The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-01-10
Ninth and Seventh Districts
 Especially Will See Spirited Campaigning
MEETS
 JUDGE IN THE ARENA
BlackmOn in Fourth Has Opposition, But Is Expected to Be Able to Take Care of
 Himself
By LEON c. BRADLEY

Politics in Alabama will be enlivened during the next four months by warm congressional races in the Ninth and Seventh districts, with a possibility that the fights in two or more other districts will become interesting. The contest in the fourth district has apparently calmed down. but the Second district may fur nish political race of statewide interest where two or more candidates will dis pute with Hugh Dent his right to repre- sent that district in the next Congress.
 Thomas J. Judge will fight it out in the new Ninth district with George Huddles- ton, the incumbent. MT. Huddleston is
 famed as an orator, and MT. Judge Is
 known as an able debater and hard
 fighter. When this campaign is opened
 in earnest, it is expected that it will prove the liveliest in the state. On account of the alleged differences existing between the ideas of MT. Huddeston and those of the leaders of the administration forces in Washington, added interest will
 be given the fight. MT. Huddleston is ex- pected to contend for reelection on the ground that democratic precedent entities
 him to second term. Another card
 
 is already being used in his behalf. is his
 bill in favor of locating the armor plate plant in Birmingham and his insistence that the canal to the Warrior river is project which the government should un- dertake.
 BRINGS ON FIGHT
 The opponents of MT. Huddleston point out that the mere fact that an armor ,&1,< Loo kt<v, fva
 one specific point will cause all the other members of Congress from other sections to vote against it in the hope that it may eventually be located in their district or state. They contend that the only way to secure an armor plate plant for Bir-
 mingham is to get a general bill passed through Congress and then convince the commission which will have charge of the location that this district is the ideal place for such government industry. On account of the unrivalled resources of Birmingham in the matter of coal iron
 and steel, and the added inducement of water transportation, they are confident of their ability to convince such commits sion that Birmingham would be the proper place for the industry.
 The opponents of MT. Huddleston con tend that since it is extremely difficult to get any waterway project through Congress even when unanimously indorsed by the war department engineers, with an adverse report such as the engineers | rendered on the valley canal such a project is absolutely futile. Further more, it is contended that congressman are loath to spend any more money on the Warrior river, feeling that the govern
 ment has done its part in investing nearly $l5000,0O0 to bring water to the min eral district.
 NOT SAME DISTRICT
 In regard to the claim that democratic precedent entities MT. Huddleston to an- other term, it is indicated that MT. Judge will contend that the Ninth district as now constituted is not the same as the one which elected MT. Huddleston, three of the former counties having been placed in other districts. The record which MT.
 Judge made as senator from Jefferson county his friends contend, demonstrated
 his ability as legislator as we'll as his
 power to secure what is wanted and
 needed for the constituents he represents. In the First congressional district Oscar
 l.. Gray of Choctaw county. who is serv- ing his first term, will doubtless be re-
 turned without opposition. It has been reported from Mobile that George W. Taylor, who was defeated two years ago by MT. Gray. might oppose him, but this report has been decried by friends of Mir. Taylor Mir Gray, on account of illness, has not yet been able to take his seat. In the Second district. Hugh Dent will have a struggle which promises to keep him busy. With Judge Michael Screws from Montgomery county in the race, the advantage which MT. Dent was supposed to hold over his other probable opponents may be lost. o. c. Wiley of Troy, who resigned from the state democratic com mittee recently, is understood to be tentative candidate. MT. Wiley served out the unexpired term of his brother. the late Congressman A. A. Wiley. George Smith of Luverne, one of the prohibition members of the legislature, has been con- sdering the advisability of entering the contest in the Second, but while in Bir- mingham recently he intimated that there would be an agreement by which only one prohibitionist would oppose MT. Dent. In the Thifd district. there has been considerable talk of J. J. Speight. for- merly private secretary to Congressma0 Clayto offering against Henry Stega2 the present congressman, and some othee well-known Third district politicians have considered the matter, but to date there has been no definite announcement BLACKMON HAS FIGHT Fred l.. Blackmon in the Fourth is opposed only by II. M. Judge of Shelby who made his first bid for political honors
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