The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1914-03-31
CAMPAIGN
Opens Up Quite Warm In
State Of Alabama

II
longest and most exciting political
campaign in the history OF Alabama
is near its close. One week from to
day the Democratic primaries will
be held for the nomination Of candi
dates for United States senator TO,
the six year term, beginning March 4
1915; for United States senator To fili
the unexpired term of the late Joseph
f. Johnston, for representatives from
each of the nine Congressional dis
tricts, for governor and other State
officers. judges of the supreme court
and court of appeals and members of
the Legislature. The candidates nom.
mated in the primaries will be voted
for in November. Nomination on the
Democratic ticket in Alabama is re.
garded as equivalent to election.
The contest for the long term sen.
atorship has almost .oyershadowed
the other features of the Campaign.
In this contest Oscar W. Underwood
! the Democratic leader in the national
house of representatives, is pitted
against Captain Richmond Pearson
| Hobson, now representing the Sixth
congressional district Of Alabama.
Seldom in the history OF American
politics has there been more re-
markable campaign for the United
States senate, between two contest
ants of national interest, representing
wholly opposite traditions aud theories
of government.
Hobson's strength lies largely in
his success as a campsigner With a
realization Of this fact he has been in.
dustriously stumping the State for
many weeks past, covering much
ground, making many speeches and
arousing considerable enthusiasm
among the ruralites. He has made
prohibition the leading issue of his
campaign, supplementing It with at
tacks on his opponent as the repre-
sentative Of Wall street.
Throughout practically the whole
of the campaign Mr.. Underwood has
remained in Washington He has per-
sistently declined to take the stump,
leaving the direction of his campaign
to his friends at home During the
congressional holiday he returned to
Alabama and delivered one or two
public speeches in which he defined
his views on the liquor question. He
referred to his record in Congress for
proof OF the fact that he had adyocat-
ed a prohibition amendment to the
Constitution, though he believed that
in the various tSates more practical
and satisfactory results could be OBJ
tanned through local option, with the
county as unit.
The success of failure of Mr.. Under
wood in the senatorial campaign is
expected to have more or less i'm.
portant bearing on national politics.
The Democratic leader in the House
and the framer of the tariff bill which
bears his name is generally regarded
as the first man from Southern State
since the civil war who has been with
in striking distance of the presidency.
His friends believe that if he is elect
ed to the senate he will eventually be-
come a candidate for the presidency
of the United States.
There are several candidates in the
field for the short-term senatorship,
but as the successful one will have
less than year to serve the contest
is attracting comparatively little at
tention. Nearly all of the present
representatives in Congress have op-
position for denomination, but the in
dications the that the most of them
will be returned.
Even more bitter than the Hobson-
Underwood contest is the battle for
the governorship. The question of
statewide prohibition, the policy of
IhS koLdtc hdlil Odu SOulhllSSlOu anu q
number of other active State issues
have contributed to make the contest
an exceedingly spirited one.
Former Governor B. B. Conner ap-
pears as the most CONSPICUOUS figure
in the fight for the gubernatorial
nomination. He claims to be making
the race for the governorship against
the field. The several others who are
seeking the nomination are conduct
ing vigorous campaigns and the result
of the primary so far as the governor
ship is concerned, cannot be foretold
with any degree of certainty.
Appearing as opponents of former
Governor Conner in the race for the
governorship are Walter D. Seed of
Tuscaloosa, the present lieutenant
governor; R. F. Kolb of Montgomery,
long a notable figure in Alabama
politics and at present State commits
sioner of agriculture and industries,
and Charles Henderson of Troy who