The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-04-03


the Union is there being waged more
picturesque ana interesting campaign
than is now on in the Sixth Alabama,
where the contest is between the Hon
John Hollis Bankhead and former Capt
Richmond Pearson Hobson. of the Navy.
Bankhead is a typical representative
of the old-fashioned, conservative, wool
hat and cambria tie Democracy; saw
four years of hard service in the Con-
federate army, has served seventeen
years in the House, and writes himself
DOWN as just a plain farmer. No other
member from the South. with the excep-
ton of Representative Richardson OF
Tennessee and Representative Sam
Robertson of Louisiana, has served so
long in the House as he. Once he was
prominently mentioned for Speaker. anG
had respectable following in the Dem,
Ocratic caucus.
Hobson is a representative of the new
South, and more or less of an aristO-
crat. He is the hero of that browning
act of stupidity and foolishness Of the
Spanish American Wharf.-The sinking Of
the Merrimac. He has never held an
elective office. has never. until he en-
tered the present campaign. taken any
part in politics, and is said never to
have voted in his life. So thoroughly is
he interested in politics now, however.
that he resigned his commission in the
navy in order to enter the race for Con-
gress. and the circumstances of his resi-
dence obliged him TO make re contest
against man whose position in public
life was, until Hobson entered the field,
considered impregnable.
The Congressional Bee.
The Congressional bee first stung Hob
son two years ago. and he became so in
noculated with its virus that after re-
peated efforts TO have himself placed
upon the retired list Of the navy had
failed. he finally resigned his commits
sion. 10 take his chances in what seem
ed to be when he entered it a hope
less race. Twice the medical board re-
fused to recommend him for retirement
upon the plea of defective sight. Then
Hobson appealed to Congress for
special act Of retirement. That plea was
also ineffective, and Hobson and his
friends have charged, and doubtless
with some warrant for their assertions,
that his present opponent, Mr.. Bank
head, was responsible for the failure
Of the Naval Committee to report his
bin favorabIy. Bankhead. by reason Of
his long service, had friends upon the
committee, and the committee had
ample excuse for refusing TO report the
Hobson retirement bill, because il was
not fndOrsed by the medical retiring
board.
Yet this did not deter the gallant
young sailor from his determination to
run for Congress. He resigned, and be-
gan a systematic canvass OF the dis
trict. At first Bankhead and his friends
laughed at the candidacy Of this young
naval aristocrat. with his extravaganza
ideas about the up-building of the navy
Bankhead placed his reliance upon the
support Of the plain country people OF
his district. and they are almost all
plain country people. for there are no
large towns In the district
Was Much il Earnest.
IIobson was. however, very much in
earnest. He began to mingle with the
plain people and they received him glad
~; ;hey were. I'm fact. proud that their
district had reared so distinguished a
young man; they rejoiceG a. having a
real live present-day hero among them.
As his personal charms and gaIlantry
cGptivated the hearts of the women, so
die his magnetism win the support OF
the voters. He attended all the county
ldlIS anu TAXED ABOUT the grandeur OF
the navy to the landlubbers whose
knowledge Of ships did not extend be-
yOnd what they knew Of the side wheel
ers on the Tombigbee He spoke Of
billions just as If they were bubbles.
and so gltbly that the good old cotton
planters thought that a young man who
could use such big figures must surely
know what he was talking about. Bill
lions meant no more to them than mill
lions, and they had heard millions so
often that they were not frightened
Then Hobson began delivering free
lectures I'm the public schools and in the
churches, and great crowds gathered to
hear him. lie renewed his service as
lay reader IN the Episcopal churches. He
had been a lay reader when he was a
10y before he went 10 the Naval
Academy. He shook the horny hands
OF the toiiers upon the plantations and
tod them lots of things they could not
understand about battleships. armor
plate, armament. torpedo boats and me