The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-03-13
Captain HObsOn and Brother of His Opponent Discuss Occurrence During Speech at Jasper
PROSPECTING OF STATE POINT AT
 ISSUE IN CLASH
Rankhead Says His Brother Has Big Lead and Is Gain ing Daily, While Hobson Is Confident

The political pyrotechnics in the Tenth district, where William B. Bankhead and Richmond Pearson Hobson are opponents for Congress, began in earnest at Jasper Saturday, according to information b1 ought to Birmingham last night. Cap tain Hob son was here during the day, and last night, and John H. Bankhead, Jr, brother of Hobson's opponent ar- rived in the afternoon. Both were reg istered at the Tutwiler and both dined there at the same hour last evening" but not at the same table.
 News that Hobson and John H. Bank head Jr., engaged in a short discussion during Hobson's speech at Jasper was learned last night for the first time here. Jasper, incidentally, is the home of the Bankheads, and has been for some years. More recently it has likewise become the domcle-technically at least-of Hobson. As to the importance of the brush be- tween Hobson and the brother of his op- ponent, accounts last night differed, as reports of combatants frequently do. However, the mere fact that the discus
 
 which were said were sufficient to indi- cate that the fight, just now in it's in- fancy, is to be a desperate one. No qua rter will be given and none will be asked. Challenges have been passed and mutually accepted. The two Bankhead- Bobson races of decade ago, memorable for their sensational nature and for the bitterness of the charges, will doubtless be re-enacted.
 MISREPRESENTATION CHARGED
 The discussion between Hobson and Bsnkhead related to the connection which the family of the latter had with the redistricting of the state. MT. Bankhead charged that Hobson had misrepresented his brother, W. B. Bankhead. while Hob son declared that one or the other of the Bankheads had made a misstatement. The situation was more or less tense and no small amount of feeling was shown, according to accounts brought to Bir- mingham yesterday. At least, all former declarations that there were to be no personalities, no reference to immaterial issues and no injection of bitterness into the campaign were cast aside, and will probably not be revamped before May 9.
 Hobson, who is charged with being a carpetbagger, was found dining at the of Ohio and Alabama, who was himself for some years assailed from every stump in Alabama as the prince of carpetbag- gers. Phil Painter, former private sec- retary to Hobson, was another member of the party. Captain Hobson and MT. Painter who was with the captain at Jasper yesterday were highly elated over the result of the meeting in the home town of the two candidates. Hobson ex- pressed absolute confidence in the result in the district, stating as his opinion that he would receive two-thirds of the total vote. Earlier in the evening MT. Bank head had expressed the same confidence in the success of his brother.
 "The fight is on in real earnest stated Mir. Hobson. Although I am certain that I would win without making a canvass, will conduct as vigorous a campaign as have ever done I was greeted at Jasper yesterday by crowd as large as I have ever seen in the courthouse ttere- The same enthusiasm with which l have been received there in the past vas present, and if anything was more marked than ever. At Carbon Hill last right the crowd surpassed all expecta- tions and was the largest I ever saw at any meeting there The same is true of all the places in the district where have been during the past week.
 INTERRUPTED BY BANKHEAD
 ''J. H. Bankhead, Jr., interrupted me in my speech yesterday. but I was de- lighted with the result of our discussion. said that my opponent, Will Banlxhead, was stating over the district that the Bankheads had nothing to do with the passage of the redistricting bill. This was denied by John Bankhead, who arose in the audience. T presented a copy of