The Washington herald., 1914-03-30
ALABAMA HOT
CANT PAIGN Ending
Senate Contest Between Un-
derwod and Hobson Has
Been Bitter.
VOTERS DECIDE APRIL 6
Indulgence in Personalities Has Mark
ed Fight and Outcome Is Diff
cult to Predict.

| This week VIII witness the close OF
one Of the bitterest political campaigns
in the history Of Alabama. when Repre-
sentative Oscar w. Underwood and Rep
resentative Richmond Pearson HobsOn.
\ aspirants for the seat in the United
States Senate. made vacant by the death
| of Senator Joseph F. Johnston will leave
Il TO the voters to decide at the Demo-
cratic primary Sc: for April 4, who shall
be the next Senator from Alabama
Nomination is equivalent to election as
there are no Republican or Progressive
opponents.
While Underwood has been leading the
opposition against President Wilson in
the tolls repeal fight In the House. his
opponent, Capt. Hobson. has been gaining
strength in his State, II is reported. by
a thorough canvass OF the field. Per-
sonalities have marked the contest and
Alabama Is aroused over the possibili-
ties of the outcome, which defies predic-
tIons Both candidates have Presiden-
| tial aspirations
Representative Underwood. who was a
candidate for the Presidential nomina-
tion at the Baltimore convention and
deadlocked the body for seveIul days. be-
came a national figure through the I'm
derwood tariff bill now in force. II it
turns out satisfactorily to the people his
cratic Presidential conventions of 1916 and
1870.
Clayton n starter.
When Senator Johnston died Repre-
sentative Henry d. Clayton. of the Third
Alabama district, was appointed by Gov.
O'Neal for the unexpired term ending
next March and he Immediately an
nouncsd himself a candidate for the long
term. Soon afterwsrd Underwood also
announced his candidacy. With a three
cornered race the odds were in favor of
Hobson with his strong prohibition fol-
lowing in the rural districts.
But the Senate Elections Committee re-
fused to seat Clayton on the ground that
his appointment was repugnant to the
seventeenth amendment to the Federal
Constitution. providing for direct cleo
tions OF Senators by popular vote. Things
looked blue for Clayton.
Then President Wilson's diplomatic IF
/ dared" letter requesting him to stay
In the House and as chairman of the
Judiciary Committee to help put through
the administration's antitrust program
seemed to open a way out of tho dilemma
for Clayton. at least for the time. He
accepted the Presidents suggestion. turn
ed in his credentials TO Gov. O'Nesl and
announced he would run for reelection
I.
r. B. Stegall. a lawyer has come out
for Clayton's seat, and will run Clayton a
close race next week.
Gov. O'Neal again persisted in appoint
ing Senator for the unexpired term and
named F. p. Glass. newspaper man of
birmingham, who was also turned down
by the Senate Elections Committee.
Hobson Use. Motorcycle.
No sooner was the race for the long
term in the Senate left between Hobson
and Underwood than the former started
the bitterest campaign witnessed in Ala
bama since the civil war Hobson has
been on the stump almost continuously
for nine months. He has visited every
county. has personally met probably half
the voters in the State, made sometimes a
dozen speeches a day, and finally aban-
doned automobile tours as being too slow
and took to the motorcycle. He has made
desperate effort to make prohibition
the issue and has worked II for all il is
worth in the rural districts. where many
voters think drink of whiskey is equiva-
lent to toboggan trip for pertiition
One of the most effective arguments en-
ployed against Hobson is his persistent
absence from Congressional duties I'm
derwood charged that he had been pres
ent on the sessions Of Congress only
twenty-five days in eleven months
Cnderwood's friends estimate he will be
elected by from l5OOO TO 1900 majority.
Both men declare that IL they are defeat
ed for the Senate they will retire from
Congress. Candidates are out for their
seats in the same primary
On the same date as the Senatorial pri-
mary a Democratic candidate for cover
nor will be named. There are four as
pirants.
Following the April primary another
4 hn hal in, NaN fT
for the United States Senate to fill the
short. or uneXpired. term ending next
March. There are three candidates. all
lawyers. Ray Rushton. of Montgomery. |
is in the lead and will probably be nomi- !
mated.