The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-02-18
UNDERW00D-A0bSON FIGHT,
is NOW NEAR END, AS ELECTION
COMES IN APRIL.
One of Two Well known Congressman
will be Chosen to United States SEN
ate after Bitter CCntest-Fricnds of
Zach Claim Victory in Sight.

seven months fight between Oscar w.
Underwood. majority leader Of the
national house Of representatives, and
Congressman Richmond p Hobson
for the Alabama vacancy in the
United States senate, is drawing to q
close. The deciding votes in a cam
paign that has attracted nationwide
interest will be cast at the Democratic
primaries to be held April 6. The ac-
tual election of & senator will not take
place until November 4, but that will
DC merely ratification Of the choice
made at the primary polls.
Mr.. Underwood has announced
from Washington that so far as per-
sonal participation was concerned, his
campaign for a seat in the upper
house OF congress already has ended.
Representative Hobson, on the other
hand, is carrying forward the per-
sonal campaign he has been waging
for many months, during which he
has spoken in nearly every county and
town in the state.
The political adherents Of the two
distinguished candidates are daily
making counter claims OF victory.
Careful observers. however, are in
ciincd to await the casting Of the ball
lots before attempting to name the
successful aspirant to the seat occu-
pied by the late Senator Joseph F.
Johnson.
Mr.. Hobson, once q striking figure
in the navy and the hero OF the San
tago blockade, resigned from the SER
vice shortly after the Spanish war in
order to undertake q political career.
He was quickly elected to the house
of representati' IS in Washington and
mas served several successive terms.
His eyes long ago, however, were fixed
upon the senate and he is now finish
ing q painstaking campaign TO realize
that ambition.
Whatever advantage may accrue
from actual presence in the thick oT
the Sight practically from beginning
to end. rests with Mr.. Hobson.
Friends Of Mr.. Underwood, how
ever, have used the campaign activi
ties CT MIR. Hobson as q basis for
charges of habitual ahscntccisn from
MS duties in Washington. One Of
these friends. w. III. Parker, in his
capacity as citizen and taxpayer.
recently filed protest against Mr..
II0bson receiving his pay as con-
Gressman during the period he has
bccn away from Washington.
Mr.. Underwood apent his Christ
mas holidays in Alabama, making
briet but vigorous speaking tour. He
covered az much ground as the linn
tied period Of the holiday recess per-
mittcd and then announced that he
must return to his place in the house,
leaving his campaign in the hands OF
his followers.
Typical OF latter day political fights
IN the South, the Hobson- Underwood
campaign has been more or less in
volved with the question of Statewide
prohibition. Mr.. Hobson has charged
his opponent with having been inilu-
cnced by the liquor interests He
also has charged that corporation in
hucnce was behind tho campaign OF
Mr.. Underwood for tho presidential
nomination in 1912. Al OF these
charges have been denied By Mr.. In
derwood.
n short time ago there was q pros
pcct Of several joint debates between
the two candidates and the State was
greatly excited over the prospect. Mr.
HobsOn has issued repeated chal-
lenges from the stump. but Mr.. Tn
derwood announced that he could not
indulge in any such campaign in view
Of the demands made upon HIN III
Washington.
The senatorship iiGht also is in
volvcd more or less with the race for
governor Of the state, which likewise
Will be decided at the April primary.
There ere tive guberHatorial candi-
dates in thc field and the campaign
has been more bitter than that w2ged
by the On-t'ndcrwOod followers
Former Gov. Is. =. Conner claims to
be making tho race for governor
against the rest of the field. Ii will
be necessary for the successful can
didate to obtain a majority Of the
votes cast in the primary. The large
number OF candidates in the field
makes it doubtful il this can be ac-
complishcd despite the claims Of tho
various campaign managers. Real
izinG this condition of affairs. tho
Democratic state committee has ar
ranged for a second primary if ncccs-