The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-05-01
UNDERWOOD CLUB AT
 CAPITAL nJCCHCCEC JCCIrE

Washington, April 0-(Special )-r'oi- lowing the address of Senator Underwood l to the Underwood Club of Washington. an organization composed of Alabamians living in Washington, the officers of the organization discussed the various angles 1 of the situation as they are presented ! thus far from the home base | It was first considered that Lawrence 1 E. Musgrove the Jasper multimillonafre, was serious in his initial speech in Br- mingham only to the extent of referring 1 to the eminent statesmen of Alabama who . made history during the past fifty yeSrs as 'fossiliferous old asses"
 It was next considered that Frits Thompson of Bibb county, one of the tw~ men making MT. Musgroves s speeches for him, is exceedingly bitter. It was re- called that some summers ago Forney Johnston jockeyed him into confession that he was named in honor of "Old Fritz" that military master of Ger
 many for whose oppression of the hu- man race the world still pays the price. It was matter of debate as to whether MT. Thompson, in his present attitude, is moved more through a spirit of re- venging that enforced confession, or through his ambition to fill high public office.
 In this connection it is reported that he is anxious to land the judgship which Judge Miller would yield in the event of his elevation to the supreme court, and failing in that, to force w. B. Oliver, one of the most serviceable congress- men from Alabama, back into private life.
 The officers of the club also discussed the other man who is making MT. Mus grove's speeches for him, W. c. Davis of Jasper. MT Davis was once can didate for Congress against R. P. Hob son. He challenged Hohson to joint de- bate. His challenge was accepted. He had no very high opinion of the hero of the Merrinac, and proceeded to say so. Then. Hobson, at thsx time under the wing of MT. Musgrove, replied. His dN- tribe was the refinement of cruelty. MT. Davis was driven from the stump and from the race.
 In 1914, MT. Davis, according to his an- nouncement on the floor of the Alabama legislature, supported Senator Under wood. In that campaign prohibition was the issue For it was known that s,fe senators elected would pass on the sub mission of the eighteenth amendment. But MT. Davis supported Senator Under wood, knowing that he would vote against the submission of the amendment, and opposed Hobson despite Hobson's prohi- bition predilection, and the fact that Musgrove was the angel behind his cam paign In this fight, when prohibitiol " not the issue,-is in the constitution, as a matter of fact-lMr. Davis supports Musgrove, and is making his speeches for him.
 The officers of the club discussed an z other subject. The Montgomery Journal editorially had declared that Underwood would be elected minority Ieacer re- suit of frameup on the part of the
 vets" It was said that had the <9et' framed up, they could have made no headway in view of the fact that fhe prohibitionists. by a two-thirds na1or ity are in charge of the Senate. other wise the prohibition amendment could not have been submitted.
 The officers of the club declared that Underwood was elected as result of a frameup in which the "wets" and .drys, for the good of the party and the coun- try, collaborated.
 There were other topics and incidents bearing on the campaign discussed in the meeting. It was in the beginning the in- teption of the officers to answer these charges and contentious. The plan, how ever, was abandoned. It was said tbat from the nature of the opposition 6ght the people of Alabama must be aware that the charges were silly and borc Of desperation, and that to attempt to re-