The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-06-04

oiiN ASPH"ilSaNs- lie De1eVeS that the people, if he asks them to, will sup port him because of or in spite of his position relative to declaration of war, or the method proposed for the creation of an army.
 During the last campaign MT. Burnett announced that in all probability he would not run. But there is no ques- tion but that If one of his old enemies presents a front strong enough to guarantee victory, or if any candidate attempts to ride into office because he voted against a declaration of war or against conscription, he will again be a candidate.
 BURNETT NOT AFRAID It has been reported in the Alabama press hat John A. Lusk of Guntersville will be candidate for Congress from the seventh. One newspaper writer. in referring to that report declared that MT. Lusk. bitter and merciless in at tack, would, on account of Mir Bur netts recent record, tear the represen- tatlVe to pieces and then rub in a fine solution of salt
 It is not believed in Washington that MT. Lusk inspired statement to that effect. For, in the language of Senator T1llman, as sure as shootin' Mr. Bur- nett, should MT Lusk authorize such declaration, would immediately an- nounce himself a candidate and pre- pare with satisfaction for any violent combat
 Mr. Burnett is not afraid of Mir. Lusk In 1904 MT. Lusk was a candidate He and MT. Burnett met in 29 joint de- bates. They were rough and tumble af- fairs. MT. Lusk. equally as aggressive as he is now, talked of MT. Burnetts habit of riding to Washington on railroad passes, and MT. Burnett talked about MT. Lusk as tax dodger.
 And then, after more than a month of continuous sensation, the tellers counted the votes. Mir Burnett won by a majority of 1899. It was the big .gest victory he has since scored.
 ADVICE TO CANDIDATES
 It is altogether probable that MT. Lusk has not talked about what he will do to John Burnett. He is pretty good politician. If he desires to run for Con- gress, he knows that his safest plan would be in friendly manner to elmi- nate MT. Burnett. to permit him to carry out his purpose of retiring, and not to incite him to re-enter the field. For if he does there is scarcely a man who doubts his ability to win
 Mr. Burnett's record is consistent. He stood for a volunteer army When he couldn't get that army, he opposed conscription. But he had previously voted against declaration of war The record of other members of the dele gation is not equally as consistent. Representative Almon of the Eighth voted against declaration of war. He next voted against the voluntary plan of raising troops and for the conscrip- ton plan. He next voted because of the voluntary idea involved, to permit Col onel Roosevelt to raise one or more divisions of troops.
 Representative Huddlestn of the Ninth has still more unique record He voted for war. And then he voted-- the voluntary system having been elim- of raising an army to prosecute the war for which he had voted
 From what can be learned through
 grapevine sources in Washington, both Mir. Almon and MT. Huddleston will have opposition
 DENT VERY STRONG
 During the fight for and against a voluntary provision of the army bill, pert paragraphers riding the then popular current, referred facetiously to the fate awaiting Mir. Dent" when the representa- tive of the Second district again asked for term in Congress- Other editorial writers, nursing a grudge of one or more varieties, predicted that because of his stand in Congress, he would certainly be beaten.
 As matter of fact. these prophets will eventually learn that not only with his people at home but with the Presi- dent and the war department Mr.. Dent is stronger than he has ever been From what comes to Washington from Ala bama, it is thought probable that he Will have no opposition. His stand for voluntary system has not hurt him. it is indicated because, in the first place, his constituency knows that he had honest convictions, and in the second place, be- cause throughout Alabama, the volun- ary idea has many staunch adherents.
 During the last campaign, M. H. Screws conducted wild campaign against MT. Dent. Despite his political astuteness and his oratorical ability, he suffered an overwhelming defeat. Since that time Mir. Dent has become one of the in- fluential leaders in Congress. It Is hard ly to be believed that he could be beaten
 OTHER MEMBERS SAFE
 From information here. it is indicated that MT. Blackmon of the Fourth, Mr. Heflin of the Fifth, MT. Oliver of the Sixth and MT. Bankhead of the Tenth, will be returned without opposition. The chances are that if MT. Gray of the First and Mr. Steagall of the Third have to fight for another term, they will score victories
 MT. Blackmon, in winning a perma- nent artillery range with all that means in way of trade, business money and honor, has scored ten strike. He now stands with those members of Congress who have done material things. During the last campaign he had opposition