The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-04-28

W sentauves yesterday, the begin
ming of an, era, when, after the opening
prayer and the reading of the minutes of
the last meeting, Oscar Underwood leader
of the triumphant democracy. amidst the
applause of his fellow partisans, threw
his tariff hat into the ring and chal-
lenged the enemy to mortal combat That
is what IT means exactly; for the war
tariff was al issue and the system of pro-
lection which has been maintained for
nearly 30 years on the ground of patriot
ism is the stake at hazard.
Mr.. Underwood spoke for about two
hours What he said had been carefully
thought out. 1t was "a round, unvar-
nish'd tale he told of the exactions of
the federal tax gatherer upon the people,
not to the advantage of the people. but
for the benefit of the special interests; of
the half criminal admissions of these BEN
eficiaries that they were promoting their
own interests at the expense of the peo-
pie. of their lodging and backing and
filing. OF their nsincerity in promise and
their failure in performance and of the
determination that had been reached by
the representatives of the people to make
at last such revisop of the tariff system
of the country as will make all men equal
under the law.
There was nothing hysterical in Mr..
Cnderwood's manner OF speech. Some OF
his admirers, of whom there are thou-
sands, had heard him in running debate
when he seemed to speak with greater or
atoricai effect and more emotion. but he
never spoke with larger purpose or bet
ter knowledge of his subject nor to an
audience so overwhelmingly with him in
the object he is seeking to accomplish,
nor with such confidence OF the success
of his endeavor. 1t was the first time in
the history of the democratic party In
half a century when there has been any
thing like general agreement upon the
tariff issue, and in bringing the party to-
gether upon this prime article of their po-
litical faith Mr.. Underwood had achieved
his most notable triumph and won his un-
disputed title to leadership.
The preliminaries were very interesting
The House met. The chaplain, or the
minister whom he invited to lead in the
days devotions. prayed. The minutes
the House go into committee OF the whole
on the state of the union. The motion
prevailed Mr. Underwood asked unani-
nous consent to take up the tariff bill.
He explained that 1t was his purpose to
close the general debate on the bill after
the adjournment of the House on Monday
next; that 80 hours would be allowed for
general debate; that he would divide the
time equally with those who are opposed
to the proposed bill, and that he had no
wish or intention of depriving the opposi-
tion of ample time to make their OBJ
jections to the measure.
There was much discussion of how the
time allowed the opposition should be di-
vided between the republicans and the
progressives Mr.. Mann, the republican
leader; Mr. Payne, the tariff maker, and
Mr.. Murdock who is supposed to repre-
sent the third or progressive party, and
ENr Underwood were on the floor ct -he
same time. Representative ]. Hampton
Moore of Philadelphia, Mr.. Fitzgerald of
New York and several other anxious in
cuirers. said something in the discus
sion as to the division of time ano the
manner in which the bill would be iaken
up for debate, and finally it was deter
mined that the minority should have
as much time as the majority. AR. Muir
dock, the progressive. insisted upon his
rights. and nearby statesman suggested
with some degree Of aspsrty that he did