The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-30

repeat thnt Iie."
This was the retort of Forney John
ston. chairman of the Underwood cam
| paign committee, in regard to the
statement of Congressman Hobson and
| his leutenants to the effect that Mr.
Underwood had taken the tax off liquor
ard put it on the cotton bagging and
| ties of the farmer,
In view of the statement of G. T.
McElderry of Talladega that despite
| the clause in the Underwood tariff bill
| putting bagging and ties on the free
list, "ioker' in the bill really ex-
acted the collection of a tax on cot
! ton bagging and ties. Mr.. Johnston
wired the treasury department, en-
| trusted with the operation of the I'm
derwood tariff bill. for information
G. S. Hamlin. assistant secretary, wired
in reply that cotton bagging and ties
under the Underwood bill are being
admitted at the present time without
duty.
! The statement of Mr.. Johnston, which
| follows, has to do with kilograms ex-
| changed yesterday between Mr.. John
| ston and Mr.. McElderry and telegram,
l N'iHfioN Wei GU up 10 the present time,
| addressed to Captain Hobson:
The Case Stated
| In the afternoon Ledger of January
| & appeared dispatch from Chelsea in
which it was stated that G. T. McElderry,
| IN Introducing Mr.. Hobson. asserted in
| substance, that although bagging for COW
| erinS cotton and ties for baling cotton
| had been included in the free list both
! of those commodities are taxed under "A
| joker clause, which has the effect of
| leaving both items in the revenue scne-
| dule In other words. the insinuaton
was made by McElderry that although
cotton bagging and tres appear on the
free list, Mr.. Underwood has duped and
deceived the public by subjecting those
| items to the tax in another part OF the
bill. According to the account in the
Ledger, Hobson is reported as practically
addinG-I can imagine his pious fervor-
that he always knew MIR. Underwood had
been no friend OF the farmer!
I'm the account published in the Bir-
minSham News Of the same date appea RS
the following statement: Captain Hob
| son made the statement that in spite of
Mr. underwood's words to the contrary,
| cotton bagging and t,es are not on the
free list
HObsOn's Offer Accepted
Mr. Underwood, almost a month ago,
HtstANh tihl IlobSOl OI1SindI ana OH
repeated assertion that cotton bagging
and ties were not on the free list of the
tariff bill. as originally introduced by
him and as finally adopted, was one of
the falsest statements ever uttered dur
ing the history of mankind. With the
record available and in view of the ease
of obtaining exact information it is in
| comprehensive how any man out of the
asylum or the penitentiary can have the
! effrontery to repeat that lie
Captain Hobson has asserted that if il
be proven that he has wilfully misrepre-
sented the facts ne will retire from the
race. ! accept the offer and am ready
to appoint one referee to form a board
Of three to pass upon the proposition
Telegram Sent Out
The dupliclty of the campaign beine
Waged by Captain Hobson and the de.
liberation with which he perpetuate.
his misrepresentation are conclusive
ly and for all time evidenced by thx
statement he made or approved at Chel.
SEA on Wednesday. January 2S, which
, have quoted above. In order that there
, might be no mistake as to what wa.
said or approved by Hobson, | sent Nc.
Elderly and Hobson the following tel.
egrams:
birmingham January 20, 1914.
&c. T. McElderry, Esq., Talladega,
Ala.
IN Birmingham Ledger of 29th
instant you are reported as stat
ing that by virtue of joker
clause bagging for covering cot
ton and ties for 5aling cotton are
subject to a revenue duty. Before
answering that statement l desire
to be informed whether you made
the same.
''FoRNEY JOHNSTON"
Birmingham, January 20, 1914.
| "Hon. r. p. Hobson. Thorsby. Ala;
I'm the daily press you are re-
ported as approving statement of
G. 7. McElderry that bagging for
covering cotton and ties for bal
ing cotton are subject to tariff
revenue tax under the present law.
Your attention has been repeatedly
directed to the fact that any such
statement is false and, before TAX
ing any further action in the mat
ter, l will be glad to have you
advise me whether or not you are
continuing to make the assertion
| accredited to YOU.