The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-03-16
Refutes Charge He Was Brought Out to Defeat
 Captain HobsOn
SOME HEFLIN-HOBSON
 DIFFERENCES AIRED
Underwood Had Practically Announced Before There Was Hope That Clay ton Would Retire-Hobson'
 Telegram to Heflin

hinsillan or congressman d. 1nolnaS fitl- lin, in a letter to the Roanoke Leader, newspaper. replies to an editorial in that newspaper in which the oft-repeated con tention was made that oscar w. undcr- wood was brought out by certain Ala bama politicians for the specific purpose of beating R. r. Hobson.
 Dr. Blake gives of his own knowledge the facts in the case. For sometime, as is known. there was a probability that Congressman Hetiin would run for the Senate. Interested in his kinsman, Dr. Blake made efforts to learn the intention of Mr. Underwood. And he learned that MT. Underwood practically announced even before there was hope that Henry D. Clayton would retire.
 In course of his letter Dr. Blake gives some interesting facts regarding the diff fercnces which have existed between MT. Hobson and Mir. Hefiinf He charges that Mir. Hobson was the only Alabamian in Congress who failed to sympathze with Mir. Heflin when. in attempting to pro- tect lady from offensive negroes on a street car, he accidentally shot and oes- perately wounded bystander. He also reminds that when MT Heflin in a speech made in Tuskegee took RooseveltNto task for having dined with a negro-thus giv- ing the south an object lesson of his ideas Of social equality-Mr. Hobson sent q telegram to Mir. lIehin suggesting that he resign his seat in Congress.
 Facts in the Case
 Dr. Blakes letter, addressed to the Roanoke Leader, follows:
 "There are some facts in this connec- tion personally known to the writer which wish you to know, hence this letter. Your congressman, Hon. J. Thomas lief lin, attended the burial of Senator Joseph F. Johnston, l met him there. MT. Heflin was being urged by numerous per sonal appeals, by telegram and by long distance telephone to announce for the United States Senate. He was consider ing these appeals. and the next day l met him at the home of his brother, where MT. Hefiin discussed the matter with some of his friends. The governor was holding conference in the Hillman hotel. To this conference MT. Heninl was not in- vited. The belief prevailed that MT. Clay ton would be appointed. But there were others to be considered, among them hlr. Underwood. None of us knew what he would do. MT. Hefn returned to his duties in Washington, still undecided, and on reaching there he wrote me further concerning the matter.
 Realizing that Mr Underwood would be formidable candidate should he en- ter the race, I was anxious to know 1is intentions before answering MT. Heflins last letter. l had only few days to wait. Judge Joseph H. Nathan of Sheffield, who Is d friend to Mr. Underwood, was in Washington on business, and while there saw Mir. Underwood and urged him to make the race for the United States Sen ate. Mir. Underwood's reply was sub stantially this: That he would become candidate; that he had not intended to run against Senator Johnston, but no req son now existed why he should not enter the race. He also said that he would not announce until later; that the tariff bin which so vitally affected the revenues of the federal government. was then under discussion; that his party had entrusted to him it's management in the House. and that to announce at that time might im- pair his own efficiency at a critical stage of this important measure. MT. Clayton had been appointed only few days be- fore. When asked by Judge Nathan if this appointment would affect his own candidacy, MT. Underwood replied that the governor had not consulted him on this matter nor had he consulted any member of the state administration be- fore deciding to become candidate him. self. and that he relied on his record for promotion at the hands of his people.
 ''This statement was made to Judge Nathan on September 9, little more than a week after Senator Johnston's burial. The tariff bill became a law on October 13, more than a month later.
 'I would remind you that my interest in this matter was primarily in behalf of my kinsman, Mir. Heflin. Judge Nathan, who is my neighbor. knew this, and on his return from Washington told me that MT Underwood would later announce as candidate. In the meantime Hr. Heflin had decided not to run.
 Before closing this letter, I beg to call to your attention a few other things.
 HObsOn to Heflin
 "Soon after your representative, MT. Hefin entered Congress he introduced bill to require separate street cars for whites and negroes in the District of Co., lumbia. As consequence he began to get anonymous letters threatening his life. His friends advised him to go prepared to protect himself. A few nights later. while attempting to shield a white lady from the insults of two negroes, a shot from his pistol accidentally wounded a white man named McCreary. McCreary developed lockjaw from this wound, and for a long time he lay in a hospital in Washington in desperate condition. Even his physicians could scarcely hope for his recovery. Imagine Mir. Heflin's s anxiety as the newspapers would an- nounce morning after morning that Me Creary could last only a little longer. In the midst of this terrible ordeal nearly every southern congressman, and every one of the Alabama congressman except one came to Mir. Heflin and expressed his sympathy. The one exception was Con- gressman Hobson, from MT. Heflin's own state.
 'When Roosevelt saw fit to dine with Booker Washington, your congressman, Mr HefIin, made q speech in Tuskegee, in which he censured Roosevelt severely for prostituting his high official position in order to serve on the south an ob- feet lesson. setting forth his own partc- ulai type of social equality. This so dis pleased Mr Hobson that he went out of his way to telegraph MT. Heflin that he ought to resign from Congress. Where were Mr Hobsons sympathies in this case?
 we should not forget that the one is- s,le paramount to all others with every southern democrat is race preservation. The dining room opens Into the parlor, and the parlor is on the way to the bridal chamber Respectfully,
 WYATT H. BLAKE" sSheffield, March 10.'
 
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