The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-10-02
Says Half District Created in Interest of Prominent
 Walker Citizen
MAY MAKE THE RACE
 AGAINST BANKHEAD
Refers in Interview to Senator s Attitude Toward Presidents Ship Bill in the Last
 Congress

Dr. John w Abercrombie, congressman n
 from the state at large, has not as yet
 determined which of several courses will
 be pursued following the expiration of his
 term. As is known, the redistricting bill
 enacted by the legislature abolishes the of
 flee in which Dr. Abercrombie is serving,
 and there has been more or less specula-
 tion as to which of several positions of
 great honor he will endeavor to achieve.
 Dr. Abercrombie while passing through
 Birmingham yesterday, issued a state-
 ment. In the statement he discussed the
 bill under which the state will be redis-
 tricted and charged that it was originated and put through by and in the interest of prominent citizen of Walker county" It is thought that he was refer ring to William B. Bankhead who will be. 1t is thought, the first congressman of the new Tenth district.
 Reference to Senator Bankhead So pointed does Dr. Abercrombie make his references to MT. Bankhead that one concludes that he is shaping his ends'' to take a fling at the United States senate against Senator Bankhead Belief to this effect is accentuated by the fact that
 In the conclusion of his statement, he | refers to Senator Bankhead's course in
 opposing the plan of the president re- specting the purchase of ships.
 Dr. Abercrombies statement follows: Yes he said, T shall have to retire from Congress as Representative-at large in order to make room there for the gen. | tleman in whose interest it is generally Understood bo1f icft iat e created
 Had all of the members of the legis- lature known the origin and purpose of | the bill, or been cognizant of the methods employed to secure its passage, 1t would never have passed When it's origin, pur- l pose and effect and the methods by which
 its passage was secured are understood l by the people. 1 have no doubt that their attitude will be one of disapproval. The vote was 46 to fl in favorSof the passage of the bill. When one considers
 the powerful influences that were com | manded in it's behalf by the originator I of the measure. including present and
 prospective federal appointees. present
 and prospective state officials. present
 and prospective corporation representa-.
 tives, both within and without the legis latrre the wonder is that the majority was so small.
 | While there were many strong argu. ments in favor of the retention of tn, | office of ongressman-at-large a S regu lar policy. it was not my purpose to op | pose a carefully considered general re l districting bill, based upon population as | the constitution requires, but felt it to b, l my duty to oppose strenuously the pas | sage of bill which. violating fiagrantly
 both the letter and the spirit of the con stitution and laws, arbitrarily carved ou | a half district for the special benefit o
 a known person. In other words, I oh l jected to being legislated out of Con | gress in order to make room there fol | another member of the distinguished Walker county family in whose interes the new half-distrct was being estab llished