The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-06-08
MUCH INTEREST IN BANKHEAD'S ACTION Six Candidates in the Next
 Senatorial Race LIQUOR NOT AN ISSUE
Political Student Unable Now to Guage Comparative Strength of Probable Candidates-Hob-
 son Will Be There
By HUGH W. ROBERTS

Senator Bankheads statement to the effect that the more or less positive reports that he would not stand for reelection were without foundation statement taken to mean that he will be a candidate--created in political cir cles yesterday interest in excess of the ordinary.
 The next senatorial campaign in Ala bama promises to be as exciting and perhaps as bitter as was that which has just been completed. Circumstances will put six candidates into the field. The new state democratic executive committee is composed chiefly of men who were elected as a result of their contention that the action of the old committee in providing for majority primary was political chicanery- therefore, were elected on a platform which declared by indirection fo rpIur- ality primaries. With plurality pri- mary prevailing and with six strong men in the field, political students ad- init that rAere is no manner by means of which onex can accurately predict the winner.
 The six candidates will be Senator Bankhead, Senator White. Capt. R. P. Hobson, Congressman John w Aber- crombie, Congressman ]. Tom Heflin and Ray Rushton, the popular attorney of Montgomery.
 Of course, no one has announced. Senator Bankhead intimated very c trnn plu hot he s,, ftrrl, It Is believed that he would be pleased with a plurality primary, for it was in plurality primary that he achieved senatorial honors. Captain White will have served less than year when his term will expire. There is a strong White following in Alabama, a follow ing which will be augmented by those who believe that a faithful servant should be returned for at least a sec ond time. Captain Hobson in the last senatorial campaign drew to his fold many partisans who, as a result of the bitterness engendered, will welcome another opportunity to strike blows in his behalf. In a plurality primary he would be strong.
 Dr. Abercrombie is representing the state at large. Within a year there will be no berth in Alabama for a congressman at large. The legislature in it's next regular session will redis- trict the state. Dr. Abercromb bic. therefore, will be thrown out of serv- ice. As a congressman, the admission Is general that he has made good. There is scarcely a doubt but that he will shy his castor at a sena torial berth and the ease with which he dis posed of his opponents two years ago is an indication that he will continue to be strong.
 Congressman Heflin wants to be a senator As a matter of fact, 1t is be- lieved that he would have entered the recent contest but for the fact that he appreciated in advance the strength of Oscar W. Underwood, and appreci- ated, too, the fact that the leader of the party deserved at the hands of Alabamians any reasonable promotion he might have desired. MT. Heflin Is an eloquent and humorous speaker and a forceful speaker. He is a ready debater He loves fight. It is gem orally admitted that he would be for midablc.
 But one of the strongest candidates will be Ray Rushton. MT. Rushton was defeated April 6 f< catain White. But he made good race. He was unknown in north Alabama. But his clean cam pafgn, his refusal to play to the gal lerics or the grandstand, his determin- ation to seorn the tactics invariably employed by the demagogue, his hon. esty of statement and his ability at tracted a great deal of attention. Many thousands of people voted for Captain White without a desire to vote against Mir Rushton. So it is talk en for granted that he will be strong in 1918.
 The struggle promises to be spec tacular and entertaining. Despite the effort which Captain Hobson will make prohibition will not be the issue. As in 1914 in 1918, the issue will be worth and fitness