The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1921-10-23


democrat OH the American big
Four
Aside from his recognition OF the
unusual mental attainmeuts OF the
democratic minority leader OF the
senate. President Harding is believed
IN have neen actuated by a deep
nerSonal regard for the Alabama sem
ator in designating him as one OF
tho American 'Bif -Four" at the
Washington conference.
IN the long. rancorous senatorial
hsht over the treaty Of Versailles
and The league OF pations covenant
Harding then a Senator, and Under
wood entertained and expressed
widely divergent opinions. They
we're on different sides OF the poll
tlcal fense. But however they dif-
fered they became and remained fast
friends
In somo ways the two men possess
strlkngly similar characteristics.
Both are large men-physlcally
Both have an infectious smile.
countenance given to fullness and To
beaming tolerance and good nature,
girth inclined TO embonpoint--the
Galstaffian disposition TO seek from
Ne that which is pleasant rather
than unpleasant.
And yet both can be very serious,
deadly IN earnest, when they tind
themselves in disagreement with
oilers when things do not BREAK"
for them as they would like them to-
Uses Irony Dcxterously.
Underwood Is slow to enter sem
ate debate. He will sit hour after
hour IN his seat. usually motionloss,
his face eXpressionless, while demo-
cratic senators storm about him, us
one Of his democratic colleagues de-
llvers "a long -winded speech. Even.
an ordtorical outburst on tho repub-
lcan side will apparently leave him
unmoyed. He is a good listener"
Then suddenly he win pull himself
together, and no member of the sem
ate commands closed or more inter
ested attention from both sides than
when he begins TO speak. Born at
Louisville, Ky. May 6. 1852. and an
Albanian by adoption. his utter
ances reflect the soft. caresslng ac-
cents OF the southerner. His de
livery is forcible. he is a keen he
batter, deliberate but skillful in par
rying the thrust of an opponent.
Irony Is a/weapon he employs with
deUerlty.' His clearly stated utter
ances never leave any doubt as TO
where he stands on public question.
Underwood has a pleasing, gra-
cious manner even I'm defeat. He
may criticize his opponents. he may
even ride them hard. but he in
yarlably commands their respect,
and IN many instances. their friend
ship. Personally he is we'll liked by |
both his republican and democratic |
colleagues.
Underwood has never quite lost the 1
hopes he first placed In the league /
Of nations He was never, how /
ever, a hide hound adherent OF the /
Wilson Administration. a mirror OF |
the views and wishes of former |
President Woodrow Wilson.
Torcsaw Treaty Trouble.
"Thc treaty of Versailles, AZ pact |
growing out OF the compromises OF |
twenty-six nations, did not entirely |
meet my views" he said when ad- /
dressing the senate on one occasion.
but ] thought in the main It first /
led 10 Immediate peace, and finally, |
through the league Of nations cove
mint IL led to conditions that in the
future would secure the peace OF the
world | was willing to take and to
Try H."
lt was Underwood who saw, long
before most democratic senator's, and
when Woodrow Wilson refused to be-
!lsye IL. that ratification OF the YER
sallcs pact without reservations was
imposs.ble. It- was then he renewed ,
his efforts to save the treaty from
ultimate defeat-by conciliation and
compromise. He unsuc cesSfully
sought 20 sscuTs the appointment OF
a non-partisan committee OF ten sem
Hlors 'to consider ways and means
ot securing at the earliest possible
moment it's ratification.
Underwood is n lawyer, and II un-
hlndercd by the partisanshlp OF some
NJ his democratic colleagues, he
might have succeeded where others
lailed in effecting an agreement with
counsel for the other side" in the
celebrated case Of the republican ma
!orty verSuS Woodrow Wilson.
Even as late as May 81 last Under
wood sought 10 nave the republican
majority OF tho senate accept "A dem
ocrauc resolution requesting the
president TO express 20 the council of
we league Of nations the desire of
'he American government TO CO.
operate with It in plans looking to-
ward general reduction of arma-
mcnt."
L'''i NP'u htlu On lilhl pNihNlNls /
lt there Is one great question that T
.onfronts the world today and which
ne world must decide afirmatlvely
u order to save itself II is the Ques-
lon OF abandoning the great armies
'nd navies OF the past and agreeing
oh policy Of disarmament that will
at'Ie national difficulties and dan
,ers by the rule Of reason and not
y the rule of the sword"
10. Regrets Nom Qualification.
realize the position of the ma
l9-rI,liy party Underwood continued. /
!, ihey determined on the policy that
,,ai' country should NOT join the
''dsue Of nations They claimed
.uat mat determination was ratified
n me polls last year. I do not say
!, was not one OF the great questions
.u'osVed In the last campaign, nut
~ 10 how far II went-in the deter
.Hnauun OF the last election no man
~ this time can say. In my Judge
4, SM,shts the reaction against war con-
,'uons that took place In every ma
2a OF the world had more to do
Tn lhe enormous majority given to
o, o,ealdent Harding than any, other
"a, but | recognize that II would be
w To propose that the majority
sssrsY should reverse fits position and
NJ rriinatively became q member of
Wv v ieague OF nations / would not