The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-05-26
The NesO Hobson Idea
By George F. MeiIen.

When James Russell Lowell asked And what Is so rare as a day in June?' he was living in New England where vernal splendors are deferred until the first summer month Had he lived in Alabama, he would have sub stituted May for June and suited his rhyme accordingly. Sitting on the veranda of the old Artesian house at Livingston, Alabama, and looking out on the court house square, with it's green carpet of bermuda grass and it's generous cluster of towering water oaks, with the seat of justice holding the central space, one Is impressed with the vernal beauty and peaceful dignity of the scene that stretches out before him.
 Here sitting among a group of gov ernment experts and chatting with a fellow Tennessean, MT. Sam Lancaster, the road expert of Congressman Rich was awaiting the arrival of the hero of his congressional district as well as of the Merrimac. Presently there came out on the porch a young man of erect carriage, medium size, and beaming countenanoe. wearing a slouch Stetson hat and a light flannel suit. There was an carnestness of manner, a steadiness of boise, a distinctness of tone, and emphasis of utterance such as to leave the impression that this man had something to say and knew what to say. something to do and knew how to do 1t.
 When an admiring constituent said. Capt. Hobson, you are looking mighty pounds to the good" Within a few minutes he had greeted the entire com pany, and was ready to saunter over the town shaking hands with the mer- chants and mingling freely with GUS toners and bystanders. He expressed the delight afforded by the manifest in terest and enthusiasm at all appoint ments in the upper end of the district. and the hope that the black belt would turn out to hear from authori- tative sources problems discussed Of vast moment, of tremendous tmpor- tance.
 Yes. have lots of kinfolks in Knoxville" Such was Capt Hobson's said that I was in attendance upon his conference from far-a-way Knox vile. in Tennessee. The fact is that after an educational engagement and a social visit. l had remained over time a. the county seat of Sumter county. to gather impressions of the remarkable industrial campaign the hero of the Merrimac has recently made through out the sixth congressional district or Alabama This campaign was so unioue and picturesque as to invite ser ious attention throughout the eoun- try. Its practical value has been so far recognized as to cause no comment save that of commendation. a.
 Hobson is frequently spoken Of, dis paragingly, as a crank, visionary, an enthusiast With his plans and pur- poses he goes straightforward, and creates the impression and forces the conviction that beneath them Is an ar dent desire and firm determination to render substantial help to those whom he represents in this movement he has no more enthusiastic encomiums than those coming from former opponents. There is no sug- gestion nor semblance of any political purpose back of 1t but had he been melted by any motive of the kind, noth ing would have so commended him to the loyal support of his district. By everywhere endorsed heartily the Hob son idea. Almost at every apopint- ment a thousand or more met him and the government experts to confer as to the best methods of son preparation and preservation. cotton culture. for estry preservation and the building or good roads. It was simply scombin- ed farmers forestry, and good roads convention. wherein the most scienti- fic methods were explained to a people ager to adopt the best tillage. to con serve the natural resources around them. and to make rural life more att tractive.
 After one recovers from the novelty of the idea, 1t seems so feasible that he wonders that no congressman ip this wide country of progressive ideas and up-t date schemes did not hit upon 1t before the strenuous young Alabamian and that before he had taken his seat in the halls of legisia- ton. If any man thinks Hobson man of one idea and that the enlarge. mcnt of the American navy, his nina would have been disabused by atten- dance upon one of those gatherings. He would have observed nere mino capable of constructive statesmanshlp and working out policies adapted 10 tho demands of the most wide awake civilization With constitutional VIZ or unimpaired and a reasonaDe pro- longation of life it needs no vision or a seer to declare that Captain Hopsoh has wider usefulness and greater hon of public official the people long ana pray for. To hold down nis seat. in stead of distributing patronage ana constructing machines he brings 10 his people the most available and help ful resources that great government can afford for practical enlargement and social betterment
 Among these experts Tennessee was ably represented in the person of sam Lancaster. whose home is Jackson, ana who may be justly called the father or good roads in Madison county. Telllng of what good roads had meant TOT Jackson and the county. he said thai while in the course of construction ne was stricken with a desperate illness pneumonia in both lungs For days ms mind wandered in delirium. and the