. t
SECTDOW OF
THE. ROBESONIAN
LUMBERTON, N. C, MONDAY, MARCH 18, 1912.
OSCAR Wo UNDERWOOD FOR PRE
MATCHLESS LEADER OF A UNITED DEMOCRACY-WORTHY OF A UNITED SU
SID
THE PROGRESS OF
A SANE YOUNG MAN
Bv Samuel G. Blythe.
(Saturday Evening Post, December 30, 1911.)
It was hot in Washington on Wednesday, the second of August last '-so hot
you could fry an egg on the pavement at Ninth and F if so be your taste ran
to fried egg d la asphalt; and it was even hotter than on that torrid corner
in the glass-ceilinged chamber of the House of Representatives.
Only a few wilted statesmen were present at noon, and the chaplain languidly
besought that they should be purified from all guile and let it go at that. It
may have been there was a feeling that some of those statesmen reposing coat
less and within the zones of influence of the electric fans in the various com
mittee rooms should have their guile removed too; for no sooner had the-'
chaplain concluded his thirty seconds of prayer than the absence ot a quorum,
was suggested. The heated statesmen came pouring in from all sorts of places,
shoving themselves sulkily into their coats, and answered to their names as
the roll was called. Two hundred and thirty-three of them responded, each
aikjng his neighbor: "What's up?"
If wasn't long before they all found out. After Mr. Burke, of South Dakota,
liad corrected the Record to show he voted in the negative on a certain propo
sition instead of answering "Present," Oscar W. Underwood, the Democratic
floor-leader, and by the same token the majority floor-leader, was up. Also,
Oscar W. Underwood was cool. Two hundred and thirty-two statesmen were
moist to the point of saturation and heated to the point of liquescence; but
I'nderwood was cool. Not a bead of perspiration gemmed his brow; not a sag
was in his collar and his shirt-bosom preserved its pristine, gloss.
Underwood Center of a Dramatic Scene.'
He had a newspaper in his hand; and as he rose the gasping patriots on
toth sides took notice and shoved up their temperatures a degree or so by
flapping vigorously. .
"The gentleman from Alabama is recognized," said the Speaker, leaning for-(
ward eagerly as if he knew what was coming.
"Mr. Speaker," began Underwood calmly, evenly, dispassionately and coolly
which is most important "Mr. Speaker, I rise to a question of personal privi
Jege." The Democrats applauded some more. The Republicans grinned. It
was no affair of theirs, save as a show. ..... .
He asked that the clerk read from the newspaper he held in his hand, and
.sent a page-boy scurrying up to the desk with it. The clerk read in that sing
song manner in which all reading clerks read. It was a telegraphic dispatch
from Lincoln, Nebraska, and it began: "The recent activity of Representative
I'nderwood in defeating the attempt by Champ Clark and others to reduce the
steel and iron schedule has met with the disapproval of W. J. Bryan.
The reading clerk paused here, as if to let the enormity of this sink into the
parboiled perceptions of the perspiring patriots, and began again: Today
Bryan authorizes the following statement: 'The action of Chairman Under
wood in opposing an immediate effort to reduce the iron and steel schedule
reveals the real Underwood. Speaker Clark and other tariff reformers tried
to secure the passage of a resolution instructing the Ways and Means Com
mittee to take up other schedules, including the iron and steel schedule; but
I TKierwood and Fitzgerald, of New York, succeeded in defeating the resolu-
; t M
There was more of the statement, but that is enough to show its general
tenor It charged Underwood with being tainted with protection and having
n individual interest in the iron and steel business, and was a very pointed
nd personal assault on one big Democrat by another After the clerk had
iAj a: cfof-mnf there wat a moment of silence. Underwood
stood looking directly at the Speaker, who still half leaned across the big desk
,,n under the flag. Then Underwood began speaking slowly, dispassionately,
venly and gravely.
Underwood's High Political Courage.
"The statements contained in that article are absolutely false!" he said. In
stantly the entire Democratic side broke into a roar of applause.
If the reflections mat paper contains icsicu uiujr un uij" o..u... "y
take the time of this House to answer them; but the statements contained in
that article are a reflection on the only body of Democracy that is in control
of this Government, and as the representative leader on the floor of this House,
of this majority. I should be untrue to my party if I did not rise here and
stamp those utterances with the brand of falsehood 1"
Underwood continued. He asserted he had asked the committee to take up
the iron and steel schedule first because he comes from an iron and steel dis
trict and appealed to his Democratic colleagues on the committee to support
this' statement, which they did. He said the committee had deemed it wiser
to take up the woolen and the cotton schedules first because the iron and steel
schedules'had been cut in the Wilson .the Dingley and the Payne B. Is-and
wool and cotton Had not Deen reviseu ior many j.j. ""' " f'u" I
Carolina corroborated what Underwood cla.mcd; and Underwood further
Droved his case, explaining his connection with the iron and steel business
L is a stockholder in a company that makes pig iron-and having a telegram
read from Mr. Brvan, dated April twenty-third, to Olhe James, in which Mr.
