The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-05-14
TEACHER UNDERWOOD
HOLDS HIS SCHOOL
OSCAR REFUSES TO LET HIS con-
GREssMEN SCHOLARS GO
HOME BEFORE SUMMER.
HOUSE CALENDAR BIC
sJIMs MANN, REPUBLICAN WATCH
DOG AND LEGISLATIVE WIZ
ARD. KEEPS DEMOCRATS
ON THE QUI WYE.
Ry p. FL. MCGOWAN.

WASHINGTON. May Ia-Oscar
Underwood. representative in the
house from the Ninth Alabama dis
trict. senator-elect, and for the pres
ent general manager of the Demo-
cratic ma jority in the lower house
OF congress. cannot, at the present
time be said to be the most popular
legislative learning and personal
popularity. Underwood, suave, cotir-
teous and ohliging. has his troubles.
He is in much the same situation as
a school teacher when fishing and
baseball times roll around and un-
rlly pupils hear the call of the mill
pond, and the ball field. II they can't
be excused from school they are will
ing TO play truant and take the con-
sequences at the end of a good, strong
hickory next day.
Oscar Underwood has two big
classes and q smaller one to dis
cipline. with a few uncla ssified. In
one class he has 600 Democrats. in
another, 1913 Republicans. I'm another
fifteen Progressives, and In the scat
r
making grand total of 4s5. for
whom the roll must be called several
times daily, and upon whom strict
watch must be kept lest they HE
themselves away to their wouIahe
mill pond and ball felG--~thts time
to the campaign field. In word
Leader Underwood is being hesieged
datly-and many times dailY-in his
little room just off the spea ker 9
lobby at the capitol---to speed thinss
UP and bring congress 10 an end This
thing, some of them tell him. has
been running so long that they have
almost gotten out Of touch with many
CT their constituents: that they have
practically no opportunity re 60 home
even were II not expensive TO do So.
that about the time they get iufue
Ii there are any so fortunate they
are hustled hack to Washington by
legra phc orders heraMse Him"
Mann. Republican watchdog and
legislative wizard Of the q q r.
has seen fit TO get busy and throw
scare into the Democratic lineup.
Following the tactics Of the would
he sleeping alligator. Mann lets
things run along until he finds out
that maybe 81 hundred or half hun
ared. or. possibly n few more or iess
az his Democratic coHea gues have
slipped away ffoT1 Washington t.
mix with the peeele IT hnne ard
that Is the time he reserves the right
TO object sendIn~ cold ehtlis shoot
Ing w and down the aptnes az Leader
Underwood ard aie coneeaefateS II
In then toe. thai he telegraph com,
panies nit~h fnaav IN extra dollar
into their tiiis MA tseeause Oscar I'm
derwanf nj the Ninth Ain hama dis
trIcf and @en8ds CO. ELECT VIII NOT let
school e"t &Na Jim Mann Win per-
sist in ta9nting hts Democratic
friends 4 nv that ever present right
n t. object, uaon which he, MANY
Years ago. secured a yr1enopolistic and
-forfeIta HE petent
This In the situation In the house
When tired statesmen plead with
Tnfie wood for 81 cessation ~ legis-
latlv@ ~~rl; ara declare that they
mus 20 home. he pulls neat little
rlate fvnm IT'S hiding place and shows
their That on the schedule Yet TO he
eniTss ated before ANY diplomats for
gocd conduct will he awarded this
yea there's good three months
worls ahead Gentlemen. he saws,
'pres - with the 8nnthiiation - the
trus I "ees the rnral credits hill.
don't ~ laid - handle the prohibit
tion direction speed up your col
decide what we are going 10 6o With
Huerta, Carranza and Villa, then II
will be about time tn let out school.
With this admonition School
Tea cher Underwood sees many nf has
unrulv pupils march back III line.
forced. II they must he, to see moth
Ing better than middle of the sum
mer adjournment ~ congress, even
II every available pound If steam Is
put into the legislative boilers.
This. the Democrats time for max
ing political HAY while the sun shines.
IN being used To the hest advantage
NO matter whether school keeps or
not. There's Woodrow Wilson In
the White House, Oscar Underwood
In the house and an even dozen safe
and sane members over In the senate.
Who wants more or could ask more
despite the clamnring Of many Of
Cnderwood's unrufv ones for the big
school doors to close.