Birmingham age-herald., 1894-08-22
DEMOCRAT DOUBTS DENsoN
And Questions the Congressman's Right to Democratic Ree-
 ognition.
To the Age-Heraldi

 der the heading, civilian H. Denson Defended," letter from Gadsden advocat- l ing the renomination of that gentleman for congress, but the heading was the only part of the letter that suggested any defeuse whatever.
 A majority of the democrats here are uot satisfied with the ''dubious policy'' of our congressman, ,and as that letter was written from his home and presumably by one who stands close to him would like to ask the writer few questions.
 Wouldn't Colonel Denson have had as much time for his canvass after the state election as he consumed before it? Then, if he did not intend to injure the demo- cratic party in the state election, why did he select the very crisis of the campaign to come with his very remarkable and unso- licited ''account of stewardship?o Why was he preceded by letter from Third Party Chairman Laubeneck to Kolb leader saying he would come to speak in Kolb's interest7 Why did he refuse to pulp licly denounce this letter as untrue when urged to do so by the democratic chairman of this countyf How was it that the very day he spoke here q leading third party paper in Georgia announced that he would speak in Kolb's behalf3 Why was it that he dwelt favorably upon every third party battle cry raised in the state campaignf Why was he so eloquently silent upon the democratic side of the questions then agitating the people2 Why was 1t when he ceased speaking that the democrats were dumb with astonishment and left without a crumb of cumfort or encourage ment, while wild-eyed populism, with lusty cheers, swarmed round, feasting riotously at our expense, upon such food as populism alone feeds upon? Why was it that leading third partyites here openly advocated his election to the United States senate2 Have you ever beard of any of them advocating Dick Clarke or Joe Wheeler or any othea true democrat to succeed Morgan? How did Parson Adams come to pay him the distinguished honor(O of meeting and conferring' with him here? Were Wheeler, Morgan, Bankhead Clarke, or any other democratic speaker singled out for such distinction during the state campaign3 What about Goodwyn's de. claration that the Jeffersonians will in- dorse him for re- election? Consider in connection with the offer made Senator Morgan by the enemy, assuring him he should have no opposition if he would not speak in the interest of the democratic ticket, do not these things look little bit suspicious, even to a Densou man? The truth is Colonel Denson's "dubious policy" is wholly without excuse or justi. tication. Some say it was necessary to in- sure his reelection. This is not true, for he was elected in 1892 after having spoken with more bitterness against Kolb than any speaker in the state. Grant that it
 
 the plane of the veriest demagogue, ready and anxious to sell his party for his own personal gain.
 To nominate Deuson they say will win us third party votes. Would they be won to democracy or simply to Densonf Would they be coming to us-back to the old pariy--or would we not be going to them to get their votes? To nominate Gather, Wood or Bowman even would win us more votes than to nominate Denson. But dam0CFaCvf solely question of electing man to con- gress, if party principle is to be left out, why not nominate man who will poll the entire third party vote? Why go half hog when we can as easily and consistently go the whole hog7
 If Wood or Gaither were indorsed by the democratic party and elected, would it be a democratic victory? Yet they did as much to elect Oates as Denson did. Denson has been bitter enemy of the democratic ad- ministration, and not content with that he came to Alabama to show his bitter scorn of the nominees of the democratic party of Alabama on every stump he mounted in his district by treating them with silent contempt. To nominate and elect him, whose would be the victory? The opposi. ton claim him, and am afraid the record would show their title clear.
 As to putting down Kolbism that has already been done by the brave democrats of Alabama without Colonel Denson's s aid. la 1892 the official count gave Kolb this district by about 4000, In 1894 by some- thing over 4500. Compare these figures with the enormous gain of nearly 5,OG0 votes in the districts represented by Bank head, Wheeler and Cobb, who did not re- sort to Denson's dubious policy, nor "tote their own skillets."
 'political expediency' that authorized man holding high office at the hands of the democratic party to deliberately sacri flee that party in bitter state campaign to idea of "political expediency' does not descend to the 'skillet.'' If the demo- cratic party ever overcomes the majority against it in this district it must build up the bed rock of democratic principle. If we have to build op Deneou, when the next storm of isms and scisms descends upon us we will find that we have built on the sand.
 The brave democrats of this district were engaged in death struggle with their en- emies. They were fighting for the honor, the peace and prosperity of Alabama, and when the battle was waxing hottest they saw the porly form of their gallant con- gressman in the distance, and hailed his approach with gladness. They remem- bered the mighty blows with which he smote the enemy on many battlefield in 1892. They saw he was armed for the fray and we no longer doubted the result Of the battle. On he came, marching bravey down between the two contending armies, seeking, as in former conflicts, the thick- est part Of the fight. cheer rose to the lips of his comrades in former days, but tho cheer died out as he drew nearer, for the democratic hosts saw their former fearless champion marching bravely between the lines-toung his little skillet. And even the skillet was empty.
 Now he comes to these same democrats, who had honored him with the high office Inc holds, and asks them to honor him again. Should they do it7
 DEMOCRAT. fINt..