The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-11-19
Absolutely Certain If It Is Contingent on Prosperity
 of Country
IS AS OPTIMISTIC AS
 OSCAR UNDERWOOD
Will Not Attend Caucus of Democrats November 29--Is Bitter Against Cloture Rule in the
 Senate

If Wilson's reelection is contingent on national prosperity. Wilson will be re- elected. For no force can check pros- perity."
 Thus Senator Bankhead, passing through Birmingham yesterday en route to the rivers convention in Gadsden, ex- pressed his opinion. He Is an optimistic respecting conditions next year as Senator Underwood.
 "No democrat" continued the senator will oppose the President for the nomi- nation. A few months ago, we had no chance to win over the combined republi- can and progressive forces. At the pres ent time, however, the outlook is bright Unless Congress takes some radical and necessarily unpopular action, we may win. But if prosperity will turn the tide, we have, to all practical purposes al- ready won.
 For you can't stop prosperity next year. We are going to see the greatest period Of flush times in the history of the nation."
 STATES HIS POSITION
 The senator declared that he would be oilctbiC lo ltdNS lOl NdSHiilS lOil pSiOle December l. He has already stated that he would stand with the President on the subject of preparedness, and that in all probability, he will support the revised and modified administration ship pur- chase bill. He gave it as his opinion last night that the foregoing, together with fina ncial legislation, would be the prin- cipal business of Congress in the ensuing session.
 q will not attend the caucus of the democrats of the Senate November 29," he said. q had a letter some days ago from Senator Kern inviting me to attend this conference, the chief business Of which will be the suggested change of the rules governing Senate procedure
 I wrote Senator Underwood yesterday respecting the rule of cloture which is be- ing agitated. As is known. Senator Un- derwood was quoted in the New York Times as favoring the adoption of this rule. I told him in my letter that while ] would be willing to support some pro- posed modification of the rules as they are today, that I would oppose cloture to the extent of my power and endurance.
 BITTER AGAINST CLOTURE
 ''I have not heard from Senator Under wood on the subject. I do not believe, however, that he would favor the adop- tion by the Senate of the rules of the House. In the House, as is known, the rules committee meets, brings in a re- port and automatically cuts off debrte at given hour.
 'Inasmuch as the Senate in matters of legislation is the court of last re- sort, do not think that we should be forced to put through measures before they have been discussed as fully as pos sible. I am certain that the majority of the democrats feel as I do. I am cer- tain, in other words, that cloture will not prevail
 The senator, one of the states great est advocates of river improvement will attend the two days conference of the Alabama -Coosa River Improvement asso- ciatiOn at Gadsden today and tomorrow. He anticipates the passage by Congress of the general dam bill which would per- init the construction Of dams by corpora tiOnS oDerating in continuation with tho