The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-03-01

partisan dispute as 10 the outcome. The Rev. Perley A. Baker of Wester- vile. O., viisted the state and issued a masterful argument in defense of the captain and the Rev. Brooks Lawrence, siso of Ohio. Another contributing cause to the weeks excitement was the letter of W. R. Watkins, printed in The Age Herald, in which the charge was brought that the captain deesrted the standard of Frank $. White because John H. Bankhead was a prohibi- tionist.
 The most significant event of the week was the entrance of the Phla- deiphia North American. That newspa- per sent it's Washington correspondent, Angus McSween, to Alabama. Angus McSween. writing with the slimy quill that Gilson Gardner-another Hobson publiean-discarded, published the slander that Alabama is a backward and reactionary" state, and gave as a reason by suggestion the fact that this state is supporting for the Sen ate oscar W. Underwood, the great House leader of democracy, the strong ally of President Wilson"
 For the Hobson couse, which this vir- lie typewritist so passionately es- poused his article was most unfortu- nate. He made it plain that his pa per. a Journalistic high priest of re- publican protection, was hopeful that Underwood would be beaten because
 1t is Underwood-and not Hobson- who has stood with President Wilson and shaken loose the talons of fabulous and crooked wealth from the torn throat of the common people of Amer 1ca. To slap the face of the admin t5tration which has estopped the glut- onous feast of republican bloodsuckers Is the ardent desire of the republicans and they know that their opportunity came when Underwood presented him self 10 his own people for consider alton. And thus is explained the un- usual activity of the Philadelphia North American and its insolent sug- gestion that Alabama defeat Under wood because he has fought the battles the victorious battles, Of democracy.
 It Is significant fact that the re- publicans have little of that chilling Tear of the prowess of the captain, the captain who says that Underwood does not stand with Wilson-"where We pro- gressves stand"
 And then came the Rev. Perley A. Baker of Westerville, o. He Joined an other resident of that state, the Rev. Brooks Lawrence, in urging the selec- ton of the captain. He expressed fear that the prohibitionists of Alabama are not capable of judging for them selves, because, as he intimated, they do not seem to know what is involved. what tremendous issues are at stake. The reverend gentlemen from Ohio is sued a statement but on tile subject in which Alabama is interest ed-hs was significantly silent. He did not tell the people that he called at the office of Mr Underwood to render thanks bN- l., bamian in behalf of the Webb anti shipping bill. He did not tell the peo- Die that he afterward wrote Congress man Brombaush of Ohio. urging him to cal on Mr. Underwood and render thanks. He did not tell the people that he subsequently, wrote urging the con sressman hot to render thanks be- cause of the peculiar fight which po- litfcal factoinists were preparing to wage against the democrat in his own state.
 Mir. Underwood told the story Con sressman Brombaugh told MT. Under wood. That gentleman explained that he and pr. Baker had called at the office of the House leader and had found him absent; that later Dr. Baker wrote him to express his thanks to NIT. Underwood; that later still, he had received another letter, and that in that letter Dr. Baker had told him that he had heard from cr. Lawrence, that Dr. Lawrence had VII itten concerning the nature of the fight which he and his allies were preparing to wage gainst Mir Underwood-and that, as a result. MT. Brombaugh, in the event that he had not already done so, might refrain from expressing the thanks of the head of the Anti-saloon league While in Birmingham. of none of these things pr. Baker spoke. He was ener- n6 n frt-i ile, 1, orr variety Of the finny tribe.
 One of the most humorous conrti-