to make a platform on which the
democrats could carry the country; and
vet because 1 did not know who contrib
uted to my fund I am called a tool and
q dummy.
lis there any other man willing TO rise
I'm his seat and say this thing about me?"
There were Grief Of MOI Mo- moi"
all through the House. Representative
Hobson rose to ask question.
'.Sit down. yelled some democrats.
Speaker Clark rebuked them