The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1913-10-02
Alabama senatorship is up for Decis.
lon and Four Faithful Members
Of the Party are Entered
for the Race.
UNDERWOOD CANDIDATE
Accomplishments Of the Asplrants is
Set Forth In Most Entertain
Ing Manner by Washington
Correspondent.
Especial to The Gate City.]

WASHINGTON, D. c., Oct. 1.-THE
man who likes to sit upon the top
rail of the fence which surrounds the
political track and see good boss
race, exactly as do the rail Bird In
zeal life, as they perch upon some
eminence at the fair ground course
and watch the PAGERS and trotters
breeze past, may turn his eyes toward
Alabama, where the blankets are be-
ing removed from the eager starters
In what gives promise of being the
most exciting senatorial contest the
south ever has witnessed.
The prize is the seat in the United
States senate made vacant by the
death of Joseph F. Johnston.
There are four entrants, all OF
them being at the present time rep
resentatiyes in congress. They are:
| Henry D. Clayton, now serving his
ninth term, Is chairman of the jude
larry committee of the house, and has
been appointed by the governor Of
the state to serve the remainder OF
the Johnston term.
Oscar w. Underwood, the brilliant
Kentuckian who now Is serving his
tenth term from the Birmingham dis
trict, is chairman Of the ways and
means committee, was chief Trainer OF
the pending tariff bill, and was a
prominent candidate for the democratic
nomination for the presidency last
year
Richmond Pearson Hobson, Span.
ish-A American war hero and a chautau
qua favorite.
James Thomas Hefiin, who never
misses an opportunity to speak against
extending the right of suffrage tc
women
| OF course, the rail- birds always
like to know the dope"
Representative Clayton, who Ii
addressed as Judge" Clayton, Is g
ponderous speaker 1t is said of him
that twenty years ago he was the
most popular man on the stump II
Alabama, but that of late years he
has lost his fire and that he canno'
hold his audience as he could in hi'
younger years. There are occasions
when Clayton shows bursts of speed
but this race is to be one which re
Iquires endurance.
Mr.. Underwood intellectually hal
the other candidates outclassed. Aftel
finishing in the Rugby school II
louisville; he took course in thu
university of Virginia, from which hi
was graduated. after which he studiet
law. Mr.. Underwood if polished
sauve and diplomatic. Nevertheless
The lacks some of the elements OF
4 winner. He is what the man on thu
street calls cold" 1t is said OF MI
Underwood that he practically Is un
known personally in Alabama OUTSIDE
OF the city of Birmingham and that HI
never went into another district y
the state and helped out another con
sressman by making public speeches
4 Mr.. Hobson is handicapped some
what by his kissing record. He l
strongly committed to the woman sui
Ifrage issue and also the prohibition
Issue. But he Is pleasing speake
and easily captivates southern aud
lience.
| Mr.. Hefln is serving his sixth tern
lin congress. He formerly was mem
Der Of the Alabama legislature and
member of the democratic state com
mittee. He has spoken all over tn
state and has friends in every county
Everybody calls him Tom. He neye
had been in Washington until he wa
elected to congress and he admit
that he was "as green as gourd
when he landed in the national cal
ital. When niger showed agains
him in a Washington street car, h
shot at the offender, but that didn
hurt him with the voters of his dill
Itrict. They reelected him by large
lily increased majority. He has eigh
brothers, all prominent men. Two c
them live in Birmingham, Mr.. Ur
derwood's home city. One Is lawye
and the other is chief surgeon for
large manufacturing company. Bot
these brothers are prominent in tn
democratic politics of Birmingham an
one of them wants to bet that TON
gets more votes in Birmingham tina
Mr.. Underwood will.
Tip: Alabama is not Iowa, SO don
bet that Tom Heflin will be distance
in this race