The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-12-21
HEARST RE0PENS.
BITTER ATTACK
ON UNDER WOOD
Publisher Prints Signed
Editorial In His Wash
ington Paper
NORRIS CONFIDENT
BILL is BLOCKED
Nebraskan Certain He
Will Defeat Alabamian's
Amendment
(WashingtOn Bureau)

WASHINGTON, u. ", Icy -
Apparently believing that his edito-
rial writer, Edwin j. Clap,p, mas
taken the edge from his Washington
Herald's attack upon Senator I'm
derwood last Saturday, William
Randolph Hearst, publisher OF the
Herald. today repudiated the per
sonal views" of Mr.. Clapp, and IN
signed article, reiterated his be
lief that Underwood is one OF the
"most persistent supporters OF
GREAT financial corporations VINO
ever sat in the United States senate.
"Mr. Clapp's private opinion seems
to me TO be of no Importance "h az
in this matter" Hearst writes. an
publisher of the American ana my pr
vate opin1on of Senator Underwood,
with whom 1 served four years in con-
yress. is thnt he is a delightful man per
sonally. but one of the most persistent
curuorters of the great financial corpo-
rations and trusts who ever sat in the
senate Of the United States and that is
saying a good deal.
The editorial which appeared in the
Herald does not say that Senator IN
dcrwood is corrupt, nor, on the other
hand, does it say that he is not cor
rupt." he adds, having no direct evl-
dencc on this question, the editorial
very properly does not discuss 1t.
But the editorial does say that Sena-
tor Underwood, for some reason or 9TH
err. is responsible for scandalous at
tempt to turn over extremely Valuable
public property to the private owner
shin and exploitation of one of the most
oppressive and extortionate trusts IN
the country" says Hearst.
This is definitely and demonstraoly
true. and, Furthermore, this attitude OF
Senator Underwood is in complete har-
mony with his customary and charac-
teristic policy" he concludes.
Following the adjournment of the SEN
ate today for the Christmas holidays,
Senator Norris, of Nebraska, and Sen
ator Mcclellan, of Tennessee, consratu-
lated cath other.
They are convinced that they nave
so successfully conducted filibuster
against the Underwood Muscle Shoals
bill that, that bill, although command
ing a majority vote of the senate at any
time, cannot become law this session
of congress, that is. by March 4.
There is no doubt expressed that in,
dications bear out the opinion OF
Norris and Mcclellan. For it is known
that they are prepared to tlllDuster
against report of conferees between
two houses if that report should rec
ommend that the Underwood bill be
accepted.
Norris To Maintain Bloc
The Nebraska senator indicated to-
day that he would be through, will
have said all he wants to say regard
ing the situation" within seven days
following the resumption of the SEES
sion in January. This would indicate
that the senate will send the Under
wood bill to conference about January
10. The conference report will, In all
probability be before the senate, the
latter days of January, but the Dill
will not have the present status that
the Underwood bill enjoys. 1t Will
not be before the senate as the con-
tinuing order of business until disposed
of. Therefore, any senator could post
pone from day to day a consldera-
ton of the report, and that same
senator, if associated by only very
few, could filibuster the report when
it finally came before senate, to
its death. The circumstances at that
time would favor the filibuster, 1t Is
pointed out. For no doubt daministra-
ton senator's, the closing hours OF the
session, will be more anxious to put
into effect the administrations legisla-
tive program than to write into law the
Underwood bill.
Weeks To Lease Shoals
The measure of the Alabama SEN
ator includes the provisions for the
manufacture of fertilizer that were in
Guided in the Ford offer. 1t has the
formal Endorsement of the American
Grange and the American Farm bureau
federation, the Tennessee River Improve
ment association, and the so-called
Spokesman of the Tennessee valley. IL
that bill is defeated in accordance with
the Norris-McKellar program, the secre-
tary of war, in lieu of no COMPRESSION
al instructions, will proceed to lease
Muscle Shoals power as soon as VIII
son dam is completed in July. He has
already secured official information
from the government legal department
that he would have such right.
Only one corporation, it is pointed
out is in position to secure that posi-
ton on temporary lease. That is
the Alabama Power company. 1t is
pointed out that the tactics of Norris
and Mcclellan, whether devised for
that purpose or not, will have a result
in accordance with the hope of the
Alabama Power company when it
opened its defensive against the Ford
offer.
Senator Norris favors government
ownership. Senator Mcclellan once
stood for the Ford offer, and when
that offer was withdrawn, requested
the Detroit manufacturer to submit it
Continued On Page Two.)