The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-04-12
States Precedent Smashing
Did Not Take
PRAISES UNDERWOOD
Declares Only Man Who Can Beat
Alabamian for President is Bryan.
States Underwood Easily Central
Legislative Figure in Capital

1 WIS anu tOiiSitSSulell TeSe1leu as MUCH
as was gentlemanly the throne room
| speech of President Wilson before the
joint Senate and House and that Oscar
w. Underwood of this congressional dis
\ trict was easily the biggest man in
| Washington were statements of Col. Will
| liam Fowlkes, a prominent lawyer of
| Marion, who passed through Birming-
| ham yesterday. He stopped over a few
hours to visit his relatives here and con-
| tinued home yesterday afternoon accom-
panied by his brother Walter B. Fowlkes.
Mr.. FowlSes of Marion was in Wash
| ingtop when the throne room speech
was delivered by the unusually democratic
President That a mob tried for hours
to witness that act which shattered a
precedent 112 years old was what Mr..
Fowlles also said. The wife of Vice Pres
ident Thomas Marshall, former governor
of Indiana, found it exceedingly difficult
to penetrate the lines of excited citizens
whose routine of life as well known in
Washington was interrupted for the mo-
ment by the unusual performance of Dr.
| Wilson.
| "The members of the Senate as well
as of the House did not take kindly to
the precedent smashing of Dr. Wilson, y
said Mr. F'owlkes ut smacked too much
OF throne room act as characterized
by some senators who opposed in polite
way considering resolution Immediately
providing for the appearance of the Presi-
dent. Only the ruling of the vice presi-
dent that the matter was of 'extraord-
nary Importance for the consideration or
which unanimous consent was unneces-
sary, caused the passage of the resolution
when 1t did pass. OF course the opposi-
| tion was in line with the most strict
sense of courtesy as no senator would
offend the President in sucn matter.
However, Thomas jefferson, when Presi-
dent. the very. man that was so keen
| for simplicity OF government was the
| man who discarded throne room speeches
| from the President. George Washington
and John Adams were the only two Presi-
dents except DR.. Wilson to make such
appearance before a joint session of Con-
gress. l heard frequent and Unusually
| keen sentiments of resentment offered for
! that act while in Washington. The crowd
was immense. 1t was with difficulty
| that the police restrained the eager citi-
zens who wanted to hear the President
and witness the abolition of the line
drawn by Thomas Jefferson by the demo-
cratic President. l witnessed Mrs. Mar
shall, wife of the vice president. having
a very difficult time getting into the gal
lery while her companions were forced
| to remain outside
! AS for Mr.. Underwood being the most
stirring leader that the majority ever had
and easily the most important man in
Washington is the opinion of Mr..
| Fowll1es.
1T is amazing to hear such wonder
ful sentiments of esteem that are daily
expressed In Washington about Oscar
Underwood" says Mr. Fowlkes. HE is
easily the central legislative figure In
Washington. There is constantly a line
of congressman and senator's at his door
trying 10 get audience He is the only
man who rivals the White House In re-
spect to the insstency Of applicants for
interviews. I discussed vita many con-
eressmen the proposition OF Mr.. Under
wood being the democratic nominee for
the next presidential race. They are all
for him. l talked to many congressman
who simply said that Mr.. Underwood
was SO much better informed than they
were on the tariff that they followed
him blindly.
Many congressman from various states
said to me that of all men in Washing
ton Mr.. Underwood was the most com
pletey informed on the tariff and easily
tie most wonderful of all congressional
leaders.
They marvel at the ease with which
Congressman Underwood controls men OF
diversified opinions and relations. He
seems to place all of them into the melt
ing pot from which they emerge of one
mind and Of the general opinion that
i Underwood will not lead them astray.
Mr. Underwood is the man to whom
the plain people may return thanks for
any tariff reforinations. When the price
of clothing and food stuffs go shooting
down il will be due to the efforts OF Oscar
Underwood.
Il have been more or less crazy about
Underwood for some time. But this trip
to Washington eonvinces me that he Is
the most peerless of all congressman and
match for any man in Washington.
There is only one clique that can defeai
him again for the uomnaticn. That i
headed by Bryan whose eye at this par
! tieular moment is glued upon the chan
AT the head of the cabinet table occupied
| by DR.. Wilson. The only man who can
successfully rob Mr. Underwood OF sitting
at the head OF the table of cabinet Of
| ncers Is the thrice defeated candidate
| for President. Mr.. Underwood only need
watch the Secretary OF State.'