The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-12-11

counties of Bullock and Macon. in the Senate of Alabama. Colonel Thompson | rather preferred to devote his whole l time to his chosen profession in the
 financial world. but being a patriotic and ambitious young man yielded to
 the demands of his State. and consent
 ed to serve as a State Senator. Not
 withstanding the fact that he was in- | experienced in legislative matters, he
 at once took high stand in the Sem | ate of Alabama. with some of the lead | ing men of the State, and his work and influence as a wise, safe. aggress- i've but conservative legislator was felt throughout the whole State of Ala
 bama. Before hist expired as State Senator. and at the suggestion of some
 of hts ardent admirers. he entered the | race for Congress to represent the Fifth District of Alabama; and the people who read the papers are familiar with the Brewer and Thompson con- test. which was one of the most mem
 orable in the history of the whole State. In that campaign Colonel Thompson developed marked ability as stump speaker. notwithstanding the fact he had never made public speech until he entered that campaign. After having been nominated he was opposed by MT. Milstead. the Republi- can candidate, who spent thousands of dollars to defeat him. and yet the strong hold he had upon the people by his campaign in the primary between
 himself and Colonel Brewer enabled him to defeat MT. Milstead by nearly 10000 majority.
 Shortly after the Kolb and Jones con- test for Governor, when the white peo- pie of Alabama were divided. he was chosen as Chairman of the Democratic
 Executive Committee of Macon Coun- ty; and under his wise and successful admini ration. he succeeded in bring ing back into the folds of the Democ-
 racy of Macon County those Demo- crats who had gone off with the Pop ulist Party. and today the white people of Macon stand in solid phalanx un-
 der the Democratic banner. In the memorable race between Johnston and Morgan, Colonel Thompson led the fight for Governor Johnston in Macon Coun- ty; and, notwithstanding Senator Nor gan's great popularity and strong hold upon the people of that county, Macon was one of two counties in the whole State that went for Johnston. Colonel Thompson has always been an aggress- i've, determined and unrelenting fighter in politics. and has never been
 defeated in any of his political under takings.
 When he went to Congress there was not single rural Tree uellNSTy route in operation in the Fifth District, and | Colonel Thompson at once decided that
 he could render the most substantial
 service to his constituents by devoting | his time to the establishment of that | splendid system in his district. His | first speech in Congrass was in favor of | the establishment of the rural free de- l livery on high and respectable basis and was considered one of the ablest l speeches made in Congress on that sub l ject. Through his untirng efforts he
 has succeeded in having established in | the Fifth District during his first term
 of two years fifty-two routes. which | deliver mall to over 30, 900 people in his district daily. and distribute to the | carriers $31.200 annually for carrying the mail. He has revived a great ! many old Southern war claims and
 has some prospect of securing the pay ment of some of these claims
 During his first term in Congress he
 was placed upon the War Claims Com
 mittee. which Is one of the most import
 ant Tn the House: and recognizing his
 business ability he has heen honored
 by the newly elected Democratic leader,
 the Hon. John Sharp Williams. by a
 worthy promotion in committee assign