The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-01-03
TOR NEW
LEADERSHIP IN
SENATE IS HOT
BY cHAS. S. HAYDEN.
(Staff Correspondent.)

WASHINGTON, u. c., Jan. S.-The
for minority leader OF the
senate between Senators Oscar w, IN
derwood, Alabama. and Gilbert N.
and has developed some acrinony:
II liz to BIZ decided at a caucus OF
Democratic senator's called Tor Jan. 10.
Both Senators Shields and Mcclellan
indicated that they favor the Sc,
lection Of Senator Underwood, r
while It is doubtful If Senator Shields
can be here on that date Senator Nc
Kellar expects to vote for his colleague
from Alabama,
II do not underrate or ~undervalue
the services which Senator hitchcock
has performed said the junior sena-
tor from Tennessee in discussing this
matter. But the treaty fight Is not
the sole test for the selection OF q mi
nority leader. Because the senator
from Nebraska has been able is no rea-
son to say that equal or even better
g%eneralship would not have been dis
played by the senator from Alabama.
| served in the house with Senator Un-
derwood where his ability as leader OF
the Democrats was repeatedly ana con-
spicuoAsly displayed. and | don't be-
lieve There is a more able man IN the
United States senate today, on either.
side of that house"
There are II number of forces work.
ing for and against these rival aspir-
ants TO- the mantle of the late Sena-
tor Martin and not the least OF these
is the fact that Senator Underwood is
rated as a conservative, while Senator
Hitchcock, since he has patched up a
truce with William Jennings Bryan and
expects to have the celebrated Nebras-
kan's support, also counts on the votes
OF those Democratic senators who, II
not radical, at lea t have no fear of
.u--.l.-4.. 10, ..,uKNV,;,,ar nItt ~ Inoigla-
tive course. Then, too, prohibition Is
an element which is counted upon to
sway some influence, True, both un-
derwood and Hitchcock are reckoned
as "antis," but it was the Alabamian
who led the fight against the amend
ment and the Antisaloon league, Meth
or forgives nor forgets. 1t doesn't love
Hitchcock more, but Underwood less.
The fact that Hitchcock is a West
| erner is being used with some effect,
for IL is claimed the selection of I'M
dcrwood would give ground for the Re
publican claim that the South is in
tho saddle" 1t is known this has
swung some votes away from Under
wood, for on the adjournment of con
gress in November his friends, having
checked up, declared he had pledges
from "a Democratic senators, or one
more than enough to assure his cleo
ton, The claim nov is that he has
81 votes pledged and 1t Is conceded
that Hitchcock has 10. This leaves
seven votes unpledged.
While it is deemed doubtful il Presi-
dent Wilson will take a hand in this
contest II Is realized his wish, ii
known, would decide it, Despite COM
| plimentary messages he has sent Sena
tor Hitchcock 1t is doubtful whether
the president is altogether satisfied
with the Nebraskan's conduct Of the
treaty fight, Up to this time it. has
failed Of success, On the other hand,
Underwood was a candidate before the
never faltered in his allegiance to tho
party standard bearer, it has been a
matter Of m that the president
has never sought to utilize the un.
questioned ability of the Alabamian II
matters Of interest to the administra.
ton.