The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-03-15
Who's in Congress?" "Bankhead."

Who's in CongresSY
 "Bankhead."
 time, forcible and well delivered. It was ments, navy scheme, good road proposi- ton, competitive examinations and his war record, and he stuck to these ques- tions.
 Chairman Moody, when the students had quieted, presented Hobson as "a gentle man distinguished in naval life, whoss fame Is national"
 Jeered and Cheered.
 Pandemonium broke loose when Hob son stood up. There was a wailing as of lost souls from the balcony and the hero was jeered, derided, taunted and cheered. Hobson got mad. For a brief moment h9 seemed to lose control of himself. Strid- ing across the stage nearest the war ring element, and with clenched fists, he shouted savagely that demagogy and up- fair methods were to be eliminated from this campaign. He asked his friends not to applaud, and he demanded a respect ful hearing from his enemies. It was a tragic incident. He turned all of his attention to the unfriendly boys, fairly mesmerizing them with his fiery eyes.
 Fully thirty minutes Hobson fioundered about jumping from one subject to an- other, until he finally got his facts braced and settled down to business. The boys had rattled him and throughout his speech he was nettled by their interrup- tions.
 Discussing competitive examinations, he said he would exclude Republicans and negroes from them, but declared that there was no Republican or Democratic army or navy. It was an American army and navy.
 He said he was educated by the Govern ment and stood first in his class
 ''Toot, toot, toot, toot," cried the boys.
 "Iu ask you" cried Hobson shaking his fist at the youngsters. ''did you stand first in your class?'
 No no mo-" shrieked the Hobson s!dG of the balcony.
 He would lay his war record beside that of Bankhead whom he honored as Con- federate soldier Bankhead had come out of the war a captain and he,' Hohson, had emerged from the Spanish war with rank equivalent to a colonel. (Applause).
 Tells Bankhead's Story.
 aobson here told Bankhead's sea beach story mImicking the Congressman. He said the story was not true, but 1t might have been. Boston women, he said, were not as great South-haters as Bankhead imagined. They were especially careful of their associates and he could not imagine Bankhead trotting down the beach with one of them. This sally was received with shrieks of delight and derision.
 This brought Hobson down to his work in Cuba. the impairment of his eyes and Bankhead's alleged neglect of his retire ment bill. Daughter and jeering with cries of Ego on Hobson." Elaborating his own work and his naval career, the boys began crying again.
 ''Too, toot, too"
 "Let me tell you." exclaimed Hobson' in exasperation. about the horn you're footing. When you get through with this. you'll be squeezed through it." When the applause subsided Hobson turned to Bankhead. 'Now I'll ask you, sir, did you not send out letters under your government frank to advance your political interestsT
 Bankhead-I sent out letters with stamps on them.
 Hobson-well here is one without a stamp (hoiding it up).
 That doesn't say anything" said
 "No," whipped out Hobson. that's the way you've been answering these things"
 GO after him Hobson" called a college boy and away the youngsters went again with their noise.
 Hobson read the franked letter which sought to ascertain the views Of Bank heads constituents as to his return to Congress.
 He says I wanted Government money to make my campaign on, and yet 15OOO of these letters would cost $3OO.''
 Hobson said he told the impertinent Congressional Committee who asked him. that he was going into politics, that he intended to run for State Senator from Hale and Greene.
 Eyes Bad, But Brain Not.
 "I told them" he said, that my eyes were impaired but my brain was not" (Yells of derision.)
 Bankhead, he said. did not exclaim Lay on McDuff." like a man who had the truth under his feet.
 Lay on Hobson." cried a chorus of voices.
 If he neglected me. is. he fit to repre- sent you?" asked Hobson. passionately.
 No. mo-" cried the boys. "Yaouw," yelled a pair of good lungs and the fra- ternity men raced of again. interjecting Peruna into their orgy of English.
 Hobson denied point blank that he said