The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-04-04
ROBSON FOLLOWERS BLAME UNDERWOOD FOR LOSING BANK But Neglect to Say That HObsOn Did Not Ever Try to Get It DESPERATE EFFORT
 TO RAISE AN ISSUE Criticize Underwood for Voting for Toll Exemption, the Position
 Also Taken Long Ago
 by Hobson
By HUGH w. ROBERTS

The captain of the aeroplane, Mir. Musgrove's candidate for the presidency of the United States, will be destroyed Monday by the people of Alabama. His followers, goaded unto the point of desperation, are shouting in artificial glee that the captains opponent, MT, Underwood, differed with the President in regard to toll exemption, and failed to secure for Birmingham a regional bank.
 The apostles of lost cause in their partisan warfare forget. They overlook the fact that American people laud a man who when he differs from others
 is brave enough and big enough and honest enough to take a stand They forget that Americans despise the man of expediency. the man who when the battle gets hot, runs away, the man who when danger is near, refuses pub licly to declare himself.
 When the congressional battle re- garding toll exemption broke in the house A1r. Underwood, although, like the ordinary candidate, he might have lodged the issue, declared himself, barred his breast to all who desired to shoot. His opponent for senatorial
 
 scene. was not at his post of duty.
 HObson and the Bank
 MT. Underwood failed to secure a regional bank for Birmingham. Hob son followers declare that Underwood, for that reason, should be beaten. But they forget that Americans often ap- plaud a man who loses honestly after having tried, and never have in the history of man applauded an individual who lost and lost without having tried to accomplish.
 In the struggle for a regional bank, Underwood was in the thick of the fray. He lost. His opponent for sen atorial honors was not there. Instead, he was in Alabama attempting to prej- udice the people against the leader of his party for the purpose of lifting himself into fatter office and office of riper spells.
 There is a difference which Amer jeans are quick to grasp. MT. Under wood might have known that his po- sition on toll exemption was the un- popular position. He believed that un- popular position correct. He stuck to his guns. The average politician would either have run away or lodged. MT. Underwood might have done so. He didn't. Captain Hobson was not there. Mr Underwood tried to get Birming- ham bank and failed. Mir. Hobson failed also. It was his duty to en- deavor to get Birmingham a bank. He didn't try.
 HObson on Exemption There has been great deal of amusement in the Underwood camp re- garding the position of Captain Hob son on the toll question.
 At the present time the followers of the captain are criticizing MT. Under- wood because he differed with the President on this question. Two years ago there was a vote in Congress on the same question. Then the gallant captain voted for toll exemption even as did MT. Underwood
 And the democratic platform declares for toll exemption. Captain Hobson defends his uniform bill,' that which permits negroes in uniform to enter theatres and restaurants of Washing ton, because that bill is incorporated in the democratic platform. He cannot