The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-08-14


 Richmond Pearson Hobson, Alabama's brilliant young citizen, who made him. self famous as an officer of the navy and lately as a rising young democrat, thinks the republican platform is most susceptible of attack at these points: tariff revision the negro problem, right eousness in office and the one man idea In an interview given the Montgomery correspondent of the Age Herald he dis cusses these features as follows e
 "on tariff revision I believe the dem- ocratic party should hammer the repub- lican party for it's responsibility and It's official attitude of standing pat, while the facts show that articles manufactur- cd In America are being sold cheaper abroad than to the American consumer, and while It Is clear that oppressive trusts are finding shelter under present rates.
 Negro Question.
 'On the negro question l think there will be no difficulty In making 1t clear to the thoughtful citizens of the north and west that the republican party through the executive has violated two fundamental laws. one that political do- minion should never be given to the lower of two races living along side of each other: and, that the higher of two races so living should live absolutely separate and aviod social equality and my tendency toward blood mingling.
 Tn both these lines our party should emphasize the point that the republican party evinces small regard for principles and for the common people, when there appears a chance to make political ad- vantage, showing thus a constant ten dency toward opportunism; not hesitat- ing to go over the special classes, like the manufacturing and corporate classes.
 Official Righteousness.
 Tn the matter of righteousness in of flee. the democratic party should strong ly emphasize in this campaign the cor ruption of the republican administration. We should clearly set forth the vital importance of great parties and not sin gle men controlling the affairs of Amer lea, and show how the republican party having abdicated to a single man, does not deserve the peoples confidence.
 There Is no question whatsoever that for political advantage the president does not hesitate to give over government tai affairs to politicians, even though corruption results, does not hesitate to
 
 States in usurping legislative functions and making vicious appointments against the advice and consent of the senate, and recklessly violates the laws, sowing the wind and the whirlwind, where the happiness of millions of Amer cans is involved and does not hesitate to impose his own will upon the party and usurp the functions of the party.
 The battle-ground.
 As to the battle-ground of course the fight will be waged with sufficient vigor to assure the carrying of New York, Con- nectieut, Now Jersey and West Virginia. but the most decisive battle must be fought out in one of the middle western states. If we had nominated Folk for vice president, as I urged. there is no doubt the party could have carried Illi- nois; as 1t is Indiana Is perhaps the most promising field. In any event the cam paign should be developed strongly in Wisconsin. Illinois and Indiana, besides the eastern states named above; then when the indication are sufficient to show which of these three middle western states Is the weakest spot of the re- publican ranks, then the whole vigor of the party should be centered on that one state
 Nothing to Retract.
 In a speech made at the national con vention at St. Louis, Captain Hobson took occasion to express his commenda- ton of the action of Mir. Cleveland in suppressing lawlessness at the time of the great Chicago strike. For this he was roundly criticiz- ed by the members of the labor unions, one leader, Edward Flynn, president of the Alabama United Mine Workers say ing he very much regretted giving the ex-naval officer his vote in the Sixth District democratic primary when he was trying to defeat Congressman Bankhead for renomination. Having had his at- tention called to this Captain Hobson said:
 About my remarks at the convention particularly the one referring to the en- forcement of law, even with a labor union as the volator, nave no expla- nations whatsoever to make. am willing to stand by the principle that law should be faithfully and impartially enforced, against any violator, and do not hesi- tate to say that source of danger to our country lies in the condoning of law 1essness. And believe that man or party is an enemy to labor who would en- courage law breaking, for 1t Is invaria bly, in law breaking that labor loses its fights The true friend to labor is the man who would restrain it from violating law" Republican Politics.
 If some of the old time Alabamians, long since dead. could rise up and look around today they would have little trouble in recognizing old carpet bag practices in some of the recent actions of the republicans in Alabama. What ever the party organization has gained in recent years In patriotism 1t seems to have lost lately so far as Alabama Is concerned The appointment of Byron Trammell of Montgomery to the position of postmaster at Dothan. is a striking illustration of the point He has given so little of his time to that enterprising young city in the new county of Hous- ton, that possible not over two doze,, people living there know him. It Is told that he secured his claim to citizenship in this way: Some time ago an examiner of the department at Washington decided that there was not enough work in the office of Marshall Leo Bryan to justify two office men. MT. Trammell was the youngest office deputy, 1t was of course.