The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-04-06
Fight Between Under
wood and Hobson for
Senate at End.
SOME BITTERNESS
MARKS CAMPAIGN
Political Adhercnts of Candidates
Make Counter Claims of Vic
tory, but Careful Observers
Await Casting of Ballots
Before Trying to
Name Winner.

Birmingham, Ala. April 5.-Deciding
votes VIII be cast tomorrow at Dem
ocratic primaries throughout tho state
In the fight between Oscar W. Under
wood. majority leader OF the National
House of Representatives.. and Con
gressman Richmond Pearson Hob.on.
Tor the Alabama vacancy In the United
states Senate. Both are candidates for
the senatorial term beginning March T..
1915. The actual election will not take
place until November. but that will be
merely ratification or the choice made
at the primary polls
The campaign has been character
lied by some bitterness. 1t has at
tracted nation wide interest, and has
overshadowed other issues which will
be settled at the same time Demo-
Gratis tomorrow also will cast their
votes for successor to ill the unex-
pired term Of the late Senator Joseph
+. Johnston. ten United States Con-
gressnen. Governor and other State
and county officials.
Counter Claims of Victory
Political adherents OF the two dis
tnguished candidates for the long term
In the United States Senate are making
counter claims OF victory. Rumor Is
current here OF several wagers on the
outcome, but careful observers arc in
ciincd 10 await the casting OF the bal
lots tomorrow before attempting to
name the successful aspirant
Both Mr. Iiobson and AIr Underwood
were here yesterday for the winding
up OF their campaigns. Representative
fobson later left for Greensboro Ala
In Hale County. where he Will vote to-
morrow. He has announced that he
would return to Birmingham to-mor-
row 10 receive returns. Whatever ad.
vantage may accrue from actual pres
cnce in the thick of the fight practi =
cally from beginning 70 end rests With
Mr.. Hobscn
Friends OF Mr.. Underwood. however.
have used the campaign activities OF
Representative Hobson as a basis for
charges OF habitual absentecism from
his duties in Washington. During the
progress of the campaign one Of these
friends. ". H. Parker. in his capacity
as q citizen and taxpayer. filed n pro-
test against Mr. Hobson receiving his
pay az Congressman during the pc
riod he has been away from Washing
ton.
Cnderwood's Campaign Brief.
Mr.. Underwood made a brief but
vigorous campaign through the State
during his Christmas holidays. He COW
cred as much ground as the limited
period would permit. and then an
nounced that he must return TO his
place In the House. leaving the cam
paign IN the hands OF his friends He
did not return 20 the State until yester-
day.
Mass meetings we're held by adhcr-
cnts OF both candidates last night, at
voiced by each. Mr.. Underwood made
two brief speeches. In one he charged
that his opponent had been in Congress
only twenty-five days during the year
10 end April I.
''If there Is any issue in the cam
paign," lie added, there Is the Issue"
AIr. Hohson did not refer to his op-
ponent during his final address. 1t
was devoted largely TO a discussion of
prohibition Typical OF all latter day
political fights In the South. the Hob
SON Underwood campaign has been
more or less involved with the ques-
tion OF Statewide prohibition.
Three candidates will be voted for
in the contest for n successor to the
late Senator Johnson. They are Watt
l. Grown, Of Ragland Ray Rushton,
OF MONTGOMERY, and Frank s. White.
OF Birmingham. y general election for
the short term, which will expire on
March (. 1915. has been called for
May II. the same day selected for n
second primary in cases where can
didates for State Offices fail to receive
Il majority.
Conner Against the Field.
In the gubcrnatorial contest former
Governor Il. T.. Conner claims to be
in the race against the field Others
WHO seek the nomination for this office
are Walter u. Seed, Tuscaloosa: r. T..
kolk, Montgomery, and Charles Hen
dcrson. Of Troy.
While John w. Abercrombie, mem
Der OF the national House of Repre-
sentatives from the State at large, and
j. 7. Helm, from tho Fifth District.
are unopposed. there are several con
tests for nomination to Congress In
the First District. Representative
George w, Taylor Is opposed by O. l..
Gray, OF Choctaw County; in the Sec
ond District. Representative S. Hubort
Dent Is opposed by Woolford Maybry.
OF Montgomery; In the Third District
Representative Hendry ID. CIayton is
opposed by Henry b. Steagall. OF Do,a
IN the Fourth District. Representative
Frederick l.. Blackmon. Is opposed nv
Judge r. l.. Deason. of Chiffon; in tho
seventh District, Representative John
L. Burnett, is opposed by L. B. Rainev.
of EtOwha.
Ihere arc two candidates to succeed
Representative fIobson, Of tho Sixth
District; William L. oliver. of Tus-
caloosa, and William Il. Bankhead ne
W"iher' son or the Senator from Ala
Dama. Four candidates arc seel-,n-
nomination as successor To Renrn9
sentative Underwood, I'm the Ninth Dis
trict They are: George w. Darden. OF
Biount; Jere c. King. George Hud-
dieston and Nathan L. Miller, all OF
Jefferson. %
The late Representative william
Kichardson' of tho Eighth District,
was not n candidate for re-eiection
at the time of his doath w. w. Gala :
han. J. II. Ballcntine, c. Il. watts and
Judge 70. u. Almon are candidates for