The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-09-02
REPUBLICANS TRY
HARD TO CAPTURE
SEVENTH DISTRICT
Heflin Says Effort Being
Made to Defeat Rainey
for Effect Over
Country

Representative j. Thomas Heflin of the
| Fifth Alabama district arrived in Biz
mingham last night for a short stay after
a brief speaking tour in the Seventh
Alabama district in the interest of Capt.
l.. b. Rainey of Gadsden, democratic
nominee for the seat made vacant by the
death of Representative Burnett
Much propaganda against the league OF
nations has been circulated i'll the seventh
district, Mr.. 1eflin said last night, chief
ly the speeches of Senator Reed of MIS-
souri,, democrat. but one of the bitterest
critics of the administration during and
since the war. and Senator Sherman OF
Illinois, republican. Senator Reed is con-
tending that the league brings the threat
of negro domination, while Senator Sher-
man has raised the question of papal
racial and the other religious prejudice.
said Mr.. Hefln. The latter answered
both these senators in his Seventh dis
trict speeches, telling his audiences that
their opposition to the league, like that
OF most of the prominent repuuncans
who are opposing ratification. is due to
either personal or political prejudfccs.
Mr.. Hefin said he believed the people
of the south, the democrats who are
proud of their party's record. would re-
| sent such attempts to prejudice their
minds, and particularly the attitude of
! Senator Sherman, whom Mr.. Helm de-
! nominated as the meanest, most hide
bound republican in Congress, and the
| worst south hater of the bunch To
use his speech in an attempt to prejuc1cc
| the opinions of southern democrats on
the league of nations was nothing more
| than an insult to them, said Mr.. Helm.
! He said that he was greeted by large
audiences at all his appointments, and
that he was assured in each of the four
counties he visited Saturday and Mon
! day that Mr.. Rainev would he returned
! a winner in the special election ordered
for September 90 and that the only pos
| sible chance to lose would be through
over-confidence on the part of democrats.
| The only thing necessary is for demo-
| Gratis of the district TO become aroused
| to the fact that republicans through ma
| tional headquarters, are spending great
deal of money to capture the district for
| the moral effect it would have on the
country for next years presidential cam
| paigns. and get out and vote If they
| can be aroused to the importance of this
special election, said Mr.. Heflin, the
only question will be the size of Captain
Rainev's majority
Members of the Alabama delegation
would feel much embarrassed. said Nv.
Rainey, to have republican sent ~
, Congress from their state, and they
hope and believe such will not happen.
v Mr. Heflin arrived in Alabama last Fri
| day night and spoke at Gadsden Satur-
| day noon and at Albertville. in Marshall
county, that afternoon. Yesterday morn
| ing he made another political speech at
Creonta, in Blonnt county, and in the
afternoon made a patriotic address at a
barbecue and reunion of Cullman county
| world war veterans at Cullman. This
speech was devoid of politics, and was
largely a discussion of the league of ma
| TONS which Mr.. Heflin declared to be
| the worlds only hope for lasting peace.
Discussion of the league of nations was
also large part of Mr.. Hefin's polit-
| zeal speeches in the interest of Captain
Rainev, who is strong sunnortnr OF
President Wilson and of the league OF
nations, while his republican opponent
Charles p. Kennemer, has declared his
opposition to the league.
| Mr. Heflin, who is at the Tutwiler, Will
60 to his home at Lafayette tonight be-
fore returning to Washington. He Will
return to Alabama for other speeches in
Mr. Rainey's district during the clos
ing days of the Seventh district cam
paign