The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-03-19
AUDIENCE SHOWS
FEELING At CUBA
Excited Listeners Shake Fists
at Each Other
QUOTED BY THE CHAIRMAN
Trouble at Debate Grows out of De.
NAL BY Colonel Bankhead of a
Statement Made BY
Captain Hobson.
QUIETED BY THE CHAIRMAN

Cuba, March 1s.-(Speeial) -Intense bit
terness prevailed during the Hobson-
Bankhead joint debate here today and
the GOODNESS of the chairman and several
influential citizens alone prevented trou-
BILE between several of the excited listen
ers At one time many men in the heat
of passion were standing in their chairs
shaking their fists at each other in
threatening manner and serious trouble
was feared. but the conservative minds
came to the front and prevailed upon
those who felt themselves aggrieved to
remain quiet and the audience was soon
convinced of the soundness of this advice
The trouble occurred during Colonel
Bankhead's speech and was preclpitated
by the request of Captain Hobson to make
an explanation which was refused. Col
onel Bankhead had stated emphatically
that there was no truth in the statements
of Captain Hobson that he had gone to
Montgomery to help defeat a measure
which was intended to give the railroad
commission of Alabama more power, or
something to that effect.
Asked Privilege of Explaining.
Captain Hobson asked the privilege of
making an explanation, but his appeal to
the chairman was not granted and there
was intense excitement. Several friends
of Captain Hobson rose in their seats and
demanded that he be heard. The friends
of Colonel Bankhead rose up in opposition.
and with trouble in their eyes, the lead
ers of the two factions began shaking
their fists at each other. 1t looked as If a
fight was imminent but Chairman Scale
pleaded for quiet, saying that 1t would be
disgraceful to the town to allow such a
scene in Cuba. Other influential citizens
came to the assistance of the chairman
and In few minutes quiet had been re-
stored
Both speakers made practically the same
arguments as were made at other debates
but interspersed just enough spice to
cause some feeling among the voters as
well as the speakers.
Ere the train bearing the speakers had
pulled into the town 1t was clearly seen
that this was a Hobson town, but the
Bankhead supporters We're determined to
make a showing. There were $50 persons
present when the speaking began and 1t
Is safe to say that none of them left their
seats until the hostilities had been con-
Guided. The meeting was held In the pub
lie school building and 1t was comfortably
hiled long before the hour for the debate.
Colonel Bankhead Leads of.
According to agreement, Colonel Bank
head led off in an hours speech, and
Captain Hobson followed in an hour and
thirty minutes. Colonel Bankhead then
concluded In thirty minutes, and it was
during this rejoinder that the sensational
episode occurred.
In his opening speech Colonel Bankhead
defended his course in congress. He
showed what work he had done In the
way of river Improvement and made the
statement that the appropriations he had
secured from congress amounted to more
than the entire taxes of the state In one
year. He explained what he mad done to
make the Warrior river navigable and
went into the usual argument of the width
Of the locks and how the work would be
continued should he be elected He said
that this talk of his being affiliated with
the railroads was silly. Having heard
Captain Hobson's argument before he an
ticipated what he was going to say. and
touched on nearly all the questions
brought out by his opponent.
Makes the Usual Charges.
Captain Hobson made his usual
charges showing how his opponent had
voted In favor of numerous railroad meas
ures and asserting that his opponent
WOULD ueldy river navigation on account
of his friendship for these corporations.
He made the statement that Colonel
Bankhead had gone to Montgomery to
help defeat a bill which was intended to
give the railroad commission more power,
or that he had not gone there when
asked to help the bills passage.
In his reply Colonel Bankhead denied
this statement about the railroad commits
sion bill, and when Captain Hobson in
terruptad him to make an explanation the
trouble occurred. Judging from the APP
plause and general expressions the ma
jority of he crowd was for Hobson.
Leading ctizers of this progressive town
regret the incident of today, but feel
grateful to Chairman Scale and his ASSOC
ciates for quellng any possible outbreak
CT political passion.