Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-03-10
FIGHT FOR CONGRESS
Lively Contest in the Sixth
Alabama District.
OAn. R. P. H0BS0N
TRYING FOR REPRESENTATIVE
BANHHEAD's SEAT IN CONGRESS.
Joint Debates Are Full Of Acrimonious
PersonalitiesNBoth Confident
of Success.

elal I,,spn tell !. The evening Star.

Sreclal 1yfSpa tet H. me sSehing STINT
BIRMINGHAM Ala, March 10.-The con-
test betwAen Congressman John IL Bank
head and oapt Richmond P. Hobson fol
| the Democratic. congressional nomination in
the sixth district has precipitated one of the
most acrimonious campaigns known in Ala
bama since the memorable days of the
Hight between Gov. Thomas G. Jones. demo-
crat, and. Cant. r. r. Kolb. pepulist In
1882 when the state was torn asunder by
political discerd.
When Can't Hobson formally announced
his candidacy, some nine weeks ago. and
sent a challenge to Col. Bankhead for a
series of Joint debates political observers
did not dream that the naval hero would
develop the strength that he has since
shown, nor was the thought entertained
that the contest would arouse such keen
interest as has since developed. Col. Bank
head treated the challenge rather lightly at
the time, replying that he was busy with
official duties at Washington which would
not then permit of his coming to Alabama.
He concluded, however with the statement
that he might come to his district later
and meet Capt. Hobson. Meanwhile Hobson
took the stump and at once began to draw
immense crowds. An able and fluent speak
err and a man around whom national inter-
est has clustered, people turned out by the
hundreds to hear the young naval officer
1t is said and about ten days ago the con-
gresham suddenly showed up In Alabama
ready to join issues with his opponent.
Opening of the Debate.
The opening debate was at Hamilton,
Marion county, far back in the mountains
OF northwest Alabama. 1t was lively af-
fair. After exploiting his greater navy bill,
under the operations of which HObson pro-
poses that the United States, by having a
navy equal TO that of the combined pow
ers of Europe, shall maintain the peace of
the world, the former naval officer made
an unSpar1ng attack upon Col. Bankhead,
who Is the dean of the Alabama delega-
ton In the lower house of Congress- He
openly charged that Bankhead Is allied with
the railroad interests and that on that ac-
count he has misdireeted the river improve
ment work, in the sixth district. He also
charged Bahkhead with making certain ca
Diet appointments to Annapolis and West
Point for5pottical purposes. He then pro-
ceeded to ridicule the veteran congressman
for allowing the use of his photograph in
an advertisement of patent medicine,
characterizing Col. Bankhead as '.the pat
ent medicine statesman"
In his reply Col. BaGkhead handled Hob
son without gloves. He ridiculed his great
err navy bill and declared that If single
member of Congress was in favor of the
measure he (Bankhead) was willing to re-
sign. He likewise ridiculed Hobsons state
ment that il sent to Congress he tt1obson)
would first ascertain who was against his
81, COO O00,O00 naval bill. and then he would
go into the districts of these opponents of
the measure and undertake to defeat them
for reelection. He said that such an enor-
nous contract was the widest kind of an
absurdity. He denied that the river inn
proyement work had been misdrected, and
added that the reason why Hobson did not
like the: size of the locks on the Warrior
river was because they could not be made
large enough to admit his greater navy"
hot m
get his navy up the Alabama stream by
blowing up the locks, this being construed
as a sneer at Hobsons Santiago feat
Col. Bankhead went to criticiSe Hob
son for his failure to become a registered
voter in Alabama when the registration
books were open las summer. Hobson had
sought to explain this with the statement
that he was away in the government serv-
ice at the time, but Col. Bankhead con-
vused his hearers with laughter by declar-
ing that while the boys down in the sixth
was at New England sea-coast resort,
dressed in a silk bathing suit with legs
and head bare and with a south-hating
Boston maiden on each arm, having a good
time He drew a word picture of the naval
hero under these alleged conditions. and
concluded by asking: Now, didn't he cut a
pretty hgure?
Climax Reached at Oakman.
The joint debates have since the opening
continued along these lines. though at
times with less personal anmosty. The
climax was reached at Oakman, Walker
county, where the crowd was overwhelm-
ingly for Hobson. and great disorder pre-
vailed. Colonel Bankhead was scarcely
given a respectful hearing, and became
very indignant at the conduct of the
audience, who persisted in shouting for
Hobson as Bankhead endeavored to speak
The congressman declared that the meet
ing was packed with republicans and that
1t did not represent true democratic sentl-
ment in Walker county. Hobson became
highly excited during his remarks. and
paced up and down the stage defiantly At
times 1t looked as If the Candidates would
come TO ploWs. The former naval officer
was very severe in his attacks upou r ,nk-
head for his alleged official acts in interest
of the railroads. charging that he had
been one or the chief workers for the mail
SUBSIDY Ior TIE Southern railway, and that
he had helped to vote away valuable rights
to railroads In Washington city He halted
at times to ply his rival with questions
shaking ms nnger menacingly at the con-
gresham. colonel Bankhead always re-
piled with Yigor, and once said sneerinely
that the reason why Hobson regarded him
as being friendly to the railroads was be-
cause he (Bankhead) once secured a ratt
road pass for Hobson
Az Colonel Bankhead's home town. FAY
ette, the audience was largely for Bank
head but the debate was comparatively
free from personalities Hobson as a carn
Ia
friends. and while he confesses that he
knows little e., of the money question, the
tariff and like issue, he adds that he is
willing to do the right thing on these maj
ter tiers, always laying stress on his 5000
100000 naval bill.
Both Parties Confident.
A weli-informed newspaper correspondent
who has been making the rounds with the
Bankhead-Hobson party, quotes a political
friend OF Col: Bankhead as saying that at
the present outlook Bankhead should be
abe TO deteat Hobson by majority of 100
in the DISTRICT but he comedies four of the
nine counties in the district to Hobson.
On the other hand Hobson's friends are
claiming thar the naval man will be nomi-
mated over ms veteran opponent. They
say thae -sentmeht is growing in mis- favor
az an ASTONISHING rate, and that that fact
IS indicated by the temper of the crowds
son has proven himself. snlendid mixer
with the country people He also carries