The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-06-13

held in 1911.
 The announcement of Capt. Richmond Pearson Hobson for the Senate was re- ceived in Birmingham yesterday with lit- tie comment. There was not much sur prise, for 1t had been known for some time that the hero of the Merrimac was preparing for the leap.
 There is gossip in Birmingham as a re- suit of the announcement. The wonder is whether or not the announcement of Cap tain Hobson was made after that con gressnlan had had a talk with former Gov. B. B. Conner, or whether the announce ment was made thus early to forestall probable identical action on the part of the former state executive.
 Governor Conner when apprised of what Hcbson had done, said iittie- He wa not surprised. He did not commit himself. But in political circles the matter is sum- marked as follows: If Hobson acted after having consulted Conner the latter will run for the job of governor, but if Hobson acted in an effort to forestall Conner there will probably be @ three cornered race for the Senate
 Senator Johnston will ask for another tedm. His son, Forney Johnston, stated yesterday that there has never been a question but that his father would again enter the lists.
 The formal statement of Congressman Hobson, sent by mail to The Age-Herald yesterday follows:
 Tn order to prevent confusion and to afford ample time for your deliberation and responding to calls from earnest citi- I zens in all parts of the state, l hereby announce that l will be candidate for the democratic nomination for the United States Senate to succeed Senator John ston
 Tt is not the honor nor the emouments of this high office that attract me. but the privilege of serving the people of the whole state
 q am in favor of a vigorous policy of development of our states great resources and of securing all legitimate aid from the federal government. development and diverslfication of farming, utilization of water powers and coal deposits for man. ufacturing the raw materials of cotton, iron, timber, cement, clay, etc, into the finished product. development of the trans portation, the improvement of our water ways, including water way through Ala bama to connect the Tennessee river with the gulf, the rapid improvement of our country roads and the effective regula- tions and true development of our rail roads,.
 Above all I am in favor of improving the education of the masses of our chil- dren, especially in the country districts extending their instruction to the vital questions and problems of life. to im- prove the sanitation and general condi- tions of farm life, and prepare our Anglo Saxon people to assume the great re- sponsihilty and leadership to which they are being called by the grave problems and perils of our national life and the general extension of free institutions in the world.
 T am in favor of restoring the gov ernment to the hands of the people. where it belongs and of purging the govern ment, state and national. of men who serve special interests, especially those who do the bidding of the sinister liquor interests and depend for their success upon the debauching of the morals of our people and the corruption of our elector- ate.
 "I am in favor of completely abolishing the convention system in the state and nation and of the full extension of tho primary system for nomination and direct voting for election of President. Vice President, senators and other executive officers state and national, with the con trol and financing of primary and general elections by the people.
 "I am In favor of building up the navy to meet the requirements called for in the democratic platform of Denver, of building I'D the ocean merchant marine by the old democratic method of discriminating dli- ties of maintaining the Monroe doctrine nviolate in this hemisphere, and the open door policy in China, insuring for our cotton product and other commodities of export a fair chance in the markets O. the world R P ROBSON"