Brvan asked James to convey his congratulations to Underwood.
'Mr Speaker," said Underwood, "Mr. Bryan did not say I was protection
izing he Democratic party when I brought 'n the free-list b. 1. Not until I
Offered with him on the woolen schedule did he have one word of criticism so
far as mT conduct was concerned. I had to write a edk
Sat would protect the revenues of this Government, and because I d-d so and
d d not obrv the command of the gentleman from Nebraska, Mr Bryan he
S endeavoring to make the country believe I am not an honest Democrat in
faThreref wasome ZTcV thf speech, but not much. It was delivered ear
nest I lu wi hout heat and without an attempt at oratorical flourish Then
was no re, "v of denial, no protesting of innocence, no be. ting "j
A sane young man made a sane denial-and proved his case. That was all
there was to it except one thing.
Underwood a Presidential Possibility.
Th-it one thing is this: When Underwood finished that statement and sat
S ."on Mr' Brjai"are". 'SmmL "I' BryE SlZ ISlSS
A lho.?t as effective What gave the State of Alabama a presidential can-
to have stuff in him. . .. A. ,ct3n,-e to laud Under-
stance iu i.tuu - , . . Underwood rose to a question
equation of it was negligible. The mere I.3' UnK in the sober thought
of nersonal privilege and denounced Bryan meant nothing ,n i
.f the people; but the independency LTX tot the entire majority
vincing manner in wmu. "f pr an arduous session of Congress, in
nssrJsSm 7 j&tu srssss
favored sons in nomination, will send an orator to the P ' Q w.
i. nwwnt for the consideration ot rne neicKaic: i... ...
nebt and preseni u "c i .,, f Wav and Means Committee in
House.
Uncood's Long Legislative Experience of Great Value.
had inclwed m m.u u rprtain length of time in fne
extraordinarily well qualified for the presidency because of his long experience
in Governmental matters. Granting that Mr. Taft had long experience in the
executive end ot tne uovernmem, nc was wuiunj utinmu m "-a-the
legislative end; and this has been apparent all through his term. So with
Mr. Roosevelt. The tragedy of the death of Major MrKinley will hold his
name high among the names of our Presidents; but, considering him critically,
no historian at all familiar with the facts can deny he was an expert President,
a capable President, a President who could secure results, a President who
knew how to deal with the Congress which makes the laws he must execute,
because of his long experience and service in the House.
1 1 V? TV ii
Pit I
M s
HON. O. W. UNDERWOOD.
Underwood's Varied Public Service.
Now, when you talk of a man as a receptive or an aggressive candidate for
a presidential nomination you tot up his qualifications; and, no matter whether
Underwood's name ever gets before the convention or not, no matter if it re-
ceives no votes save tnose ot AiaDama, me ia is nc is ihk"' Muau...u
as the mechanics of the Government is concerned. He has served in the House
of Representatives for seventeen years. When he took his seat, in December,
1895, he was thirty-three years old. He was placed on the Committees on Public
Lands and Expenditures on Public Buildings. In the Fifty-fifth Congress he
was promoted to the important Committee on Judiciary, and in the Fifty-sixth
went to ways and ftieans. tie was on ivmcs mm . .--.v... -
Lands in the Fifty-seventh Congress, on Appropriations and Irrigation ot
Arid Lands in the Fifty-eighth, and in the Fifty-ninth went back to Ways
j w .i . . - ..mnidArl orrivinor at thn rliairmanshio in the
present or Sixty-second Congress, when the Democrats gained control Ot the
In all these years he has been a quiet, systematic, steady worker not demon
strative, not flashy, but studious and industrious; and the mere reading ot the
names of the committees on which he has served will show how wide his
experience has been. He hastened all phases of the legislative side of the
Government and masteredrhem. Sfar as the mechanics of this Gov""1?"
is concerned-the knowledge of how &o the things that must be done-there
is no man in Congress who it the supeW of Underwood. And without laying
myself open to the charge of booming JUnderwood the more i knowledge : of the
mechanics of the Government that is brought to the White House by its four
year resident the better things will be for the country at large.
Underwood's Methods Like McKinley's.
