Evening star., 1923-10-25
UNDERWOODLAY|NG
1924 PARTY BOMB
Convention Sensation Likely
outgroWth of Appeal TO
Southern States.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

Senator Oscar Underwood OF Ala
harna has started something that may
make the democratic national conven
zion of 1924 as spectac ular and dra
matte rs the party conclave of 1912
in Baltimore. He has asun an APP
peal TO the south to back 4 southern
man for the presidential nomination.
Under the rules Of democratic con-
vcntions il takes a twC-thirds vote
:" nominate. TO ii Mr.. Underwood can
muster more than one-third his
friends he would be in ! POSITION to
prevent the nomination of any one
else until the merits of the Under
wood candidacy had been thoroughly
canvassed by the delegates.
But Mr. Underwood's campaign may
do more. II already is making an
iHva .icn of states that might be eX-
Iccted to send delegations instructed
Tor William Gibbs MoAdoc, former
"eCl ttarY Of The Treasury. who was
orn in Tennessee and whore hold cn
he south has been one of th. p-in-
ctpal factors counted upon by his
IMPORTERS to win the nomination for
him next year.
Likelihood Of Ford
'H"!f tIidt l4lat. henry turd has
been looked upon rs much more
likely to acquire delegates in the
south and west than in the eastern
states. If Mr.. Underwood corrals the
southern delegations and holds them
in his hand. he will he in d position
10 swing them for Mr.. AIcAdoo or
John W. Davis or any oS the con-
~arvative candidates insteeG OF d. rad
1cal should it be apparert that the
-Aiabama senator cannot win
But since Oscar Underwood has
opened up. some of the sl,eptics who
slrug their shoulders IN doubt when
ever the possibility OF 3 southern
nominee Is mentioned. ara saying now
that if anybody can upset the tradi-
ton and win a democratic no1nina-
fion from III" south that man is the
senior senator from Alabama. who
has had the distinction OF being
leader of his party in the House and
senate of the United States within
decade.
Democratic politicians who COM
mtntcd on Mr.. Uudcrwoed'S opening
speeches TO the effect that the north
'i-n democrats ought TO recognize
he south declare they have no lack
ntt appreciation OF southern demo
cTatS and that they have no objec-
tlon to a southerner because of the
section from which he comes.
Wilson a Southerner.
They argue in support OF their
view that Woodrow Wilson was
southerner. but that he was nomi-
mated from a. northern state. They
insist that their main reason for
wanting a. northerner is that be
would be more likely to carry doubt
ful states in the east and north. while
the democratic party is always sure
nf the south as against a republican
nominee.
The big question on which Mr. Un-
HerwoodS chances turn IS how much
strength would he develop with the
electorate in the north and east and
west.
ticket and raise the prohibition is-
tiue they will count on a. Combina-
Sion of eastern and southern votes to
win, thus more or less forfeiting the
stances, Mr.. Underwood is acceptable,
for he is allied with the "wets" and
has been fought by the "drys" from
time to time. The only other serious
be Gov. AL Smith of New York and
John W. Davis of West Virginia, as
Mr.. McAdoo, Henry Ford. Senator
RalSton of Indiana and most of the
others prominently mentioned for the
democratic nomination arc allied
with the 'drys.'
Popular in Capital.
Senator Underwood is one of the
most popular men in Washington. lie
was an intimate friend of the late
President Harding, Who appointed
him member OF the American dele
cation which negotiated the four
power pact and the treaties on limita-
lion of naval armament. Members OF
congress from the south and other
parts of the country have a deep af
lection for Oscar Underwood, and
usually senator's and representatives
have much to say about the naming
cf delegates to a national convention.
= he strength mustered by Mr.. Under
wood in the 1912 convention is still
vivid in the memory of politicians. and
were II not for his Willingness to re-
Tease his delegates the nomination of
woodrow Wilson might not have been
3nade.
Senator Underwood is stirring
things up and making the democratic
race Il real contest, in contrast to the
republican situation. which at the mo-
Inent appears to be concentrated on
the nomination OF President Coolidge,