The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-07-03
Alabama Senator, Back From
 Four Months In Europe, To
 Place Democratic Success
 Above His Own Ambitions DECLINES TO DISCUSS FIGHT FOR NOMINATION Senate Leader Likely To Give Little Consolation To Wet Faction-BeIieves In Up-
 holding All Federal Laws
WASHINGTON BUREAU l
 THE AGE-HERALD Washington, D, C.. July 2


 Senator oscar W. Underwood of Alabama, prospective candidate for the democratic presidential nomina- ton. returned to Washington today after a four months tour of Europe.
 After a consultation with his ad- visors he will issue a statement to the public in response to the request tf the Alabama legislature and the state democratic executive commit teen that he permit his friends to re- gard ham as a candidate.
 While the senator today declined to discuss any angle of the situa- tion, it is known that he will assume the attitude of one entirely in the hands of his party. This will be tantamount. 1t is pointed out to a statement of his willingness to run.
 From information it is known that the senator in his statement will give little nsolation to the "wets" of the Smith Edwards type or those who during his absence constantly re ferred to him as one bent on nulli- fication.
 State Dry Stand.
 It is learned that the senator will frankly tell the people that he op- posed the eighteenth amendment be- cause he held prohibition state mat ter and because prohibition made ef- fective by federal action, he felt sure in advance, would lead to general observance, bootlegging and smuggling, and even the danger of international complications. It Is anticipated that he will refer to the fact that he supported. whereas he could have as leader of the house de- feated, the Webb-Kenyon bill, which deprived liquor of its interstate char .l Il f arr "a Q local law and that following the adoption of the eighteenth amend ment he voted for the Volstead act. despite it's alleged unreasonableness because he held that the constitution must be enforced.
 The senator's position regarding the sanctity of law, even the law he opposed, has undergone no change. In all probability he will denounce the movement for beer as one impos- slble of realization and as one con ceived for the purpose of deceiVing those who would have beer.
 Break With Harding.
 It is gathered the senator will break positively but kindly with the President. He will take the position that President Harding Is well inten- toned but so enmeshed as result Of his attempt to balance the scales on every question that progress in any direction under Harding would be inn possible. He will treat the court proposal as immaterial inasmuch as 1t is open to the United States whether the United States supports 1t financially or not but that If repub- licans prefer the form to the sup stance the acceptance of the form would entail no disadvantage. He will refer to his support of the league covenant and suggest that the party proceed in consideration, of in ternational problems with knowi- edge that economically, isolation Is
 For the purpose of escaping pub licity. Senator Underwood landed in Boston rather than New York where he was expected. He succeeded in reaching his home in Washington without even his office force being aware of his presence.