The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-03-13
RIVAL CANDIDATES
MEET AT FAYETTE
Bankhead and HObSOn on Same
Platform
ENTHUSIASM is LACKING
Both Men Claim Fayette County and
d Close Canvass is Being
Made of Every
Precinct.

Fayette. March Specialized. J.
H. Bankhead, congressman from this dis
trict and Capt r. p Hobson spoke to-
gether here today to crowded house.
Captain Hobson opened and closed the
debate. 1t was the first joint debate in
the canvass, both having appointments
here. The speeches were much more
conservative than two years ago and
there is less interest and enthusiasm
than in the former campaign.
Captain Hobson spoke along the same
lines as in former speeches. severely ar
raignlng Standard Oil. trusts and the
railroads. saying a charge must be made
at this crisis or American citizens would
continue in bondage for many years lie
emphasized his naval bill and asserted
that with a proper navy the United
States could have prevented war between
Russia and Japan and have saved the
south ss5OO,OOO in the price of cotton.
He defended his failure to register by
showing his absence in the doubtful
states speaking for the national demo-
cratic ticket, and declared if he had not
been a democrat he would not have been
pressed into service in the campaign
He spoke of being invited to address the
st. Louis convention and his speech there
Bankhead Talks About Registration.
Congressman BanlIhead began by stat
ing that a mans highest duty as a eiti-
zen was first to qualify for the duties
of citizenship. He said Mr.. Hobson two
years ago pleaded for an opportunity and
he had Joined in the request for his name
to go on the ticket, though not registered.
and that Mr. Hobson promised the de-
mocracy of the district to register at the
first opportunity and vote a democratic
ticket
He then showed that the books of regis
tration in Hale county We're opened while
Mr. Hobson was delivering paid lectures
in different points in Alabama, from
where he could easily have gone to
Greensboro to register. He also quoted
the election la VITO show that in order
to register on the two days previous TO
the election law to show that in order
intended to do, he would have been re-
quired to make affidavit of unavoidable
absence from the county at the regular
time for registration, lie spoke Of Hob
sons st. Louis speech, showing it was
suppressed in the official proceedings on
account of reference to Bryan and his
attack upon union labor
Mr. Bankhead dwelt upon the railroad
issue and asserted his record for twenty
years on that question was his answer
to his opponents claim of railroad envi-
ronment. He related his position on the
subject twelve years ago when as a dele
gate from the state at large to the ma
tional convention in Chicago and as a
member of the subcommittee on plat
form, he helped to bring in a report
which was adopted urging rate regula-
ton.
Defends Vote for Fast Mail.
lie defended his vote for the southern
fast mail appropriation by pointing out
its advantage in the rapid delivery of the
mails to all sections of the south He
said 1t was favored by every congress-
man and the senators from Alabama, and
was endorsed by the press and CONNER
eial bodies of the south.
A colloquy arose between the cand-
dates as to the qualifications for voting
In the primary on the 23rd of April Mr..
Bankhead desired pure democratic pr-
mary and said he did not think repub-
licans or populists shoEld have any
'StNN - "a uNhiOiio Alt llSil, ana SAD The
committee intended in its provisions as
to qualifications that only democrats
vote and If a voter opposed the nominees
OF the party in the last election he could
not vote in this primary.
Mr.. Hobson claimed that any man coulo
participate who did not vote against Mr..
Bankhead in the last general election
and that this was the only qualification.
In a speech in the streets after the
joint debate he urged all his friends to
participate in the primary, and if they
were crimnally prosecuted he would en-
ploy counsel for their defense
Enthusiasm Is Lacking.
There is lacking the hurrah and en-
thusiasm of the last campaign, though
a thorough canvass is being made Both
claim this county. 1t is claimed three
hundred republicans in Fayette county
voted two years ago for Mr. Hobson who
will not offer to vote this time.