The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-05-24
Nicaragua Canal Route Means
Everything to Alabama.

Dill resembling 1t shall pass during the
current session. 1t is not meant to imply
here that money has been or is being
spent directly to influence any Senator
against the canal. Such expenditure is
not only entirely improbable but is wei,
nigh impossible The power of money
in high places is not In that manner
brought to bear; but the friends of the
Nicaragua bill are aware that they are
held in creek by the silent influence of
hostile billions.
This bill, which promises benefits of
inestimable value to the country, and
which for Alabama In particular would
mean fifty years development wrought
almost within a day. may fall at high
noon t>elorrow.
Congressman Hopkins of Illinois has re-
turned to the capital after his remark
ably successful contest with Senator Ma
son, and is everywhere receiving the
most cordial congratulations because of
his winning the senatorship. 1t means.
great difference in favor of the ability
and responsibility Of the Senate that af-
ter the third of next March Mr.. Hopkins
will take the place of BILLY" Mason as
the colleague of the veteran and distin-
guished Senator Cullom, for Mr.. Masons
manners and his general bearing wholly
unfit him for high office. His proper
place is the town council of Chicago. 1t
is inconceivable that such type Of man,
whatever the degree of his personal char
acter, should have been sent to represent
the third state of the Union in the most
powerful legislative body in the world.
As a well-bred man of the world, as a
wise legislator and statesman of dig
nifty and marked ability, Mr.. Hopkins is
everything that Mr.. Mason is not. In
deed there is not in public life In Wash
ington a more eminently reputable and
respected man than Mr.. Hopkins. In all
his bearing and his speech he is one
of the manifest most courteous and most
amiable of men. In the House of Repre-
sentatives, which he had adorned for
eighteen years, both Democrats and Re-
publcans hold him in high honor. He is
truly a sturdy Republican, but he never
suffers politics to lead him to forget he
Is a gentleman.
At least one Of the multitude of good
women and blessed mothers of Alabama
will be greatly rejoiced by reading this
little news paragraph. She is Mrs. Mar
garet Moorhead, who resides with her
son, DR.. H. C. Moorehead, a noted physi-
clan at Ethelsville. Pickens County and
she is the widow of hero of the old In
dian wars in Florida and other wars.
Some ten years ago she applied for a
pension on account Of her husbands mil
itary service In Florida. Upon a trihing
technicality as to her husbands initials,
a mistake lately proved to have been
made in the pension office here. her APP
plication was rejected. At that time she
was residing In Mississippi, but shortly
afterwards removed to Pickens County,
Alabama. Her new home being In the
sixth Congressional district, she applied
to Congressman Bankhead for assistance
In procuring a pension for her. Colonel
Bankhead did everything possible for
Mrs. Moorhead, making repeated visits
to the pension office In her behalf as the
years passed on. The other day he was
enabled to satisfy the exactions of the
law and furnish clear proof of Mrs. Moor
heads right to pension. Today he re-
ceived notice from the commissioner that
Mrs. Moorhead had been granted a PEN
sion of IS a month. to date from July q,
1892. Thus this widow or a soldier will
Immediately receive nearly a thousand
dollars. the total accumulated since her
first application was filed, and hereafter
she will be paid IS a month, through the
pension agency at Knoxville, Tenn.
which pays all pensioners in nearly all
the southern states. After the good wom-
an had hoped and her friends had worked
for ten years, justice comes at last.
LUCIEN JULIEN WALKER