The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1914-04-06
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
PRIMARY FIGHT IS ON
Alabama Has Not Been % Wrought
up on Politics in Many
Year.
rRy tha United Press.l

| lby cno UnlteQ FISss.J
BIRMINGHAM. Ala, April 6.-Not
in years has Alabama been so wrought
up over politics as in the statewide
| democratic primary elections held to-
day. Interest centered in the contest
of Representative Oscar w. Under
wood, OF Birmingham, democratic
floor leader Of the national house OF
representatives, and Representative
Richmond Pearson Hobson OF Green's
boro, hero OF Santiago Bay" for the
nomination OF United States senator
| to succeed the late Senator Johnston.
The nomination is equivalent to cleo
| ton. A full state ticket, from COVER
nor down. and representatives in all
! districts, were to be chosen by the
democratic voters today. As q rule the
republicans did not figure today. In
some districts they went through the
motions" All democratic nominations
at stake today however. are equivalent
to election at the general election next
fall.
The polls opened at 9 o'clock today
and close at p. m. Indications were
that heavy vote would be cast, par
ticularly because of the injection OF
the liquor question into the Hobson
Underwood and other factional fights.
Managers Of both the Hobson and I'm
derwood candidates. confidently pre-
dicted success Nnderwood's man.
ayers claimed at least fifty Of the sixty
seven counties. Hobson closed
spectacular campaign Saturday. He
used automobiles and motorcycles to
speak in practically every city, village
and hamlet. Underwood spent fort
night in the state, several months ago.
making fifteen speeches. Oscar w.
Underwood, the man on the job has
been his campaign cry. Emphasis has
been laid on his continual presence at
duty in Washington while Hobson has
been absent almost constantly from
the capital since the campaign began.
stumping the state.
Injection Of national political issues
into the Hobson- Underwood contest
has added to the fireworks. Hobson
has accused Underwood of opposing
woman suffrage, national prohibition
and legislation to abolish cotton ex.
change gambling. Underwood has
stood for local option on the liquor
question, commended that woman suf-
frage is a state and not national is
sue, and stood champion for a substi-
tute plan to regulate cotton gambling
which he contended, was approved by
President Wilson and party leaders.
The wet and "dry" fight and that re-
lating to woman suffrage has aroused
the rural population particularly. I'm
derwood is expected to draw his great
est strength from the cities on his To-
cal option stand. His service for
eighteen years in the house, his work
in drawing the Wilson Underwood tar
if bill, and as the "favorite son. of
Alabama in the late contest for the
presidential nomination at Baltimore
are drawing cards for Underwood.
That Hobson has been absent from
congress, on the chautauqua circuit
for weeks and even months at time,
is the principal absenteeism criticism
made by the Underwood campaigners.
They have also charged Hobson with
advocating enfranchisement Of negroes
by espousing the direct election of the
~ CoiOCutt anu I"1l iAOboOh AOA SoSAh6
to reinstate the negro regiment which
shot up Brownsville, Texas.
Regardless OF results at the polls to-
day, both Hobson and Underwood re-
tire from the house on March 4 next.
They cannot run for the house and SEN
ate at the same time, and their sue
cessors will be named today. Candi-
dates to succeed Underwood in the
house are Nathan K. Miller, C. King.
and George Huddleston, of Birming-
ham, and George Darden of Oneonta.
Miller is the 'favorite." He is close
friend Of Underwood, but is running
on a~"dry" platform, while Jere G.
King, not an Underwood clansman, is
running on wet" platform. Both
are former members Of the state legis-
lature. IIuddleston was member OF
+! the local city council and Darden
served IN the Alabama house Of repre-
isentatives.
! In Hobson's district, William Bank
lead, son of the United States senator.
i of Jasper, Ala, and William Oliver, Of
/ Tuscaloosa. county attorney, are can
didates to succeed Hobson. Young
/ Bankhead has the support of the So