The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-03-15
WARM RECEPTION GIVEN BLACKMON
 AT FIRST MEETING
Addresses Big Crowd at AnnistOn - Has Been Faithful to His
 Trust, He Says

Anniston, March cial.)-Stand- ing before the largest audience that has greeted any candidate in Anniston this year, his voice weak from the illness which had kept him confined to his room for seven weeks and his left arm still carried in a sling, Congressman Fred l.. RlaclSmon was as a prophet honored in his own country today at noon, when he opened his campaign for reelection as congressman from the Fourth con gressional district by delivering a heart to-heart talk to his home people. His address lasted less than 20 minutes, but he was given an ovation at the concu- sion of his remarks.
 Judge Thomas w Coleman, Jr.. of the Anniston city court opened the rally by referring in a few well chosen words to Mir. Blackmon's career in Anniston and his rapid rise from obscurity to prom thence and of his worthiness of public trust He introduced W. P. Acker. Mir. Hackmons campaign manager. who re- ferred to the ephemeral candidacy of former Congressman w. B. Craig, his sensational withdrawal after fort nights canvass and tt the subsequent announcement of Judge Deason. He
 
 of MT. Blackmon to the one frog in the mill pond which made a noise like a million, predicting that the present con Sressman will carry every county in the district, with the possible exception of Chlton which is doubtful. He expressed the belief that Dallas and Chiffon will be separated from the Fourth district by the redistricting of the state in the next legislature, offering this as a req son for the re-election of MT Blackmon, none of whose opponents, he said, has given reason as to why he should not be returned.
 Congressman Blacknson was roundly cheered when he arose to address the voters. He stated that he would be in the district only eight or 10 days and would then return to his duty at Washington, confident of his reelection by such majority as would preclude demand for change in representa- tives every time the cay of election ar rives 'I don't know why I ann being opposed" he said, "other than the fact that there are some fellows who have concluded that they are jest naturally goin' to beat me, so I decided that I jest ain't a-goin' to let 'em do it. as one of my good old friends in the country expresses it"
 Mr.. Blackmon stated that he made no pretensions to having revolutionized
 
 has acted in harmony with the party's platform and the podSes of Woodrow Wilson, to whom he paid a high tribute. He stated further that no man could truthfully charge that he has been un- faithful to his trust, or that he has neg lected his duty. He dwelt specifically upon his efforts to defeat change in the agricultural demonstration work so as to invest this states appropriation for that work in the land grant schools at Tuscaloosa, Auburn and the negro school | al Normal, instead of giving the money direct to the people. He says that he was successful in getting an amendment attached to that measure, which Is now before the Senate. Expressing his appreciation of the large audience which had gathered from sev- eral of the counties in the district Con. gressman Blackmon cut his remarks short on account of his weakened condi- ton and held brief reception to his friends after the address. He will go to Cleburne and Chiffon counties Monday, visiting Dallas and Shelby before his re- turn to Washington.