The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-03-06
CANDIDATES AT CORONA
Again the Crowd Seems With
 Captain HObs0n.
Monday the Rivals for Nomination VIII Meet at the Home of
 Colonel Bankhead at Fayette Court House.
pY DEUCE KENNEpY.

BY BRUCE KENNEDY.
 cordova. March s.--stafr Correspond ence )-Returning to Walker County this morning Colonel Bankhead and Captain Hebson spoke at Cordova. a cotton mill and mining town. this afternoon and went through the country, seven miles. after nightfall to speak at Horse Creek. The Cordova performance, for these debates are performances, was failure from the viewpoint of general public in- terest
 Bankhead spoke first confning himself strictly to political issues, and Hobson accepted this attitude and responded in much the same manner. Relieved of per- sonalities and consequent bitterness, there was an absence of sensational features, but the audience of 800 persons let loose It's enthusiasm for Hobson in no uncer- tain way.
 Speaking is Delayed.
 The appointment at Cordova was for 2 D. In. but the speaking did not begin un- til 4;25 o'clock. Hobson and Bankhead left Berry on an early morning castbound train. Bankhead went to oaknian. where he spent the morning Investigating the singular treatment he received there yes- terday Hobson went on to cordova. and spent the day there. The engine of the
 
 was delayed in reaching Cordova until after o'clock. Hobson and the crowd waited for him. men and women holding their chairs three hours. fearing to lose them "
 The delayed train took great crowds of people from Corona and oakman to Cor doYa to hear the speaking, and a special train was arranged to enable them to re- turn to their homes at night. A number Of persons came to Cordova on this train who had been noticed in the audiences at Jasper. Carbon Hill, Oaknian and Berry. Bankliead spoke one nour. Hobson fol- lowed in one hour and hale, and the meeting broke up before Bankhead had ar cppoftunity to rejoin. Bankhead's snAech was received frigidly. He was ap- plauded but once and that was when he made his proposal to aAit tho race if Hobson could secure the consent of one nemocratie Congressman to support his navy bnL ,.,..
 Republicans ct Meetings.
 Right there 1t should be said that Bank heads friends declare that the meeting in Walker County are attended largely by Republicans and persons ineligible to vote. Whether this is true, the fact is the coldness with which this veteran Congressman Is received is giving his friends much concern.
 At CordoVa the debate took place in Indian Head Hail upstairs, which was filled fully leo men standing in the rear of the hall. H. J. Msyfeld, candidate for coroner of Walker County. presented tine speakers.
 Bankhead explained the Iateness of his train and plunged into his argument. dwelling on rural mail service. soil sur veys and Improvements on the Warrior river which flows within c half mile of Cordova. Several men cried ''Hurrah for Hobson," and the sailor arose
 Tribute to B. M. Long.
 and asked the audience to give his oppo- nent fair hearing.
 Speaking of river Improvements ana other national questions, Bankhead Incl dentally paid a high tribute to the late Colonel B. M. Long whose home was at Cordova. He said Colonel Long differ ed from him in politics, and had been a candidate against him. but he had the highest conception of patriotism and as keen an insight into great economic ques- tions as any man he ever knew. Colonel Long, he said, had applauded his efforts to improve the Warrior river. and had agreed with him on the methods. He made a luminous argument against Hobson's navy scheme, appealing to the people not to be swept off their feet by the eloquence of the young naval officer, not to lend themselves to a movement to destroy the peacefulness of this coun- try by turning it over to a naval despot- ism.
 Explaining the Monroe doctrine, he said It's application to the Eastern Hemi- sphere was Republican mfsconstruction of the measure which was not applied until the unfortunate error of attaining foreign possessions was committed. This foreign invasion was not Democratic doc Urine.
 As against this naval proposition" said Bankhead, T have one to submit |" Then he presented his scheme for good roads upon which he enlarged. He made no reference to Hobson as a preacher He did not ridieue his opponent, neither did he speak of Hobson's compiled in- formation. In closing. he said that If he had made mistakes they were errors of judgment He thanked the audience for it's kind and courteous hearing. Hobson Introduced. At the conclusion of Bankhead's ad- dress, there were cheers and counter cheers. Mr. Mayfield then presented Hob son, who had spoken in Cordova before. saying he was proud to introduce him again.
 When Hobson stood up men jumped from their seats. threw hats into the air and yelled. He began by saying he was touched deeply by this expression of esteem, adding that it was a pleasure to observe that his opponent had at last elevated his argument and had confined himself to the real issues, leaving out personalities. This. he said. gives him better opportunity to meet him square ly. He took up his naval career as us- uaI coming down to the eye trouble, and Bankhead's opposing his retirement bill He said these were personal matters and he alluded to them only to show that Bankhead had failed in this instance to serve a constituent.
 ''If he neglected his duty to me as one of his constituents for a personal mo- tive," asked HObson, would he not neg lect his duty to you, another constIt- uent?"
 IIobson touched on soil surveys, rural routes and other matters more closely connected with the district. As he was