The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-03-07
FIGHT IN SIXTH
 CLOSELY WATCHED
One of Most Sensational Cam
 paigns in History
TODAY AT FAYETTE
Hobson is UnconsciousIy a Good Poli- ticlan and Mlxer-His Powers of Endurance Are Remarkable.
 Some Incidents of Trip.

Possible no event in the modern his- tory of Alabama politics outside of the famous fight made by Capt. R. F. Kolb during the early days of populism has aroused as much interest in the state as the sensational campaign of Congress man Bankhead and Capt. Richard P. Hobson in the Sixth congressional dis trict.
 The first week of the campaign has ev- idently resulted in favor of Captain Hob son, but only towns, except Hamilton, where he is strongest have been visited. Friends of Colonel Bankhead say the tables will be turned at Fayette today and the crowd will be decidedly pro- Bankhead.
 To a person unbiased in his views and who has visited Marion and Walker coun- ties it looks as if the former will cast a majority for Bankhead and the latter for Hobson. A severe fight has waged in Walker and the majority will likely be very small either way.
 Tuscaloosa a Battle-Ground.
 Tuscaloosa will be the next county vis- ited and it is understood the Ban<head people are claiming it by a good major ity, while Hobsons friends are making a similar claim. Undoubtedly Tuscaloosa will furnish one of the most closely fought battle grounds in the campaign, but until the ground has been gone over it will be very difficult for a stranger to that section to offer anything like an accurate opinion as to the strength of the two men.
 In many respects Captain Hobson is a unique figure in Alabama politics. He not only fooled those who thought him a joke but has developed into one of the best mixers" in the state. He is un- consciously a good politician besides be- ing an excellent debater
 Hobson as a Mixer.
 As an instance of his mixing abilities, the other night at Berry the party com posed of candidates and newspaper men prepared to put up'' for the night at small hotel
 Are you coming?" asked one of the newspaper men of Captain Hobson.
 NO; I think will walk about a half mile down the road, he replied, "and spend the night with my friend, the sec ton foreman" He had promised to pay his friend this visit, and notwithstand- ing the personal inconvenience, he could not be deterred from keeping his prom ise.
 The next day he got out of his hack and walked several miles along the road, saying that 1t made him feel better. His powers of endurance are remarkable. This former naval officer Is averaging three speeches day and rides aggregat- ing about 25 miles in A hours.
 Colonel Bankhead is a veteran cam paigner and knows nearly everybody in the district personally, but his age will not permit of such active work as that endured by Captain Hobson It was noticed Saturday that he was almost Tagged out physically, but notwithstand- ing the need of rest he went on to Horse Creek with his opponent
 Bankhead Makes Strong Speeches. This veteran congressman has been mak- ing some strong speeches during the cam paign but in the Hobson centers a wave seems to have swept over numbers of the voters, and they are for the naval hero regardless of argument, records or pre- vious conditions.
 In his last speech Colonel Bankhead eliminated personalities, and naturally the debate dragged. Whether he has changed his policy for the rest of the campaign remains to be seen.
 A peculiar feature of the campaign is that all the debates have been intensely interesting, yet neither candidate has brought out new subject since the open ing discussion at Hamilton.
 Colonel Bankhead and Captain Hobson speak today at Fayette. the home of the congressman, and the result is being awaited with much interest as 1t will probably indicate the sentiment of Colonel Bankheads home people.
 BOHEMIAN c. BULGER.