The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-05-22
EQUAL SUFFRAGE
CLUB ENTERTA|NS
HEREOF MERR|MAC
iobson Fires Opening Gun
of Senatorial Campaign
in Huntsville
SUFFRAGE TO
BE TREATED BY STATE
repeats Statement That Annual
Liquor Toll in United States Is
Greater Than That of All
the Wars

Huntsville, May 21.-(Specla1)- )-Con-
gresham Richmond P. Hobson delivered
the opening address of his campaign for
the United States Senate today in the
courthouse, speaking three hours and out
Hnihg the issues on which he will make
his race before the people. He said h.
would stand on a platform of construc-
tive legislation and Would make fight on
no man. He was invited here by the
Huntsville Equal Suffrage association and
accepted the invitation, but he had pre-
Vlously made plans to open his cam
paign here.
He said he is a warm advocate of wom-
ans suffrage but 1t is not an issue in this
campaign. He believes the question
should be settled by each individual state
ana not by an amendment in the federal
constitution. He doesn't believe In forcing
equal suffrage on states that do not want
1t.
HObsOn States Plans
Captain Hobson said if the people of
Alabama will send him to the United
states Senate he will devote himself to
legislation intended for the upbuilding of
the south. He is in favor of establishing
a bureau in the agricultural department
for the dissemination of literature to teach
the boys of the country how to farm lie
has learned that this will cost only s25,-
Oo0. He believes it will be worth millions
TO the nation through teaching the young
Farmers what can best be produced in
their separate localities. He favors gov
ernment aid for public roads and govern
ment aid for public schools, both to be
handled down through Individual states.
lie believes the navigabe rivers of the
south should dpXrplnna6 nd hot a
water powers should be conserved. He be-
lives much can be accomplished through
making the rivers navigabe and thinks
the Tennessee river can be cut through to
the Warrior, allowing traffic to go to
the gulf by a short cut. Development of
water power in the south has scarcely be-
gun, he said, and he mentioned that 20,-
600 horse power is going to waste in the
Huntsville district.
He said everything possible should be
done for the development of the agricul-
tural interests of the country and making
life far more attractive to the youth of
the land. 1t is his purpose If elected
to secure the passage of laws with this
purpose in view. His advice to the south
is to invite capital but not to let it
become the master of the people, and he
advises the southern cotton growers to
establish the mills nearer the fields. He
favors the creation of department of
public health, direct taxing system and
prohibition.
Those Liquor Figures
On the latter subject Captain Hobson
devoted considerable time. He said science
has proved that alcohol is a specific for
degeneracy, and statistics show, he said.
that 1t kills 100000 people a year in the
United States. more people than have
been killed in all the wars since Alex
ander's time. He expects to work against
the sale of liquor in the state, the nation
and the whole world.
He believes in the reasonable regula-
tion of railroads and believes the financial
system should be changed so that ma
tional banks will be allowed to make loans
on farm property.
Captain Hobson was entertained at a
public reception by the Huntsville Equal
Suffrage association after his address. He
left this evening for Scottsboro He eX-
poets to spend 25 days campaigning over
the state on this trip and Will deliver
a bout SO addresses.