Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-06-29
IN BITTER CONTEST
FOR j. S. SENATE
Capt. Hobs0n Enters Alabama
to Capture Toga Worn by
Senator Johnston.
ONE TYPIFIES THE OLD;
THE OTHER NEW SOUTH
Both Made Records for Bravery. One
in the Civil, the Other in
the Spanish War.

BIRMINGHAM. Ala. June 2s.-Seldorn
In the history OF American politics has
there been so rema rkabie a campaign FOR
the United States Senate as the one jus,
opened up In Alabama between two con-
testants of national interest. representing
wholly opposite periods. traditions and
theories of government Contrasts in the
ages. temperaments. methods and views
OF the aspiring candidates suggest a story
of human interest as well as unusual in
cident
Capt Joseph F. Johnston. who has en-
tered the whirlwind campaign to succeed
himself in the Senate through the next
democratic primary, Is pitted against
Capt. Richmond Pearson Hobson now
representing the sixth congressional dis
trict of Alabama.
Both were captains In memorable wars
more than thrty-five years apart Both
distinguished themselves for courage and
heroism in action. Capt. Johnston was
daring to recklessness. was four times
wounded in battle. once left on the field
for dead and had the rare experience OF
reading his obituary with high tribute
trimmings in print Capt. Hobson a gen
Grafton later defied death in the memora-
BILE explosion OF the Merrimac. but mirac-
ulously escaped without a scratch and
found himself a prisoner in a Spanish
fort.
Old South VS.. the New.
Capt Johnston typifies the old. CAPT
Hobson the new south. The former ~
| ideals, sentiment. vie IS and purposes ~
presses by word and act the traditions
customs and thought of a former az.
clinging TO the idols OF his fathers. tie
| latter represents restless period and al
| mosphere. new methods and means -
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experimental system of thought and
achievement. II is drawn politlca
struggle between a hero OF the civil wa
and one of the Spanish-American brlsh
Capt Johnston was power in practical
| politics when his present formidable rival
was an irfant
| Both of these men Of distinction have
| interesting records. When Capt John
ston returned from the civil war he pre-
pared to enter public life. After notable
career In minor service. including
compromising antagonism Of reconstruc-
| ton evils in the south. he served two
terms as Governor of Alabama. ard came
| near dominating the states thought and
| action. He met his first significant de-
| feat when he locked horns with the late
| lamented John T. Morgan for the Sen
ate. Morgan had long been Alabama's
grand old man in that body; the voters
| couldn't seriously contemplate taking
| down their idol
Fought Present Constitution.
| Capt. Johnston was the minority leader
against the adoption of the present Ala
| bama constitution in 1909. and in tina. bit
| ter fight made many active enemies among
| the leaders of the movement to pat the
| big negro vote In the political scrap heap.
who have been Indirectly cunning for
1 his scalp ever since. But with unusual
recuperative powers he came back in the
memorable dead mems shoes" primary.
4 naming successors in the Senate TO Nor
gan and Pettus, when those venerable
| representatives should pass away. bag
ging the second vacancy. Soon IL came.
when Gen. Pettus dropped into the death
column.
| In the present battle Capt. Johnston Is
standing on a platform constructed OF his
| military record and his public service He
is a defender OF corporate interests
against radical legislation does not read
/ lily fall i'm with pyrotechnic reform move
ments. stands for local option as safe
method Of handling the aggrayatins
| liquor problem in this state and refuses
to believe that a highball will carry
toboggan schedule.
Capt. Hobson's Varied Record.
Capt. Hobson's public record is varied
and striking. When he tried TO get on TIL
retired list of the navy to enter public
| life. and gave defective eyesight as his
claim, Representative John II. Bankhead.
| then a member of the naval ana rs COM
mittee. vigorously opposed action and
| carried his point. A wealthy persona
| friend of Hobson's who was looking for
a chance to show his appreciation Of
\ kindness from the naval constructors
| father years previous wrote him: Turn
| the tables on him. Dick: get out and beat
| him for Congress. You can do it'll back
YOU till the cows come home. Go after
his political scalp
1t was an idea Offering a possible com
| bination of revenge and reward; Dick
| did il. Resigning from the navy. he en-
tered the race for Congress from the
sixth district against Bankhead. a veteran
campagner and astute politician. Like
| Capt. Johnston. he was of a different
period, school and spirit from young
| Hobson. and old enough for his father
He had been in Congress many years
and in office forty or more. Despite his
powerful family influences, Confederate
record, with four bullet marks. and long
| service, young Hobson in his first whiri
| at practical politics. gave him run for
his money and came near defeating him
i'm the primary in 1905. Two years later
the fight was renewed with bitterness.
hobson stumped the district, largely rural
and mountainous. with most of its voters
| unable to distinguish between a battleshp
| and a tugboat. and on a x-billion-dollar
navy issue swept things
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