Evening star., 1924-01-20
UNDERWOOD DR|F I
IS seen in SOUTH.
Decided Trend Toward: :Sena.
tor Apparent Elsewhere;
Democrat Chiefs Hold.
BY ROBERT r. SMALL

Special Dispatch to The Star. sz...
MIAMI BEACH, Fla, January, 49,
Southern democrats profess to see a
decided national drift to Senator Os-
car Underwood OF Alabama for the
presidential nomination. Many of
them are beginning to take the I'm
lderwood boom seriously for the first
time. .,.s.
The senator always has had con-
siderable support here in Florida and
In his home state OF Alabama, but re-
ports are coming of increased inter-
est In other parts Of the south, with
renewed talk of the time approach
ing to- put southern man in the
White House. William Gibbs McAdoo
is southern born; SO was Woodrow
Wilson. but both had lived away
from the south for great many
years before being considered for the
presidency
Senator Underwood Is a part and
parcel of the old south, and one Of
the principal arguments leveled
against him by his enemies Is that he
partakes too much of the old south's
conservatism
Underwood adherents in this state,
VINO are Conducting the fight against
william Jennings Bryan for delegate
at large to the national convention
at new fork, because Mr.. Bryan has
announced that II he ever gets to the
convention floor he will fight the
senator. have viewed recent events in
ashinEton with immense satisfac.
tion; They insist that the selection
OF New York as the convention city
amounted to decided check, to the
McAdoo movement. They a,so sav
Mr. Bryan was given the cold shout
DER az tho national committee meet
ing. The Underwood followers see
IN the New York selection the as
rehoancy or the Murphy Brennan
IaSsart wing of the democracy, and
this wing Is known to be fayora
~ TINS time to the aspirations Of
senator Underwood.
May be stalking Horse,
Whether the New York, Illinois and
Indiana leaders are merely lookin1
upon Mfr. Underwood as stalking
nvIsc remains TO be seen. Naturally
MI Murphy is for AL Smith for Pres,
dent, but he realizes the handicaps of
the Governor of New York as well
rs ,he governor does himself. Neither
are practical men. Next t6 Al Smits
boss Murphy is known to look with
layor upon Senator Underwood. tust
as ne and Messrs. Brennan and Tag
gar. @ are known to look with disfavor
ipon Mr.. McAdoo. The latter is said
TO count this opposition Of the "boss
rlng as one of his greatest assets
Ihe taking of the convention tn
New York has revived the story of
Mt. McAooo having moved away from
that state because he knew he cnuJd
never get the backing Of Mr.. Murphy
Tor any national Office. much less the
presidency. When Mr. McAdoo was IN
Washington he was blamed for a
number of anti-Murphy and anti
organization appointments made hv
President Wilson. This wa. hack ~
the enmity he incurred at the hands
OF the Tammany leader. some federal
Judges were appointed in New. York
without. any consultation with the
taHnany chieitain, and he never
mas forgot. and never will. this af-
front, which he regarded as an at
tack upon his rulershfp.
SENATOR Underwood is looked upon
ty MS followers as the type of SOUTH
crn man who would appeal to the
stands in the west is the problem
which confronts>- them .. It is nrett "
generally realized by now that the
cnly way the democrats can win the
presidency this year rs to help widen
the breach which exists in the repub-
lean party. This is being partly ac-
complished in Washington through q
coalition of democrats and republt-
can -progressives from the west If
the progressireS are merely out for
a. wrecking expedition the coalition
may continue. but question arises
as to whether such a coalition would
sc satisfied with a conservative of
the type of Senator Underwood reap
ing the fruit from the seeds of discord
now being sown.
: Openly Fights Khan.
On the surface of things here in the
;outh, Senator Underwood would not
,:eem to be strong candidate He
l. not in sympathy with a lot of the
radical tendencies 4of the day. He Is
not dry. He-is not member of
the Ku klux Khan and.is openly OPP
posed to that organization.
Southern democrats are not so
-abid on the subject of prohibition as
some of their representatives in
Washington, like Mr.. Cpshaw Of
Georgia, would lead the country to
believe. They are inclined to accept
prohibition AS enacted. 1t must not
be forgotten that :. prohibition was