The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-03-16
LONG CLAIMS THAT WILL NOT VOTE IN WALKER
Thinks w. B. Bankhead Was Done Injustice-Argu- ments Set Forth in Age
 Herald Upheld by Facts
BY HUGH w. ROBERTS

Tom Long says the statements of that a large majority of the republicans of Walker county in- tend to vote in the democratic primary does the republicans great injus- tice.
 MT. Long. complaining that cer~ tain para graph published some days ago in The Age Herald, grossly mis- states the situation" in Walker, issues a formnl card. The paragraph in ques- tion was one among many which tend ed to explain why Walker county will cast a majority of its votes for K. P Hobson as against the leader oI the democrats, oscar w. Underwood The argument was to the effect that but for local fights in Walker county the situation would be reversed.
 MT. Long seems to think that the does William B. Bankhead, a candidate for Congress. an injustice While this is laughable, it might be stated in reply that no intentional in- justice was done In the article m question MT. Bankhead was decidedly secondary consideration.
 Argument Was Correct
 As regards the tenor of the article as a whole that tenor was correct But for the local fights in Walker county-which fights have overshad- owed the senatorial contest-Hobson would have no more chance to poll majority of the votes of Walker coun- ty than the late and lamented amend ment had a chance to win there. There is a truce all down. the line. But for the truce, Underwoods friends in Wal ker, all of them, would be as actlVe in his behalf as his friends are else where There is no need to call names The facts are too well known for com ment.
 MT. Longs argument in regard to true republicans" is par excellence. If only true democrats" voted in Wal ker county Underwood would win by a handsome majority. If no man who has ever bolted the democratic ticket national. state or 1ocal-voted for Hohson, Underwood would win over whelminely in Walker. As matter of fact if reports are true-and MT. Long can verify these reports-the demo- crats have had a difficult time in the very recent past in electing pro- bate judge in Walker county
 The Long Statement
 Inasmuch. however, as MT. Long wants his statement published, 1t goes:
 T notice in The Age Herald of Tues day, March 10, the following state ment:
 "arhe bars will not be raised in Walker. Local campaigns have over elouded tre senatorial campaign. Bank head is a candidate for Congress. The nephew Of l.. B. Musgrove and of Thomas L. Long, men who differ sharp ly on the senatorial campaign, is q candidate for sheriff. There seems to be all down the line truce.
 "This statement grossly misstates the situation. In the first place the bars were raised by the state committee and have not been let down by the county committee. As a member of the state committee I voted to raise the bars, and am in full accord with the enforce ment of tl.e qualifications fixed by the state committee.
 ",rhere is little disposition among the true republicans of Walker county to vote in the. democratic primary. The leaders aad the rank and file of the straight republicans in this county could not be induced to participate in a democratic primary The newspaper talk that a large majority of the re- publicans of this county are going to vote does them. in my Judgment. an injustice and is also an improper re- flection on the democrats of this coun- ty. I
 .I am a strong supporter of Will Banknead for Congress and believe he will win. His friends are appealing only to the democrats. This county has about 5000 qualified white voters. There arc not more than 1900 repub- licans in the county A few of their candidates have received a larger num- Der of votes in recent years, but that was due to local trouble and dissati tis- faction with democratic nominees. 'The statement that the host of re- publicans will vote in Walker will necessarily prejudice democrats In the