The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-07
Captain Busy Gathering Shekels on Chautauqua Platform at Present, But Partisans Are Busy
POLITICAL FRIENDS MAY INDUCE ROBSON
 TO COME BACK
Only Three Weeks in Which Candidates May Qualify to Participate in the Ap- preaching Primary

The ghost of Richmond Pearson Hob son again looms large on the political horizon of Alabama.
 1 While the former sixth district con- l sressman is entrancng large audiences on the chautauqua platform in the north and east, his friends in Alabama are | threatening to shove him into another political contest. In Hobson circles, and certain other circles very close to the former congressman, there has been much activity during the past few days That the matter is about to come to a head, seems not at all improbable now.
 In the meantime, the captain is pur- suing the even tenor of his wandering way, and incidenLally-purely incidentally taking in a few loose dollars from the effete customers who delight to hear of the dangers of the yellow peril and the baneful effects of the liquor traffic. America Mighty Mission,' as the big navy speech of the captain is entitled, is vieing with "The Great Destroyer as a chautauqua success.
 1 Reports reaching Alabama from Hob- son sources are that the captain has all
  apparent reluctance to break away from his present occupation to again engage in the more less hazardous business seeking political preferment from his na- tive state.
 NEVER SATISFIED
 Alabama friends of Hobson are never satisfied unless the captain is engaged in some kind of political battle in this state and no small amount of pressure has been brought by them in their effort to induce the captain to come back and run for something. One of the peculiar things in connection with the situation has been that they did not seem to care particularly what he ran for-just so he ran. Member of the delegation to the I next Democratic national convention from the state at large is one place he '! has been urged to go after.
 ! However, in recent weeks, there has been a concerted movement of no small l importance, seeking to draw the former | congressman from the allurenlents of the ! chautauqua and get him to run for Con- gress from the Tenth district Il Recently a number of letters and tele- grams from various parts of the Tenth district have been sent to Captain Hob Il son, and many of his friends have con- Il ferred with certain political leaders, known to be close to Hobson, in an effort | to get their assistance in the mat ter.
 | Several conferences in this regard have been held III Birmingham during the past week, and certain parties known to be very influential, have been sounded as to whether they would support Hobson ac- lively should be oppose William B. Bank head. Up to the'present time it is under stood that no definite assurances have been received from these persons of in | fluence.
 STUMBLING BLOCKS | It is understood that one of the prin- cipal stumbling blocks which the Hobson l enthusiasts have encountered was the fact that William E. Bankhead would in the event of his election to Congress, support the measures which anti-saloon- lsts advocate. For this reason, it is re- ported, the leaders of the political end I of the prohibition movement have de- clined to take hand in urging Hobson to make the race in the Tenth. What | their attitude would be should Hobson | oppose Bankhead is a matter of specula- l tiOn
 l With but three weeks remaining in 1 Wh1ch candidate can qualify for par ticipation in the May primary, Hob- | son leaders in the Tenth are growing restless and there is some talk that 1 the name of the captain will go on | the ticket. Those who are authority | for this statement contend that Hob son will run if he is convinced that Isthe people of the new district want him to represent them, and they ex- press confidence that he would imme- diately return to Alabama and begin | one of his usual active and spectacular 1 campaigns.
 1 The new Tenth district is much the 1 smallest in the state, and of the seven counties composing it, five have for many years been represented in Con- l gress by Hobson.. The two new coun- l ties placed in this district are Winston | and Franklin, the former strongly re- l publican and the latter not considered as strictly democratic stronghold. l The counties which were formerly in 1 the Sixth district and were represented 1 by Hobson are Walker, Marion, La- mar, Fayette and Pickens. In his race | for the United States senate two years ago, Hobson carried these counties over 1 his successful opponent by a large ma | jority.
 WILL SUPPORT WILSON 1 Other friends of Hobson say that he | will not take part in Alabama politics | this year. and maybe not again in the l future, They are also positive in their | assertions that Hobson will give his support to President Wilson in the com