Somebody asked me once if I didn't think Underwood is a deallike
McKinley in many ways. Laying aside whatever cr't'c'smtnihrtereanmffeCive
McKinlev the fact is as I have said-he was a most expert and effective
pVerioS'beSuse knew how to do things. I think the comparison fa.rly apt
McKinley was a Republican and a protect.omst-and Underwood is a Demo
crat and a believer in tariff for revenue; but the two men had many traits in
11 McKy was, and Underwood is, a student of tar.ff economics.
McKey got his "results by compromise by conciliation by ooA'JJ
rrlties awav bv a oolite cons dcrat on of the claims of others by being wining
iltlil'&itn and civility that masked a real determ.nation
and2 does Underwood. McKinley recognized the' vast complex t.es o MAe
legislative machine and knew how to rmomze difficulties
l.nw how to straighten out tangles and -o-d p.tfaUs-and so does Lnderwood
McKinley knew when to receue anu ...... Kj. ulked of
Underwood; but Mcwniey was, anu r ;; , for his" oartv.
.f others, and s ultimately concernea in gcuu ..-v nf their
1 m nn rnmnarison here of the men other than a comparison of their
methods. McKinley was effective-and so is Underwood. mesc
reasons why.
Underwood's Leadership Beset With Tremendous Difficulties.
Underwood's position when the Sixty-second Congress was 'gitv
session by President Taft last April for ?te p?ipo "SgS
legislation, was a pos t on of tremendous difficulties. He v.as ma" J .
of & Ways and Means Committee. He had been Jmp g A on
,he Democratic minority of the committee in the Sixty-first Congress .in w
.he House had a Republican majority and passed the Payne -Aldrich tantt law
n l third in the Fifty-ninth Congress, when the House was also Republican
,,d when he was ranked on the ni.nonty side tJr
'lark and Bourke Cockran. Cockran was out of Confess v.hen the
:me into control of the House and dark was made Speaker. ithout protest.
I'nderwood succeeded to the chairmanship of t he crm triVee
Mrs. Undwood.
reciprocity legislation, to which the
Democrats were favorable, the House
was Democratic mainly because of the
dissatisfaction of the people with the
Payne-Aldrich tariff law, the election
that made the House Democratic being
the first opportunity the people had to
express that dissatisfaction tangibly.
The Democrats had a majority of
nearly seventy. They had not had pos
session of the House for sixteen years.
They were politically hungry and polit
ically thirsty. They needed sustenance.
They thought thry had a chance to elect
president in 191Z and get lull swing
all the nerouisites and oreroeatives
of the Government; and each man of
the two hundred and twenty-eight Dem
ocrats waj full of schemes for making
this chanct a certainty. Thev were all
anxious to revise the tariff in order to
keep faith with the people, but they had
many plans for revision and many
haH nf oninion as to how it should
be revised. They felt their power and
importance. 1 ney were eager, avid, en
thusiastic and none too prudent.
Underwood and the
Democratic Party.
Underwood was made leader of these
men. His task was to hold them in line,
to keep them together, to get them at
work intelligently and cohesively to get
results. He knew that the Democratic
party, if it was to have any response
election of a Democratic president in
fit for confidence. He knew
PLAIN Wfl
pud
(Extracts frorJ
Staff Corre
Sew York
Section. Dec
"There has t
the part ot th
give labor its s
derived from
have kept all t
"To protect
inefhc lency an
rather than to
"I prefer to 1
by taking brick
wall rather tn
the structure
"The people
the Republican
has not kept fa
"If it (the S
forced as a cr
an emcient tn
venting and p
and restraint o
frmn tVi rnn1 in its demand for the
Iftll .. ... rlintu .Via n.ftl if 1 t m C t MJ f Vi V Qflli
ti.uai a. .ww nit j'v v ,i i j ......... -- - 1
of the varying opinions as to" what should be done with the tariff; knew of
the enthusiasm and lack ot judgment, tne parusansnip, anu even me kikuuwi
of some of his followers; knew they had been so long outside that the
.H.!.n.ni n iw incirl nnsitinn mipht lead to excesses in legislation. He chose
i : . . . c ...11 inI urpnt fit th inhi
ii:. :. .... ,mto TV, PrulHent vetoed the tariff hills that Were
formulated in the House under Underwood's direction and intrinsically his,
though changed in many particulars in the Senate and in conference. There
i,. foriff lecridation in the House in this session. The President has
WU. J iHWlV. ...... , . . ..... . . ,
i I . : . . a inmnc.te are U' n7 in v hl il dViiiu i ljii... v n
way. What Underwood must do again is to hold his party in line to meet
i - nc Ik. v,a, I tn meet in the extra session that ended last
summer and never forget for a minute that there is a presidential election
next vear that undoubtedly will be largely decided upon the tariff question.
