Evening star., 1924-12-14
SENATE 1OPROBE
EDITORIAL ATTACK
Underwood Charges Sinister
Influence Behind News
papers Stand.
BY the Associated Presa.

the Senate Judiciary COMMITTEES.
Senator Underwood. Democrat, Ala
bama, who drafted the measure, OBJ
tanned unanimous consent of the Sem
ate yesterday for such an inve stiga-
tion after he had delivered a denun-
citation Of the editorial and Its writer.
The inquiry will be taken up by
the committee tomorrow and Senator
Underwood said he would demand q
subpoena for the author ito find out
the truth OF this editorial and who
is responsible for it,
Just before the close OF yester-
days Sc ssion, Senate leaders made
move to break up what they re-
garded as f1libuster> against the
Underwood bill They obtained unan-
imous consent for a vote on the Smith
amendment before 8 o'clock Tuesday
and limiting each Senator to one
speech only Of not more than 10 min
UteS.
Amendment Vote Blocked.
A vote on the amendment was
blocked, after the presiding officer had
called for roll call. hv objection from
Senator Norris. Republican. Nebraska,
an opponent Of the Underwood bill,
and Senator Smith, Democrat. South
Carolina, author of the amendme Mt.
They denied the existence of a fill
buster and declared they wished the
vote delayed because of the abse ence
of Senator's.
A vote on the Smith amendment
will serve as an expression of the
Senate on whether 1t prefers Govern
ment or private operation of Muscle
Shoals. Senator Underwood said he
would regard the vote as an indica-
tion of the final vote on his measure.
At the opening Of the session. SEN
ator Underwood rose to a question OF
o. txyfi ino nra1 rA1 q
1T is not often that I worry myself
about any newspaper comment, but
when Il propaganda is organized for
the evident purpose. through lies, or
of creating a misunderstanding and
misinterpretation by the American
people. the man involved not only
must rise to defend himself, but 1t Is
his duty to make very clear what
stands behind the libel and the false
hood uttered.
Calls Editorial Lie.
There Is in the Washington Herald
this morning" ne said. IAN editorial
that deliberately tried to put me in a
position that / never have occupied
and do not occupy" Continuing, ne
said: II would not be doing justice
either to myself, to the Senate or to
my constituency II I did not challenge
the lie that Is editorially uttered in
this paper"
The heading of the editorial. Sena-
tor Underwood said. IS Another Tea
pot Dome Is Thrust Upon Mr.. Cool
idge." The editorial goes on to say.
ne asserted, that president Coolidge
Is wise, courageous and patriotic
leader. Therefore the country can
have confidence that President Cool
idge will disregard those advisers
who seek his support of the Under
- ~
fzing the Secretary of War to lease
Muscle Shoals for so years to the
Alabama Power Co" ,AF
This Shiny snake" Senator Under
wood declared, that crawls through
an editorial column bearing misrepre-
sentation and slime Is too cowardly to
attack the President Of the United
States. and seeks by innuendo and
charge to attack other people who are
only carrying out exactly what the
President OF the United States has
recommended"
The editorial. the Alabama Senator
asserted. rs the first attack on this
Republican administration since 1t
was elected, because all the power Of
the bill rests solely in the hands Of
the President of the United States and
attempts to carry out identically the
terms that the President names In
his message to Congress"
Declares Editorial Bought.
"As a matter OF fact" Senator I'm
derwood declared, II have no doubt
that that editorial was purchased by
interests who are trying to gobble
no proof of 1t, but It bears on its face
evidence that the corrupting hand Is
behind this libel.
ITO say that 1t IS going to create a
Teapot Dome scandal he continued,
''is Identical with saying that II the
matter shall go to the President we
cannot trust him, but that he will be-
tray the confidence which the Ameri-
can people reposed in him when he
was elected President of the United
States in November"
Senator Underwood declared that
these men who are interested In
power fear they cannot command
sufficient votes to defeat my bill,
which they do not want; are trying
to libel me and make the American
people believe that the bill Is in the
interest Of power and not in the in
terests of fertilizer for the farmers"
'It Is simply. damnable misrepre-
sentation by a lobby that stands with
out the doors of the Senate chamber
at this hour" he said. Il know they
are there and Senators know they
are there and we know their pur-
pose. They are here" he contin-
ued. "to shape this legislation in IA
vor Of power and not for the produc-
tion Of fertilizer" ~.
Refers to Committee Bills.
Continuing. the Alabama Senator
asserted incidentally, l wish to say
that the committee bill Is the one
which would develop this great horse
power, not my bill" .L
Senator Underwood read from the
editorial: The power trust, always
wise and always awake, Is terrified
at the prospect Of Senator Norris
BILL" >.
II think If the Senators will read
tho testimony before the committee
he added. they will find that the gen
tlemen who are Interested in power
were testifying favorably to a power
bill, and not to the Ford offer. which
il q nitrogen and fertilizer PROPOSE
provisions in the bill have intro
duced."
1.-THE Alabama Power Co..
the Alabama Senator asserted, has
been collaborating on the other side
of the question and adjusting a pow
er bill. not bill for fertilizers and
national defense. and i challenge any
man in the Senate to deny that state.
ment."
II want to challenge the statement
of any man on this floor or of OF
it," Senator Underwood said, who
seeks to say that the bill have In.
reduced has any connection at ali
w,,r, the Alabama Power Co
The statement Is false In its concep.
uon and In its Intention"
Denies Corporation Service.
There never was q lie," he de-