The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-12
ROBSON AND MOODY IN THE FIRST J0Ini DFpATE AT E4iETTE Big CrOWa Hears Rivals for Congressional HOnOrs in
 the Sixth District
FULLY 700 PRESENT
 TO HEAR SPEAKERS
Number of Hobson Supporters Left the Hall When Moody Began. Applause Seemed to Be
 Equally Divided

l Fayette, March 1L-(special.)- )-This aft ernoon Frank s. Moody of Tuscalsosa and Richmond P. Hobson of Hale debated in the new courthouse, which debate, inci- dentally, served as a christening of the edfice. There was a crowd of 700 people present, attracted by the fact that today was scheduled to occur the first session of county court.
 The audience was most attentive one, and from appearances was about equally divided in it's regard for the rival candi- dates for Congress. The applause was confined to less than one-fourth the peo-. pie who heard the speakers, which indi- cates that the majority had not made up their minds as to which candidate to sup port. When Mr Moody made his re- joinder many Hobson people left the hall although it is not thought that any dis courtesy was intended. It was late and the crowd had gone without its dinner.
 MT. Moody opened the debate and went into details concerning the record of Hob son. Just what the congressman had &C., complished was pointed out. What he had failed to accomplish was also mentioned. MT. Moody read from the congressional records for his proof that from the ma jority of roll calls Captain Hobson was absent Something was said concerning his lectures all over the country, his hur- ried trip into Maine to aid the cause of the republicans, and of his alleged dsaf- lection for the people of the Sixth district and the district itself
 
 tended his record as he did in Tuscaloosa, explained that he was absent from roll call on no occasion save when he had paired, or when the matater under dis cussion was not important. He spoke of his love for the district and went into de- tails as concerns whN he had accom- plished in the way of rural free delivery routes, boil weevil bulletins, and farm demonstrations. He took Senator Moody to task for his support in the state legis- lature of certain banking bills and his opposition to the Conner railroad legisla- ton. He also mentioned that Moody him self was absent from many roll calls dur ing the last session of the legislature. He called himself a progressive and re- ferred repeatedly to the conservatism of his opponent.
 In his rejoinder MT. Moody read as follows:
 MT Hobson's record presents the curious spectacle that no leave of ab- sences are charged against him. On the other hand, however, an uneX- ampled record of pairs and failures to vote impaired shows that he did not stand upon the regular method of ob- taining the leave of the House to ab sent himself from his duties, but did so with few exceptions whenever it suited his pleasure. The record of his yea and nay votes shows that in the first session of the Sixtieth Congress he was paired 127 times, and was ab- sent impaired 20 times. In the second session of that Congress he was paired six times and absent impaired twice. In the first session of the SiXty-first Congress he was paired five times, and impaired five times. In the second ses- sion he was paired 40 times, seven oc- casions answering present. and was impaired 10 times. In the third ses- sion of the same Congress he was pair ed 27 times and impaired three times. In the first session of the SiXty-second Congress he was paired 3S times, in two instances answering present
 In this session he also failed to answer to his name four times when call of the House was had. In the current ses- sion, including and up to February 2s. he had been paired 32 times, answering pres ent on four occasions"
 MT. Moody also stated that in the first session of the Sixty-second Congress, from April to August 2l, on AS important measures before the House, Hobson had failed to vote fl times. He stated that on the same roll calls the other congress- men had failed to vote as follows: Black mon 4, Burnett 6, Clayton 3, Dent 2, lief lin 10, Richardson 3. Taylor 12. and Un- derwood 2.
 Following the speaking, a telegram was handed Mir Moody from his campaign manager, w. w. Brandon of Tuscaloosa, in which the latter stated that he had re- ceived a letter from Congressman Hay making denial over his signature that he had apolosized to Hobson for his state ments concerning him made on the floor of the House In the sensational Hay Hobson- Fitzgerald incident.