The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-09-05
JOINT DEBATE IN
 DAVIS HOME CITY HobSon Is Accorded Bulk of
 Applause DAVIS MAKES CHARGES Submits Written List Which Attacks Hobson's Record in Congress and
 Conduct During Present
 Series of Debates.
DAVIS MAKES CHARGES
BY WALTER HARPER.

Jasper, September 4-(Speelal.) )-Jasper Congress opposing Capt R. P. Hobson Of the Sixth district The two candidates met here today in joint debate.
 While both men were well received by the large crowd of voters assembled in the Courthouse to hear them, Captain Hobson was accorded decidedly the most enthusiastic applause throughout the speaking The demonstration for the vis- iting candidate and present incumbent in- creased as the arguments proceeded.
 Unfortunately the campaign has been cast upon that old and worn-out issue, the race question, and 1t was clearly dem- onstrated that the voters are tired of it unless there is very extraordinary foun- dation for the raising of such an issue.
 After the meeting today friends of MT, Davis argued that the demonstration in favor of Captain Hobson was due to the large number of republicans in the audi ence, and it must be admitted that there were republicans present.
 Davis Is Bitter.
 Upon my arrival in Jasper this morn- ing your reporter was charged by MT. Davis with having been brought to Jas per by Captain Hobson to report the meeting in his favor. He charged that The Age-Herald had been unfair in its reports of all, practically all, the pre- ceding debates between himself and Cap- tain Hobson, and insinuated that he did not expect a fair deal in today's re- port.
 Your reporter was put in the attitude of being a partisan even before he had ever of debates, and while friendly caller at the office of MT. Davis was refused mark of courtesy that I felt was due from the candidate for the high office
 In spite of the fact that I was sent to Jasper by The Age-Herald to secure an unbiased report of the joint debate I was placed in the uncomfortable situation of being partisan without show.or founda- tion for reason.
 Following this unpleasant and most un- comfortable incident had hoped and ex- pected that the people in MT. Davis home town would give him such a show of ap- preciation that The Age-Herald would have most excellent opportunity to sus- tain it's well-known reputation for fair ness when it reported the cordial recep- ton given him by his fellow citizens.
 Davis Applauded.
 But this was not so. When MT. Davis entered the auditorium following Captain Hobson he was greeted with a demon stration of applause equal to that that had just been given his opponent. But here this manner of demonstration ended. During his main speech and rejoinder he received moderate applause at times, but even his friends admit that his re- ception was decided frost in comparison with the applause accorded Captain Hob- son.
 As a fair-minded man, with no reason for misrepresenting facts, I regret that I am compelled through MT. Davis chal- lenge to a true report, to state these things as l do.
 There may be truth in the statement of MT. Davis friends that the hearty ap- plause for Captain Hobson and the lack of 1t for MT. Davis was due to the pres ence of republicans. l do not know. It is a matter of political history, however, that Walker county Is divided almost equally between democrats and republic ans.
 In his speeches MT. Davis dwelt large ly upon Captain Hobsons vote on the Brownsville matter in Congress, with which the readers of this paper are fa- miliar. He appealed strongly to the race prejudice of the voters. Captain Hobson, in his reply explained his position on thls and other race issues and the people seemed to be satisfied with his explana- tion.
 Big Navy Idea.
 MT. Davis attacked his opponent for his advocacy of big navy and his all legged protectionist ideas and also brought him to account for being absent when the final vote was taken on the new tariff bill.
 Captain Hobson neglected some of these issues in his reply, and there is no mis- taking the fact that his explanations were satisfactory to the people present.
 In reply to the charge that he spent a great part of his time lecturing for money, Captain Hobson asked if Mr. Davis did not practice law while he was a member of the legislature, and if he would discontinue practice if elected to Congress?
 Mr Davis declared that no negroes