Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-12-04
The Minority Leadership

| / is not an easy choice which the Demo
cratic members OF the Senate have to make
IN the election of II successor as door leader
10 the late Senator Martin, OF Virginia
Senators Underwood, of Alabama. and Hitch
COCK. or Nebraska, have been offered by their
friends and no mistake will be made ii either
is chosen. Both men are experienced par
iiamentarians. Both have shown a profound
grasp OF public questions Both arc cour-
ageous in debate and both are loyal to the
best traditions OF their party
For purely political reasons the elevation
OF senator Hitchcock would perhaps be the
wiser course for the minority to assume lie
comes from an exceedingly doubtful State
ana from an equally doubtful section of the
country Nebraskans would feel pride in his
promotion to the leadership OF his par,v in
me Senate and such move would easily
ne capi'ai'Hcd by the party interests in his
state. Senator Underwood. on the other
hand. comes from a safely Democratic
state. His party would not be benefited To-
cd!E IL he were named although his friends
aomit that his personal political fortunes
would DC improved as he enters The urinary
tor second term.
Leaving ont the political phase OF the mat.
cr' lhc best Judgment seems TO dictate the
election OF Senator Underwood His service
ds majority leader OF the House during three
congresses was one Of tremendous value TO
'n' "hoie country. 1t was during his time
mat the most important domestic legislation
OF This detssdc written upon the statute
BOOKS, and it was due largely to his tact
ms wiSuoD and his resourcctulncss that the
rouse oE almost unanimous vote passed such
acts as the Federal reserve law the farm
tohn law and the vastly important labor
legislation OF the first Wilson administration
Mr. Cnderwood, as in tho case OF the late
senator Martin. had The faculty OF ginning
ana holding tho implicit confidence OF his
"SsoclateS Moreover. he had The faculty of
uea'1hS successfully with his political oppo-
nentS. This was the great asset of the late
senator Aidrich. who was master Of the Sen
ate lot nearly generation, and in a some
WIFI less degree OF The late Senator
Hornan' whose control OF the Senate is
SraPmc chapter in that bodys history
oeustor Hitchcock has not developed this
iaciiitE. lie has had only one onportunity
ii must be admitted but he failed to MAKO
inc most OF that. His work in behalf OF the
peace treaty, although faithful sincere and
worthy OF praise in many respects. was not
success inc treaty resolution was de-
ieated. tic was neither able to negotiate
effectively with tho Republicans nor ia keen
down insurgency in the ranks OF his own
political associates
or TINS reason il seems that Senator
Underwood should be given an opportunity
10 40 IN the Senate what he did in tho House
u Wouid not he necessary to disposscss Sen
"to' Hl'chcock OF the treaty management; in
electing Senator Underwood As ro,,linr
,,il"olitE member OF the Foreign Relations
committee the Ncbraskan would remain ;c
tually in charge of the treaty and Il ,nicr,
make compromise easier OF attainment if
senator Hitchcock had the able calm and
tnec''Ee assistance Of the .Alabamian in plan
hihS inc next tight for ratification