The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-22
RIGHT TO VOTE COMES
FROM THE STATES

FROM THE STATES
Again. Captain Hobson is recognized
as one of the leaders of the suffrage
movement in the Congress of the United
States. and an amendment has been pro-
posed to the federal constitution granting
Suffrage to women. white or black with
ut regard to previous conditions of race
or servitude. What has Congress to do
with the suffrage? Captain Hobson should
know that the right to vote comes from
the states and not the federal govern
ment When the fourteenth and fifteenth
anendments We're pending a powerful
movement was organized to transfer the
suffrage from the states to the federal
government, movement which was only
ceieated by the courage, ability and per-
sistence of the small democratic minority.
They alone defeated this Revolutionary ef
fort to place the control of the elections
In the states under the supreme authority
OF the federal government. Even il Can
tain Hobson has opposed. as I am in
fo,med. this amendment. yet he has will
lngly lent his name and Influence to the
rational movement for woman suffrage
and did join in the parade, who's ptrpase
vas to Influence Congress to submit that
amendment
Il also recall that when tie demo-
cratic party was about to consunmate
by legislation the principles for which
1t had battled since the civil war-the
divorcement of the government from
special interests and the reduction of
the crushing burden of an iniquitous
tariff system. and was facing in the
congress the most critical period of its
history, that Captain Hobson left his
post of duty and commenced a cam
paign tour of the state vainIy seek
ing TO defeat that old warhorse OF
democracy, that supurb soldier and
statesman whose untimely death we all
now deplore M
IL remember that Senator Johnson.
believing that the interests OF his party
and his people were in jeopardy, resist
ing all appeals. though in failing
health, endured the sWeltering neat of
a Washington midsummer and sacri-
ficed his life rather than desert his
post OF duty at a critical period In his
partys history. On the contrary. no
such condition could check the CAPTAINS
lust for office. He had often boasted
that he aspired to public office. not
Tor It's emoluments. but solely for the
opportunity 1t furnished for public se1.y-
Ice Yet Notwithstanding this lofty dec
laratlon. he had rushed to Alabama de-
serted his seat. and swept over tho
state, leaving behind him blazing trail
OF perforvid and flamboyant oratory,
speaking seven days in the week. and
giving an exhibition Of physical energy
which was refreshing Yet. when an
was done. the great campaign ended AL
lhough Senator Johnston never entered
the state. even Captain Hobson,s frie,,ds
VIII admit that he faced the most
crushing and humiliating defeat which
mad ever confronted a public man in
Alabama, and which he ONLY eseanad
by the untimeiy death of his great adj
versary.
! fully indorse the encomfun captain
ROBSON pays to Judge DeGraffcnreid
HIS splendid record on the bench al
tests the wisdom of my selection.
trust Captain Hobson will permit mo
TO suggest, however. with the utmost
sincerity, that If his fidelity TO public
duty had equalled that of on, mutual
friend, Judge DeGraffeDreid, his cam
palgn for the Senate would not have
met SO sudden and painful a collapse
Captain Hobson says I will NOT dare
ueny that did not know that Senator
overman, speaking for the entire Judi
clary committee, had wired Senator
bahkhead that | had no power to make
ar appointment. In response to this chal-
| ienge / do dany that have received. di-
fectIy or indirectly from Senator Bank
nead, any information in reference to
the alleged telegram from Senator Over
man. IN the absence of evidence more
convincing than the idle rumor which
Saptain Hobson repeats, am unwilling to
| oeileve that the judiciary committee of
the United States Senate would undertake.
IN advance to PREJUDICE case that might
be submitted for their consideration. Such
conduct on their part would be as up-
usual and as unprecedented as the SUI
preme court of the United States ex-
pressing in advance their views on an i'm
portant legal question which they EXPECT
ed would he submitted, for their adjudica-
ton. | admit that the press dispatches
did state on Tuesday morning that Sem
ator Overman, chairman of the Judiciary
committee, had wired me that / had no
authority to make an appointment. A
reporter from the Birmingham Age-Her-
aid did inform me Monday night while
was making social call at the house
of a friend, that would find such a tele-
gram in my box at the hotel upon my
return If any telegram was sent it was
never received by me, either at Birming-
ham or Montgomery, or by any employe
or official of my office. / am therefore
inclined to believe that all the statements
about such telegram being sent were
absolutely without any basis of fact In
view of these statements I am sure that
even Captain THobson will now admit
that his charge that have attempted to
mislead the people into the belief that
was not fully advised of the views of
Senator Overman is absolutely unjust and
unwarranted. s
Captain Hobson is kind enolighto state
that he felt at least modicum of human
sympathy as he has read and heard of
the pitiless storm of criticism that has
burst over my unhappy head as result