The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-03-26
CAMPAIGN IN FIFTH FORMALLY OPENED He1in and Smith Debate at
 PrattviIIe CROWD WAS NOT LARGE At Conclusion of Debate Hon. J. F. staIlngs Makes Short Talk, Ure- ing Election of Regular" Dele-
 gates to Convention.
CROWD WAS NOT LARGE


 est in the contest for congress in the Fifth district was shifted to Prattville today where the campaign may be said to have fairly opened Two of the can didates had a joint debate here and the audience also enjoyed a flew remarks from the inimitable Jess Stallings. J. Tom Henin of Chambers and Walter s. pirants.
 Both are young men of capacity, but MT. Smith is hardly the equal of Mir. Heflin when it comes to stump speaking The crowd was not large. A lack of proper advertising furnished but little knowledge that the statesmen were com ing. When the speaking began at F o'clock, however, there were about one hundred persons present. This being factory town, the shirt sleeyed boys, dropped in a few at the time during din- ner hour. Judge Terry Richardson open ed the meeting, introducing MT. Hefiin as the first speaker
 Words Were We'll Weighed.
 In his opening speech MT. Hefiin's words were well weighed. He was wholly con servative For thirty minutes he out lined a policy for white supremacy, good roads and strict adherence to true de- mocracy. He said 1t has always been his highest ambition to Ego to congress- and once before had missed it by but one vote in a Goodwater convention. He referred feeingly to the untimely death of Congressman Thompson, and said he his constituency as faithfully as had his dead friend While Mr. Hefin was speak ing, the chairman had stolen way to cooler chair near side window, so Mir. Hefiin had to present his opponent, Mir. Smith.
 MT. Smiths speech was well timed and earnest, but he seemed a bit unaccustom- ed to the job. He shot warm dope" at the people of Autauga All of them he knew were good ones" He stood for white supremacy and good roads ard was glad to see his opponent ''get on my platform" He did not claim inheritance of the vacant chair, but did claim the deceased man as his friend. He told of his special educational training, which was directed towards an ultimate seat in the federal congress. In national poli- tics he was not for Hearst believing Judge Parker to be the logical demo- cratic candidate. He referred to Hef1ln as a clean, good man. who might rank in congress as Private John Allen" He did not think Chambers county should have all the good things politically. The supreme court judes were sufficient for one county. He would send his friends garden and flower seeds. and also work for any jobs they wanted
 Full of .Humor.
 Mir. Hehin's rejoinder was full of hu- nor, directed at his opponent, and there was much laughter and applause throughout. His ridicule ot NJ. Smith on the good roads proposition was char acteristlc. He would soon be claiming to have fathered the Brownlow bill. MT. Hefln read a letter from M. II. Whitley. late democratic nominee for probate judge of Clay county, endorsing his can didacy.
 "Is he not a brother of the defaulting probate judge?' asked Mr. Smith
 Yes, sir. but of a different political faith said MT. Hehin.
 The speakers references to Judges Dem son and Dowdell were loudly cheered. He did not figure that section would en-
  good stories at the expense of MT. Smith and in his storytelling MT. Heflin is al- ways applauded. He pledged an earnest and faithful effort in the interest of his constituency. When Mir Helin conclud- ed there was applause followed by calls for Stallings.
 Pokes a Little Fun,
 MT. Staliings spoke rather briefly, but he was at all times entertaining. He poked a little fun at these boys for re- commenting themselves so highly" and then centered down on his usual topics He was glad to be called the savior of his party" and insisted that none but regular democrats should De permitted to Ego on guard" at the St. Louis conven- ton. He fired some shells of large call ibre at the Palmer and Buckner bolters
 He likened the situation unto the faith of his own church, hardshell Baptist with the simple faith of clean feet clear conscience and no contribution box" A man would be expelled from this church as readily for voting against the demo- cratic party as for any other sin" Don't let these bolters take the amen corner until they have done penace, was his ar gument. An unrepenting sinner could not pray in public In his church All of this was fired at the editor of Mont gomery paper. MT. Stallings said but lit- tie about candidates for Presinent, save that he was regular and loyal demo- crat. F. E. KERSH