The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-09-21
Will Musgrove Attack?

Will Musgrove Attack?
| The practical certainty tlrat the COM
mittee Will adopt the majority rule
| makes the assurance of underwood's =
success doubly sure so sure, as mat
| ter of fact, that 1t is believed possible
that his sole competitor will, in the long
run, be Congressman Richmond p. Hop
son of the Sixth district.
Hobson. for year, more or less, has
been actively engaged in his campaign
for the. Senate. He has made whirl-
wind flights in many of the counties
of the state, has starred at the head OF
a number of government employees In
the Sixth district. and this week will
electrify the hills and dales of Jeffer-
son county with his rernar rkable elo-
quence. 1t is reported, has been pub
lished, as matter of fact, that his
campaign manager, L. b. Musgrove OF
Walker county considered ono of the
mosts adept politicians of Alabama,
will, in furtherance OF his champions
ambition. ISSUE. in the near future, an
attack against Underwood.
The leader of the party, however
has done such splendid work in the
Congress of the nation, is so highly re-
garded by the people of the nation, and
so highly esteemed in Alabama for his
faithfulness to duty, his personal in
tegrity, his superiority over his fell
lows in Congress. that the attack Of
Musgrove, il 1t is made, will affect
its result, in all probability as the as
saults against George B. Ward by his
political enemies effected in Birming-
hams municipal election last Monday.
The BanI1head Incident
In this regard, it is interesting to
note that Senator Bankhead in pro-
testing against the candidacy of Mr..
Underwood has deprived Mr.. Musgrove
of one of the weapons which 1T has
been understood he was planning to
hvield. 1t was the general under
standing in politics that 1T would be
charged that Senator Bankhead. in an
effort to acquire political control OF
the state, had shuffled the cards in the
deck of candidates and chosen from
the list Mr. Underwood as the only
man who could defeat Hobson
Shrewd deductions unfavorable to
Underwood might have been drawn
But inasmuch as Senator Bankhead
holds, as do many other well posted
men, that either Clayton or Heflin could
defeat Hobson. and inasmuch as he has
urged Underwood not to run. the Mus
grove thunder. in this particular re-
gard. will tumble. II 1t does rumble. i'm
potety
IT the report is true that Musgrove
Will fire his broadside against Under
wood it is reasonable to presume tha.
he will point out the fact, already
known throughout Alabama. that T.
Fortune Ryan, the capitalist. contrib
uted financially to the presidential
campaign of Mr.. Underwood. Jnasmuch
as men Of money---and the harvester
trust--contributed to the campaign
funds of other candidates. notably that
OF President Wilson, 1t is seriously
doubted that that "bugaboo" will cause
the detection of a single Underwood
supporter--not even If 1t is shown that
the future senator sought the contri-
button. or knew of it's reception.
Mr.. UnderwOOd's Successor
Inas much as it is a foregone con-
clusion that Underwood will run--and
will be elected-interest grows daily
in the little broil that is brewing
among his would-be SUCCESSORS.
At this time it is reasonably certain
that Nathan l.. Miller of Birmingham
and Maj Thomas Il. Huey of i;essemer
will be congressional candidates. Bor-
den Burr and w. Melville Drennen are
mentioned. Inasmuch as the adoption
of the majority rule will guarantee a
T. Jefferson candidates success little con-
sideration Is now given to the rumor
that ]. Fritz Thompson of Bibb may
enter the list of aspirants.
While the situation is only in It's
embryonic stage. the belief is that the
field will gradually narrow down until
Mr. Miller and Major Huey will be the
rivals. The race between them. 1t Is
generally admitted, would be interest
ing.