Booms

Oscar W. Underwood, after four months abroad, returned to this country. In Alabama the State Legislature, which convenes in the middle of July, awaited the Senator's reply to its request that he become a candidate for the Presidency. He is rated a conservative, a "moist" (as opposed to "wet") and an advocate of an active foreign policy.

Before the Alabama Senator went south to address his state legislature, he paused in Washington long enough to deliver a statement attacking the Administration's foreign policy. At once his attack was hailed as the first step of his race for the Democratic nomination, which he is expected to make. He declared in part:

" Never in our history as a nation have we occupied a more negative position in the affairs of Europe than today. . . . Our Governmental arm seems paralyzed so far as help in that direction is concerned. . . . There are more causes of war existing in Europe today than there were in January, 1914. . . ." As for a World Court, " it is a wise and progressive policy that is needed and not the laggard motion of a court of law!"

William G. McAdoo, it is anticipated, will reach the Democratic Convention with far more votes than anyone else, but political prognosticators persist, as they have done for some time, in declaring that Mr. McAdoo will not be able to gain any votes once he enters the Convention --because all those who are not for McAdoo are very much against him. It follows, if that is true, that he cannot get the nomination, for which a two-thirds vote is necessary. Nevertheless, supporters of McAdoo are not downhearted. Recently Samuel B. Amidon, Democratic National Committeeman, sailed for Europe. He is one of the leaders in McAdoo's campaign. A large dinner was given in Manhattan for Mr. Amidon, and many McAdooans assembled. It appeared from their discussion that their problem will be to corral delegates from several of the larger states. Mr. McAdoo is "bone dry." The chances are that it will be very difficult to get delegates from states like New York, Illinois, Massachusetts, Wisconsin, Missouri, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, to accept a totally dry candidate.