"IT WOULD MAKE TEAPOT DOME LOOK LIKE A PINHEAD"

SENATOR NORRIS RAILS AGAINST UNDERWOOD MUSCLE SHOALS BILL

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On December 17, 1924, The Evening Star reports that Senator George W. Norris* (R-Nebraska), chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, is railing against the proposed (Oscar W.) Underwood** Muscle Shoals Bill.

The progressive G.O.P. senator says, if it becomes law it would make "Teapot Dome look like a pinhead."

It is his opinion that Democrats "plan to turn Muscle Shoals*** over to some private corporation" thus circumventing federal government operation.  Norris condemns President Calvin Coolidge's support for the legislation.

JFK+50 NOTE

Senator Norris's proposals for the federal government to build dams & provide electric power for rural areas were vetoed by both Presidents Coolidge and Hoover.

The Senator would eventually leave the Republican Party & become an Independent.  FDR called him "the very perfect, gentle knight of American progressive ideals" while the GOP regulars referred to him as one of the "sons of the wild jackasses." 

*George William Norris (1861-1944) was born in York Township, Ohio & was a graduate of Wallace University & Valparaiso University LLB 1883.  GWN served in the US House of Representatives 1903-1913 & U.S. Senate 1913-1943.  He sponsored legislation that created the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) in 1933.  Norris Dam, located in East TN, is named after him.

**Oscar Wilder Underwood (1862-1929) was born in Louisville, KY & was a graduate of the University of Virginia 1881, LLB 1883.  OWU served in the US House of Representatives 1897-1915 & US Senate (D-Alabama) 1915-1927.

OWU was one of the very few Southern Democrats to oppose the KKK which he considered "a national menace."  JFK included the senator in his book "Profiles In Courage" because of that stand.

The Alabama Men's Hall of Fame says he was responsible for development of Muscle Shoals water power at Wilson Dam for explosive nitrogen during WWI & for agricultural nitrogen in peacetime.

***Muscle Shoals is located on the Tennessee River in Northern Alabama.  President Wilson authorized a dam be built here to help power nitrate plants for WWI munitions.  

Wilson Dam was completed in 1924, but it was not until 1933 that TVA was established to bring hydro-electric power to the Tennessee Valley.

SOURCES

"Norris Assails Underwood Bill," The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., December 17, 1924, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

"Oscar Wilder Underwood," Alabama Men's Hall of Fame, www.samford.edu/

 

 

Senator George W. Norris

Harris & Ewing Photo

Library of Congress

"PROLONGED DEMONSTRATION FOLLOWS UNDERWOOD'S STAND"

DEMOCRATS BEGIN CONVENTION IN CHAOS OVER KLAN ISSUE

New York City (JFK+50) On June 25, 1924, Associated Press reports the National Democratic Convention meeting here in New York City "began its grapple with...two great issues, the nomination of a presidential candidate and determination of the party's attitude toward the Ku Klux Klan."

The hall was "thrown into chaos by a prolonged demonstration" following Senator Oscar W. Underwood*'s stand against the Klan.

*Oscar W. Underwood (1862-1929) was born in Louisville, Kentucky & educated at the University of Virginia.  OWU served in the US House of Representatives (D-Alabama) 1895-1915 & US Senate 1915-1927.

SOURCE

"Klan Issue Throws Convention Into Chaos; Nominations Open; McADoo's Position Is Weakened," The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., June 25, 1924, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

 

 

Senator Oscar W. Underwood

D-Alabama

Bain News Service

Library of Congress

"ALABAMA SENATOR COMPARED TO JAMES BUCHANAN"

SENATOR UNDERWOOD TO MAKE OPPOSITION TO KLAN HIS CAMPAIGN SLOGAN

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On January 7, 1924, Frederic William Wile reports that Senator Oscar W. Underwood* (D-Alabama) plans to elevate hostility to the Ku Klux Klan "as his campaign slogan."

Wile compares the Senator's strategy with that of James Buchanan whose opposition to Know-Nothingism** "carried (him) into the White House."

Senator Underwood will open his presidential campaign in Cleveland, Ohio on January 22, 1924.  His battle against the Klan will not only take place in his home territory, the South, but also in the state of Ohio where the KKK is more powerful than any state in the Union other than Indiana.

*Oscar W. Underwood (1862-1929) was born in Louisville, KY & served in the US Senate 1915-1927.  OWU was the 1st to be designated as floor leader in the USS & the only person to serve as Democratic leader in both houses of Congress.

**Know-Nothings were nativists who kept their secrecy by denying their existence as a party.  KNs opposed Catholics & recent immigrants to the United States. 

SOURCE

"Anti-Klan Plank Underwood Plan," by Frederic William Wile, The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., January 7, 1924, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

 

 

Oscar W. Underwood

Bain News Service Photo

Library of Congress

"PLANS TO DO THE CHUCKING UPON RETURN TO U..S."

SENATOR UNDERWOOD TO BE FIRST DEMOCRAT TO 'CHUCK' HAT IN 1924 PRESIDENTIAL RING

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On May 23, 1923, The Alaska Daily Empire reports "the first Democratic hat to be chucked off into the 1924 Presidential ring will belong to Senator Oscar Underwood* of Alabama."

The Alabama senator is currently traveling in Europe but plans "to do the chucking" himself upon his return to the United States.

George R. Holmes writes that Senator Underwood is likely to have a "special appeal" in the larger Eastern and Northern states "because of the liberality of his views on the prohibition issue."

JFK+50 NOTE

On Nov 8, 1964, NBC television aired an episode of "Profiles In Courage," a series based on JFK's Pulitzer Prize winning book, which featured Senator Underwood.  The episode is described as "a probe of his fight against the KKK at the Democratic convention of 1924 which cost him the presidential nomination."

*Oscar Wilder Underwood (1862-1929) was born in Louisville, KY & served as U.S. Senator (D-AL) 1915-1927.  OWU also was House Majority Leader, 1911-1915 & Senate Minority Leader 1920-1923.  He was a presidential candidate in 1912 & 1924.

SOURCES

"Oscar W. Underwood," www.imdb.com/

"Underwood To Cast Hat For President Job," by George R. Holmes, The Alaska Daily Empire, May 23, 1923, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/ 

 

 

Oscar W. Underwood

Bain News Service

Library of Congress