The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-03-04

tonished at his beautiful flow of language as he warmed up to his subject. He be- gan to unmercifully criticise his oppo- nent, calling his a national figure" and a naval hero" who he said had relegated all the brains in the district to himself.
 "He has all the brains,' said the con gressman, "and we old fellows who have been to congress for years have none. This national figure even has the audae- ity to say that if he does not pass hls naval bill he will find out who is against it and will go into their districts and de- feat them. After telling old Joe Cannon, General Grosvenor. Jayne and other old members of the house to get out he will walk over to the senate and say Morgan, come down. Pettus, come down. and so on down the line.
 "The Gentleman From chiny"
 Now what do you think of this gem tleman from Chiny?
 'If he were elected to congress the Sixth district would be without represen- tation. He would be placed on the com mittee on ventilation and acoustics, which has not met for twenty years. That's what they do with these heroes in congress.
 Colonel Bankhead then attacked Hob sons democracy saying he had never ut tered democratic sentiment nor voted democratic ticket in his life.
 'If you are going to beat me-" said Colonel Bankhead, for Gods sake beat me with good democrat"
 The congressman then explained some of the charges about railroads, asserting that it was all bosh. "Dou you think l am a fool?" he asked. "If had been con nected with the railroads I would certain ly have something to show for it. All I have in the world Is a little farm at Fay cite, and if necessary l can go back to 1t and make living"
 Voted for Subsidies.
 He explained that he voted for subsidies because 1t got the south better mail fa- cilities, that the cab law in Washington was merely a bill to regulate the prices to be paid cabmen, as they had been rob- ping strangers.
 Colonel Bankhead then spoke lightly of Hobsons having sunk the Merrimac. which he called boat, and intimated that Hobson was using his fame from that in- cident as political capital. He then gave his own war record, and concluded by at tacking Hobson's naval bill.
 He said the passage of such a bill would mean a declaration of war against all the other powers. He showed that the price of cotton was not regulated by China but by England principally. He charged Hobson with having the shipbuiding trust behind him; that Lewis Nixon had offered to get him elected to congress if he would come to New York.
 When Colonel Bankhead concluded he was greeted with loud cheers.
 Captain Hobson's Rejonder.
 As he arose the naval officer was greet ed with voclferous applause, which did not subsde until the crowd was requested to be quiet by the chairman.
 When I invited ladies and children to come here" said the captain, '1 expected this debate to be on a higher plane and want to apologize for asking you to hear such doggerel. l have tried to lift this debate from the mire, but my efforts have been in vain. l cannot help but quote that passage from the scripture: The dog re- turns to his vomit.' "
 Makes Dramatic Statement.
 He then made his dramatic statement about his preaching and his politics. The crowd was moved to tears by his earnest ness and it was one of the most forceful short speeches ever made in Alabama He criticized Colonel Bankhead severely for referring to his experience on the Merri- mac. "I have never mentioned 1t on a platform in the United States and never intended to. I was offered $50000 to deliver twenty-five lectures describing that incl dent, but I declined after the money had been put up in bank subject to my draft"
 He said he never expected this extra ordinary doggerel' from a man like Col onel Bankhead.
 He concluded hls reply to Col. Bankhead on his railroad charges by saying, Tt Is not because he loves his party less, but because he loves his railroads more.'
 The speakers went to Carbon Hill to- night and the debate was very much a repetition of the days experience.