The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1909-08-22
FIGHT CENTERS
ON BLACK MAN
Hobson and DAVIS IN
Warm Debate.
MAKE AND MEET CHARGES
Large Crowd at tuscaloosa Hears
Arguments.
Campaign Of Sixth District to De
Fought Around Brownsvflle
According to Mr.. Davis
During Debate.

sional District will be fought around
Brownsville, Tex" These words were
among the first remarks made by Hon.
w. C. Davis, candidate to oppose Con-
gresham Hobson for reelection from
this District, when he arose to answer
Mr.. Hobson In joint debate here today.
The Tuscaloosa County court room
was filled long before the hour set for
the debate. many ladies being present.
Senator f. s. Moody presided over the
meeting and shortly after 10 O'Clock.
preliminaries having been arranged, he
introduced Hon. R. P. Hobson.
Mr.. Hobson opened by saying the
campaign had begun sooner than he
expected by FIVE and a half months,
that he really should have refused TO
meet Mr.. Davis in joint debate this
early, and that by rights he ought to
be there alone giving his side Of the
matter, Mr.. Davis having come BEFORE
him with his.
Mr.. Hobson said the race question
would play an important part in this
campaign. but wanted 1t understood he
was for the white mans legitimate SUI
premacy at all times. He doubted his
oponent's ability to cope with the ques-
tion. Mr.. Hobson then went into MIR.
Daviss previous record, especially re-
lating to the time when he represent
ed Marion County in the Legislature,
the voting to bestow $500 on Tuske-
gee Institute, etc. He drove his argu-
ments home with force. and then pro-
ceeded to give an account of his stew
ardship, telling Of his committee as
signments, what he had done for his
district, touching on the merchant ma
rine, and the establishment Of naval
station at Pearl Harbor.
Works for Farmers.
~ l. g. t.A
District on the agricultural side. spoke
matters. Mr.. Hobaon referred to Mr..
Davis's idea as to peace, and the using
of this money to establish sanitariums.
Taking UP the matter OF Democracy,
he explained Democracy, as being d.
vided into conservative and liberal, he
claiming to be a liberal. He, however.
questioned the Democracy OF his op-
ponent, charging that he is the servant
of a public service corporation, who al
ways seeks to hide behind the conserv-
alive side Of Democracy.
Mr.. Hobson's time was almost ex-
pired and he but briefly touched on the
Brownsville incident. reseFving that for
his rejoinder. He, however, asked that
Mr.. Davis answer certain charges,
namely, where he, Mr.. Hobson, had been
misrepresented in stating that all men
are equal, and where he had urged the
bill allowing Porto Ricans and Filipi-
nos to attend the military schools of
this country, closing his talk by ask
ing that Davis answer these charges or
drop them.
: Davis Begins Reply.
Mr.. Davis in his opening words
stated that this battle would be fought
around Brownsville. Texas" He then
spoke Of the newspaper reports Of the
Hamilton meeting In caustic terms.
and began in severe terms to arraign
about the Annanias Club, which
brought reproof from the chair. He
referred to Captain Hobson as q DEM
agogue, which term had also been ap-
piled to MT. Davis in Mr.. Hobson's
speech.
In caustic and sarcastic language MT.
Davis proceeded to attack Mr.. Hobson
on the Brownsville matter. on his abb
sence from his post while Congress
as to being a counsel for a public SER
vice corporation, maintaining that he
received no salary, but drew fees; that
he had heard of lecture bureaus being
incorporated ana that Mr.. Hobson sold
out to them. He took UP the matter
of the time he spent in the Alabama
Legislature, telling OF the bills he had
introduced and had passed. Of the vot-
ing on the bill to appropriate $1,000
to Tuskegee and $1,000 to the State
Normal for negroes. He said he would
rather have negroes go to Tuskegee
and be trained to work IN the fields
than to have Porto Ricans come to our
schools and don American apparel.
Mr.. Davis then took up the Browns
Vile matter in detaih reading from
4 ~ 4-1 lakA u
he never voted against railroad leg
islation as Mr.. Hobson had intimated.
Talks of Brownsville.
Returning to the Brownsville affair
Mr.. David read from the negro jour
nal published in Montgomery of their
editorials commencing Hobson and
Foraker. He talked of the negro in
the army and navy. asking why Mr.
Hobson did not take the negro out of
the navy and in that way build it UP.
In answer to Mr.. Hobson's charges
against him. he answered by reading
the three-minute speech delivered in
the House by Mr.. Hobson in reference
to the Brownsville bill. He then stat
ed that he had written letters to Mr.
Hobson asking certain question. that
they had never been answered. He
stated that he stood for the Houston.
Pettus and Morgan democracy, but for
none OIL the ".
Closing. be declared he was an advo-
cate of peace and always would be.
Mr.. Hobson then answered him and
in thunderous tones presented his ar
guments relating TO the Brownsville
bill, and the Porto Rico-Philliipino bill.
He was interrupted several times by
Mr.. Davis asking questions. all of
which were answered in concise terms
The meeting closed about two o.
clock, and the friends of each canIi-
date gathered around their candidates
congratulating them. It was one OF
the hottest political debates heard here
in several years. and the large crowd
enjoyed it to the fullest extent. It
was said that Mr.. Davis in some OF
his arguments got the better of Mr..
Hobson, but In his rejoinjer. Mr.. Hob
son launched forth In such a burst of
oratory, that the day could very near
ly be classed a Hobson day.
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