The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-10-03
.BANKHEAD SAYS HE HAD NOTHING ID DO WITH PROSPECTING Interview With Abercr0m- bic in AnnistOn Star Draws Answer From Senator NO APOLOGY FOR
 PASSAGE OF BILL Says Dr. Abercrombie Has Nothing to Cry About if Bankhead Brothers Were on Ground if the Fight Was Square One

Senator John H. Bankhead, while visiting Birmingham yesterday, denied a statement alleged to have been made through the Anniston Star by Con- gressman John w. Abercrombie to the
 effect that the senator had turned the
 legislative trick which resulted in the
 passage of the redistricting bill.
 q had nothing to do with the pass
 age of the bill." said the senator. and
 I am really in doubt that Dr. Aber-
 crombie was correctly quoted when he
 so charged"
 Continuing his statement the sena-
 tor intimates that pr. Abercrombie has
 nothing about which to cry even if his
 sons, John 1T. and William B. Bank
 head were on the ground when the bill
 was passed--provided, as the senator
 adds. the fight was a square one.
 Senator Bankhead's Statement In this connection the senator made the following statement:
 T do not object to fair criticism, but would like to keep the record straight on the facts I had absolutely nothing to do with the Lee Brindley redistrlct- ing bull 1 was out of the state when |
 mained out of the state until the leg
 islature adjourned. did not at any
 time discuss with anyone the passage
 of the redistrioting bill and my sons
 are included In this statement. l did
 not communicate by letter. wire. mes- sage or otherwise with single mem
 ber offthe legislature senate or house, or any other person touching the pass age of the redistricting bill. I request Dr. Abercrombie to furnish the public with the name of any member of the legislature. or any citizen of Alabama, with whom I have communicated in any way touching the passage of any congressional redistricting bill. No Apology for Bill "I do not offer any apoligy for the passage of the bill. It was urged by the democrats of the Seventh district
 as matter of relief and to insure a
 democratic congressman from that dis trict
 "The statement that the bill was railroaded through the legislature Is not supported by the records. The subject of redistricting has been agi- tated since the converting of the legis- lature last January number of bills for redistricting have been pending for months. and I am informed that the
 Lee Brindley bill was introduced early 1 in the session. The Dill passed the senate 10 days before its passage Tn the house. It Is true that the bill passed on the last day of the ses- sion.
 "If my sons assisted in the passage of the bill I have no apology to of af age and have their own lives to live and their own careers to make. l If they were on the ground urging the passage of the bill, Dr. Abercrombie and his | friends were also there actively opposing | It's passage. If the boys beat the doctor | in a fair, square stand tip fight, he should
 not complain at them. or me.
 | "If he desires to make the passage of | the bill issue he should make it | with the parties who are responsible for | its passage. the legislators of Alabama.
 They did what they believed to be their duty to the state. pr. AbercrombIe can | have no ju4 quarrel with me. had no part or parcel in the passage of the bill. but to insure 10 democratic congressman | from this state, would be quite willing
 to assume the responsibility for Dr. Aber-
 cronbie's dlsappointment. Urges Sons to Stick to Business My close friends know that have at all times urged my sons to stick to their business. and refrain from running for any office.
 'As stated. I did not aid counsel or participate in making the new district. Everybody recognizes that the state should have been redistricted. When the l Legislature recrcuited the state and de- prived a number of chancellors, judges and solicitors of the offices held by them. we heard no cry of political persecution. or political jobbery. The legislature was the sole judge of what judicial circuits should be created. So It was the sole l judge of what congressional districts should be established.
 My son cannot go to Congress unless I the people want him. Can Dr. Aber- cromb!e or his friends complain Of any choice made by the people?
 | 1T am loath to believe. however. that Dr. Abercrombie is correctly quoted In charging that I am responsible for the passage of the redistricting bill" | nil A.