The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-07
ROBSON FAILS ID MENTION BANKHEAD IN CLOSING SPEECH The Captain Closes His Campaign in Tenth With
 Jasper Address
WORDS ARE HEARD
 BY IMMENSE CROWD
Says He Believes WOman's Suffrage Is a Matter for People to De- eide Whether They Want to
 Vote on It
Rx DIR. V. II. WILLIAMS

Jasper, May Special. )-Capt. R. F. Hobson, candidate for Congress from the Tenth district against W. B. Bankhead, spoke to one of the largest crowds ever assembled in Walker county here today.
 A speakers stand was arranged in front of the courthouse and the inn mense crowd gathered around this on | improvised seats. Captain Hobson took as his theme preparedness, national prohibition and efficiency
 Captain Hobson dwelt upon the won- derful possibilities before this district if the natural powers were properly directed and developed. He told of what great things will come from the development of our water powers and other natural advantages. and stressed the importance of this Tenth district sending representatives to Congress who would see to it that the masses of the people get their rights.
 HISTORY OF POWER co.
 He went into details somewhat of the history of the Alabama Power company and showed the wonderful benefits to be derived by the farmers and laboring class of people by the Qe eNSIOpIllCill OA tie NdlCI pOWtIS pTO- posed by this company. He, however, attacked the Alabama Power company for being allowed exemption from tax alton for 10 years by the Alabama leg islature, claiming that if this power company had been subjected to req Sonable taxation 1t would have mate rially reduced the tax rate in Alabama. Captain HObSon scored the corporations for trying to lower the standard of labor and also for trying to secure cheap farm labor. He stated that the standard of labor could be raised by the abolition of the convict lease sys- tenn. He said the convict lease system as well as other corporation depres- sions are due to corporation lawyers He had no fault to find with a man for being a corporation lawyer, but insisted that public opinion be direct ed so as to educate a higher Senti- ment. It was noticeable in this con- nection that Captain Hobson did not refer to the firm of Bankhead & Bank head
 He said that if the United States had an Atlantic merchant marine and a navy equal to that of Germany and also one on the Pacific equal to that of Japan, the farmers of the south would have today been realizing 25 to 50 cents pound for their cotton, and no nation would have dared to place cotton on the contrband list. Germany offered 25 cents per pound for cotton and offered to buy 1000, GOO bales, but Great Britain knowing the weakness of the American navy, said Noi You can't deliver cotton to Germany so the great crop of 1915 was sacrificed for and 8 cents: the south thereby lost $50, GOO. Hobson claimed that with an adequate navy, the United States would never have had any inhuman treatment on the high seas
 Captain Hobson reviewed briefly the fight that is being made for national con- stitutional prohibition and related some of the activities in which he has taken part looking toward the passage of res- olution by which an amendment to the constitution of the United States would be adopted providing for national prohi- bition.
 ON PROHIBITION
 He devoted about 25 minutes of his speech to the prohibition question, giving extracts from his Great Destroyer"
 During Captain Tiobsons speech some one handed him a card requesting that he state. his position on woman suffrage, to which he replied that this subject in his opinion. would be real issue with in 10 years from now. He said, when questioned years ago as to his views on prohibition and preparedness, he answered it like man, and that he was glad now to make his position clear on woman suf- frage He stated that it was his belief in the application of the referendum on this question and that when the people decided that they wanted to take action on this subject by vote they should have this privilege; that he did not be- lleve in the national government forcing woman suffrage or prohibition upon the people but that the people should have the power to express themselves at the polls. There has been considerable com ment and criticism on Captain Hobson,s S position on woman suffrage, many claim ing that if his views on woman suffrage should prevail it would enfranchise the negro women of the south
 One of the striking features of Captain Hobson's address was the fact that he did not at any time or in any way men, tion or speak of his opponent, W. B. Bankhead He said that in closing this campaign he closed it with good will and an open heart to every man in the Tenth district.