The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-07-02
WHO WILL BE THE NEXT PRES|DENT|F WILSON DECLINES? Underwood Believes Party Will Insist on His Mak-
 ing Second Race MUCH DEPENDS ON
 SUCCESS OF LAWS If Wilson Should Refuse to Run. Underwood Would Undoubtedly
 Be Strongest Man in
 the Field
By HUGH W. ROBERTS

'OouioN w llSon Will observe the dem- ocratic platform even to the point of retiring at the conclusion of his term of office
 In Washington, however, the idea prevails among democrats that the President will be a candidate for second nomination at the hands of his party. oscar ". Underwood decrared recently that even should MT. Wilson desire to retire the party would object would, in ether words, thrust the nomination upon him.
 If the accomplishments of the party prove to be blessings-and we firmly believe that they wi1l--Mr. Wilson will be the nominee. If times proves that We have failed to do good by our coun- try, then no one will especially desire the nomination.
 This was another observation of the democratic leader. In his opinion the great majority of democrats concur. There h no question but that Wilson is exceedingly popular with the party. even among those members who firmly believe that he should permit the ad- journment of Congress.
 Another interesting fact which Col onel Graves declares he has found to exist is that MT. Wilson, on renounc- ing the nomination, will throw the weight of his influence in behalf of William Jennings Bryan.
 This is also believed to be untrue in Washington. The idea prevails that while MT. Wilson is of the opinion that MT. Bryan is making a worthy Secre- tary of State, he. nevertheless. holds as he did in 1907. that the presidential aspirations of the peerless" one should be knocked Into a cooked hat"
 Official Washington has the idea that should MT. Wilson retire. he would not endeavor to name his successor. It is also believed that in the event of the retirement of the President there would be at least three candidates for the nomination-Mr. Bryan, Champ Clark and MT. Underwood.
 MT Underwood would have a finer opportunity to land the nomination. it is believed. than either of his probable competitors. Democracy would hesitate to foiio,r Dryan asain.
 MT. Underwood has enlisted the con- fidence of the people of every sec ton.
 During the senatorial campaign in Alabama-especially In that period of the campaign when there seemed to be doubt as to the Washington was as dismal as a shanty on the Styx. There was a genuine fear lest Alabama should fail to do it's duty There is an elevator hoy in the capitol-a Maine democrat-who each day inquired with considerable aparent anxiety of Ala bama newspaper correspondence con- cerning the news from the front" Members of the House were equally as solicitous and equally as distressed by harrassing doubt. It is said that even the President was directly concerned. At any rate, Washington was deeply interested and deeply in sympathy with those in charge of the leaders cam paign.
 On the day of the election people awaited the news with almost the in- terest that people await the result of a convention nomination. Extras car ried the indicated result in the late afternoon These unofficial announce ments caused wild rejoicing. And when at a later hour the result was posi- lively stated Washington celebrated.
 The "conference of western govern ors'' was in session. When the boys cried out that Underwood had received the nomination the governors stam- peded. One of them--a big man from the big west-declared that Alabama had set the nation an excellent ex- ample. He suggested that the govern ors go home with the determination to make Underwood President
 Alabama correspondents were with MT. Underwood in the "hall of fame" where real heroes and statesmen-and others--in marble staDd. The conversa- tion veered to Alababha's neglect In not placing a monunllht to a second son in the gallery. Names were discussed. Finally MT. Underwood said Well, boys, the greatest of them all was Nor gan. The old senator was one of the real constructive statesmen of his time -or any other time."
 The conversation was later repeated in the office of Senator Bankhead where the senator with other members were gathered. Senator Bankhead ob- served that not even Morgan was great CT as a statesman than Underwood Others agreed, and one apparently more certain than the rest, declared:
 '"rhe south has never sent to Wash ington a more influential man than Un- derwood He has the respect and con- fidence of the administration, and the members of the House declare him to be the greatest leader of any period He will make his mark yet"
 However, MT. Underwood does not think it possible for any other man than Wilson to secure the nomination in 1916.
 "I am certain" he said, "that the tariff bill the currency bill, the anti trust legislation and other accomplish ments of this administration will re- suit in unreliable good to the country I predict an unprecedented wave of prosperity.
 'The people will. in all probability, demand the renomination of the Pres tdent. He vii be in all respects de- serving of the honor. do not antici- pate any opposition to the President in the next convcntion."
 But should Mir. Wilson of his own yolition retire despite the blessings which his administration will have dispensed, there is no question but that Mr. Underwood will be one of the for mfdable candidates before the conven- ton. He would be the one democrat who would be certain of victory be- fore the people of the nation.