The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-02-06

New York, February 5.-Capt. Rich mond F. Hobson of the United States navy, who was in the city today, said he had information from a reliable source that legislation would have enabled him to go on the retired list had not it been held up in the house naval affairs com mittee at Washington by Congressman Banl1head. The congressman represents the Sixth Alabama district In which Captain Hobson lives, and the captain said he believed on the information which had come to him, that MT. Bank heads opposition was due to his politi- cal interests
 Captain Hobson said that construction work in the tropics, where the reflection of the suns rays on the water is in- tense, had impaired his eyesight. He had been invalided from a Manila hospital after being forced by weak eyes to quit work
 "The construction work required of me-, said Captain Hobson, lis just the kind which my impaired eyesight has made me unable to perform. There was nothing for me to do but to retire or | resign, for I could not go on attempting work for which 1 was physically disqual- NY dpptldCllOn TOT retirement was approved by the construction bureau and by the President, and all went well until 1t reached the house committee on naval affairs of which Mir. Bankhead is a mem- Der. The opposition in that committee left me no other course than to resign"
 Bankhead Makes Sweeping Denial.
 Washington. February 5. = Especially = Representative Bankhead of Alabama to. . night made a sweeping denial of charges to the effect that he had in any manner s<>><>~<>~<>~-<~ the purpose of electing two of his sup porters. It is understood that the reg ulars, or number of them, will refuse to enter the caucus because of this circum- stances.
 The democratic caucus met at the Capi- tol hotel to talk over the situation Un- der the new developments several propo- sitions were submitted to act quickly and defeat the Addicks move. Charles w. Melee, a leading Sussex county demo. crat, submitted a statement addressed to the regular republican members of the assembly. The meeting took no action on the matter, the members being dis posed to walt until tomorrow mornings developments and see whether the regu-. lar republicans will really join with the Unions. The subject will again be taken up for consideration tomorrow morning.
 McFee's Statement.
 McFees statement follows:
 Gentlemen-It appearing that a crisis has arisen in the bitter struggle which the patriotic citizens of Delaware with out regard to party have made against the common enemy of the honor and in- stitution in our state. the undersigned democratic members Of the legislature have determined to sacrifice all consider ations of partisanship and party affilia- tions, and for the sake of our beloved state herewith pledge ourselves to cast our votes for any two of the following members of the regular republican party with whom a sufficient number of regu- lar republicans, members of the legisla- ture. may select for United States sena- tors for the long and short time respec- lively.
 James Fl. Wilson, Dr. Louis Heisler Ball, Anthony Higgins. Benjamin Nields. William c. Spruance, Henry A. Dupont, Charles F. Richards, L. Coleman Dupont, Edward G. Bradford, Henry B. Thomp- son.
 The withdrawal of Addicks leaves the senatorial muddle in peculiar situation. IT the regular republicans do not accept the proposition of the twenty-one union republicans for a general republican eau GUS, then Addicks again becomes a candi- date If they do accept, it is believed they have no chance to name a senator from their own faction for the reason that the Addicks republicans will force the unit rule claiming the right of the majority to select the caucus nominees Meanwhile the democrats eager to defeat Addicks may induce the regulars to ac- cept the proposition to support two men selected by the regulars If the demo crats believe the regulars are going to accept the union offer. they may offer the regulars their votes for Dupont and Hig gins or Richards. If the regulars agree to caucus with either side, nothing will be done before tomorrow morning at 10 .to -1o 2 - -