Judging the tuture hy tne past, ne win uo u. n a uuai-... ..o.6v-
dynamite. Many of his Democratic colleagues are anxious ior ran.cai au.
in many ways. The Congress will not adjourn until just before the first national
convention is held. The record of the present House will figure argely, not
only as to the individual fortunes of Underwood but also as to the fortunes
f hnmcoever shall be nominated by the Democrats for president and that
candidate's success at the polls.
Underwood Opposes Initiative, Referendum and Recall.
He is an advanced conservative in his views of other legislation For example,
he does not favor the wide extension of the initiative, referendum and recall.
His contention is that these measures have worked out satisfactorily tn local
matters where the people clearly understood the issues; but that in larger
matters of national importance the Congress is better able to protect the
interests of the people.
"The people suffer far more from the failure to enforce existing
laws than thev do from the lack of proper legislation," he says lhe
people should drive from the places of power and responsibility the
unfaithful servants and elect those who will be faithful to the trust
imposed upon them. The masses of people are far better judges of
men than they are of measures, and are far more likely to select an
honest man than an honest measure."
HIS WIFE A K
Mr. Underwoota
assisted by his w
him and has fait
takes the utmost
and his ambition
control of the d
and leaves him fr
cern. It is rur
lays out his clot
his cravat. She t
studies and work
bright, well cduca
of life. Not be;
wholesome and
wonder is expres
wood's forehead a
wrinkles. All the
suicide connected
are removed frol
World, August 6,
THE UNDEi
Uncle Joe Cann)
Ivit "Congressma
lam.-f has crown
iif nt recently thar
United States.
Other leaders i
now taking notic
rner. who distir
inir the extra se
Democratic leadeif
Commenting u
boom, the Birmin
"The rise of O
marvel of America
look for its culm
Line 25 in the gt
That this distiri
irrowine in favor
country is plainly
Watch Underwood
Ledger, reprinted
Ala.. Age-Herald,
DUTY HIGHE
Underwood I
"My Friends
-iavs Lnderwood.
Congressman C
when asked if he
for the Presidenc
"I think my fr
me the complimei
hat they will pr
-or.ventton. I vi
lave their indors
feel otherwise at
"But I have to'
io thev must do
a man's work q
yonder." waving
ral direction
am going to try
am not SOWS tO
!i''.Te for the II
thing else.
"For what mv
(rratffnl. But wl
will have to do.
Oct. 15. 1911.
UNDERWOOD
Underwood's Characteristics.
Underwood was born in Kentucky in 1862, was educated at the Rgb" !
School in Louisville, and the University of Virginia and was admitted
to the bar in 1884. He went at once to Birmingham, Alabama, where he has
since practiced law. He was first elected to Congress in 1894 and has been ,
r . ii. 1.. i VinH in ru-ilitire and served on J5tate I
returned reguiany since, w ....- v - - -
and district committees before he went to Washington. As I have shown.
.i v,,, k.n 1'irieH anH his advance has been steady.
MS experience in wic nuusc mj Kf
He is not a showy man. but a studious. He is not an eloquent orator, but
a convincing speaker. His greatest speech was in opposition to t..e rayne
Mdr h ' biS VhSn that measure was reported .to the Hnuje o Z'TZVl
hv the Republican Ways and Means Committee in 1909. He made several
inportant speeches in advocacy of his own measures during the extra session
of the House Inst summer, but none was so important or so exhaustive as
that speech against the Payne bill. He spoke for several hours took up the-
ill section bv section and analyzed it from his information and convictions
is was one of the great speeches of a season of remarkable presentments ot
t-iriff doctrine on both sides of the Honse.
Underwood does not vite his speeches. He says he cannot memorize easily,
nnd never attempts to make a set speech or a speech where he followr : copy
exactly His method is to collect all the available information bearing on his
sbjert'and arrange it in skeleton form. He sets it out by dnsions subdivisions
--d topics Heroes over these, rearrange. cl.i'ie. d.vides and subdivides.
TVn he may write portions of the speech or he may not At anv ; rate,
when he comes to talk he nothing before him but a sheet of paper with his
Topics on it, and he talks without reference to note, or to authorities.
I nuw1 Pnli
The Underwoo
sane reductions.
framed so as t
of the tariff wit
t shock to impo
This is a sens
It is good polil
economics. Mor
If such a pro
and vetoed by t
and the Republi
face an angry n
trayal charged a
If Taft shoui
vious attitude ai
leave all the erf
to the Democrat
him to recover
he has lost.
The failure o
has deprived th
leeitimate excusd
gives the Demq
going ahead wi
more reports o
Orleans Item, rej
fry (Alabama)