The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1923-10-24
UNDERWOOD STORY
STIRRED EN- Up
REPORT THAT HE HAD TURNED
AGAINST NATIONS LEAGUE
CAUSED EXCITEMENT.
FLATLY DENIED BY SENATOR
Politics is Now the Chief Subject OF
Discussion in Washinaton-Both
National Committee Chairmen To
Hold Their Places.
BY EDWARD 9. A

Observation-Disclosures in Washing
ton was enlivened a bit the other DAY
when the newspapers carried TWO
cheek by Jowl, one telling of a
speech by Senator Oscar w. Under.
wood of Alabama. announced candi-
date for the Democratic nomination
for the presidency, and the other CIV
ing account of Il speech by Samuel Nj.
Ralston of Indiana, also "a candidate
for Democratic honors.
In the story of the speech by Mr..
Underwood it was said he had given
over his allegiance to the League of
Nations. In the story of the speech by
Mr.. Ralston it was said he reaffirmed
his belief in the league.
1t took only about twenty-four
hours for Il denial to arrive of the
truth of the story of the Underwood
speech. The Alabama senator re-
pudlated in toto the report of his ad-
dress. He said his belief in the league
was what it always had been and that
he was still its staunch supporter.
The League of Nations, despite recent
happenings, probably will be very
much of Il factor in the coming nom.
nation campaign and. of course. In the
election campaign which is TO follow.
AS everybody knows, the Democrats,
like the Republicans, have their ranks
split on the general subject of trying
to find some means to aid Europe. but
there are many more League Of Ma
t~lonites In the Democratic party. or
seemingly so. at least. than there are
in the Republican party.
All Looking for Excitement.
II is easy enough to understand the
excitement which followed the story
that Mr.. Underwood had repudiated
the league. 1t was said by some Dem
ocrats that this reputation meant his
defeat for the nomination. 1t takes a
denial of a story a long time to catch
up with the story itself. Sometimes
it never catches up, but. of course.
Mr.. U~nderwoed's friends are hoping
for the best. Politics will be the chief
subject of discussion in this town from
now until the election. n year from
NONtilDcI, anu npN lAui III hCat u
the summer is past with its general
accompanying dizziness, it perhaps can
be readily understood with what avid
ity in cool weather the politicians
seized upon the URderwood-Ralston In
cident for street. office and closet con-
~versatiOn.
The Republicans are having some
interesting discussions of their own on
this thing and that thing these days.
A Republican leader the other day de
liYered himself of q statement to the
effect that President Coolidge was be-
the World court matter. The intima-
ton was. of course, that If the Presl-
dent followed his own beliefs in the
matter he would lose politically that
the devil of a%nti-court would get him on
the one side or the deep sea of the
court on the other, unless he CON-
promised.
Some of the Presidents friends were
angry at this statement of the Re
publican leader, for they said that in
a way it was an insult to suggest that
any President of the United States for
purely political purposes would fail to
follow his own convictions in any mat
ter and would be deferred from doing
right by any fear for his future.
National chairmen to Stay.
The chairmen of the two great ma
tional party committees seemingly are
to stay put on their jobs until the
conventions meet. This much GEMS TO
be assured, Notwithstanding the fact
that rumors have been flying about
that Chairman Hull of the Democratic
committee was not entirely acceptable
to many of the Democratic brethren
and hat Chairman Adams of the Re-
publican committee was, as the saying
goes, lin bad with a good many Re
publicans of high estate.
A national committee rarely or nev-
er removes its chairman. Probably II
can't. Chairmen are supposed to stay
in office until the national conl en-
tions meet, when their successors are
named. Nobody knows who will be the
successor of either of the men now in
high committee place.
When the conventions meet and the
presidential candidates are named.
each candidate expresses his desire in
the matter of a national committee
chairman. II the Republican nominee
next year wants Mr.. Adams to hang
on. he'll hang on, and IL the Demo.
cratic nominee wants Mr.. Hull to hang
on. he'll hang on.
Who viii Preside over Senator
There is speculation in Washing
ton as to the identity of the
next president pro TEN of the Uni
ted States senate. Senator Cummins
of Iowa was the presiding officer
in the absence of the vice president
for some time, but now that the vice
president has become President. the
president pro tenn in effect will be the
president permanent of he senate II
is said that Senator Cummins is moi
over anxious for n continuation of the
honor which has been his.
The place in a way is "A conspicu-