The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-10-06

United States: or to increase corporation influence in the Congress of the United States; or to strengthen the shipping trust in it's opposition to the policies of President Woodrow Wilson.
 Disjlays Usual Astuteness
 "The senator displays his usual astute- ness in matters political when he evadcs a discussion of the main issue, namely, the arbitrary and unconstitutional crea- ton, chiefly through Bankhead influences. of a half district for the special benefit of one of the senator sons; the passage in the last hours of the session, without general demand and without mature con- sideration, of a special and partial re- districting bill that violates fiagrantly and inexeusably both the letter and the spirit of the constitution and laws of the United States, which require con- gressional districts to be based upon pop ulation the refusa, of the advocates of the bill to accept any sort of relief for the democracy of the Seventh district that did not carry with it the creation of the new half district for the special benefit of member of the Bankhead family.
 Tt was significant that, while the Sem ator was indifferent to the point of utter disregard for the qualification of son s worthy ambition, as was evidenced by his absence from the state and by his failure to discuss the subject. the sons themselves would accept no relief for the democracy of the Seventh district which did not at the same time create the spe- cial half district outlined by the senator when we discussed redistricting in his office in the capitol at Washington.
 Since the senator himself was the first to suggest the formation of the new half district; since it was publicly charged. and never denied, that the original draft of the bill was prepared and carried to Montgomery by one of the senator's sons; since the chief promoters of the passage of the bill were members of the senator g family and those under political obliga- ton to him; since federal appointees who were pledged voluntarily against the bill were induced reluctantly to reverse themselves and give active support to the measure by the suggestion that they were indebted to the senator for their appoint ments and would be guilty of ingratitude if they did not assist in the passage of a bill which would place one of the sena- tors sons in Congress: since the press and the public commonly regarded the measure as the Bankhead bill; since all of these things and many others equally as significant were true, am constrained to stand by my original statement-that the creation of the new half-district was a plain piece of personal political legisla- tive jobbery
 q predict that the creation of that half district for that special purpose will not be approved by the people of Alabama, for the people are opposed to legislative manipulation which has for its object the promotion of personal ambitions or the advancement of special interests.
 '"rhe senator's statement taken in con- nection with the outcome at Montgomery, adds unneeded confirmation to his long est a hlished reputatiOp for abiIity to ac- complish political designs noiselessly and unseen. Indeed, the panther's tread is not more light. nor the phantom's form more dim."