The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-06-06
SMITHWICK and
HANCOCK IN A
JOINT DEBATE
Congressman From Third Dis
trict Gets Better of the Argu-
ment and Refutes Attacks
APPARENT SLIGHT is
GIVEN TOM WENTWORTH
Candidates for County Offices
Given Opportunity to
Talk to the Voters.

Talk to the Voters.
An audience of at least five thousand
people heard the debate last night be
tween Congressman }. II. Smithwick und
B. 5. Hancock. candidates FOR cor
gressional honors from the third district
and the talks OF the state and county
candidates. which followed. standing for
TOUR hours. and the meeting being feat
ured by several unexrected incidents
among which was the length OF time
allowed certain OF the candidates for pre-
senting their views, and which prac-
tically excluded others from the ineetIn1.
and the open attempt 70 prevent Com
missioner T. T. Wentworth from spea.<
lng' until the meeting was so small az
to make his talk heard to less than ave
hundred.
smlthwIek and Hancock.
In the debate between Smithwicx nd
Hancock, the congressman from the
Third District came Off with Tying colors
making one Of the most forceful ypeechss
OF his campaign. and entirely refutIns
the attacks Of air Hancock which have
heen designed to give tde Impression
that Mr.. Smithwick is not supports.
Of Henry Ford
Mr., Smithwick opened and closed ras
debate, talking fUr more than an hour
Mr.. Hancock speaking for about half an
hour' much cf which time was given over
to reading excerpts from the CongressIon-
Al Record. telling Of bis early history.
speaking Of his great civic accomplish
ments, and reading advertisements which
had already appeared in the daily rapers.
The remainder Of Mr.. Hancocks speech
was given over to an effort TO prove SC
the people Of Escambia county how abIs
he would support Henry Ford were he
sent 10 Washington in Mr. SmithwIcs.
place. and in an effort 10 point out how
delinquent Mr.. SmithwiclS had been IL
this matter.
Each Of the charges made by NJ. Hau-
cock, however. was howied over by Afg
Smithwick, who showed that the Frra
offer had never get Eceu Eeore Congress
and that therefore q had not been pos
sible for him o. any other rongressuan
to vote on it. Congressman SmithwlcI.
was firm in his statement that he had
from the beginning favored the Fo.d
offer and expected 10 continue 10 40 ea
and the crowd became most enthusiastic
when he declared that he would rather
give Muscle Shoals TO Henry Ford than
TO sell Il TO other interests.
In his talk Congressman smithwles
clearly showed his familiarity with aI
congressional procedure. and again and
again proved assertions made by his Is.
ponent TO have been based upon ignorancc
Of the rules that govern congress
Wentworth Sighted.
For some reason known only to the
chairman Of the meeting. Commissioner
I. II Wentworth was slighted, and -
openly as to have come as a surprise 10
many who had expected to find the meet
ing conducted fairly and impartially.
Following the debate by Congressms
Smithwick and Hancock Chairmsn n
Pope Reese called upon the candidates
for Circuit Judge, both +. W Magaha
and Judge A. g. Campbell making talks
in support Of their candidacy. Judge
Magsha aroused admiration IN some who
composed the audience for the good
words he had to say for his opponent
and the speech Of Judge Campbell was
also marked By great fairness and was
we'll received.
Following the circuit judges. Mr. Reese
called upon Gates, Soderlind. HerrinRton.
Riera, and other candidates for county
As he did not call upun
Mr.. Wentworth at the suggestion of
friends OF the young commissioner, some
one in the audience went 70 Mr.. Rsase
and suggested to him that he had over
looked Mr.. Wentworth, Mr.. Reess replied
that he was changing about a little. toT
variety.
As time drew on however and Ms
WentwGEth was not called, at the urgent
demand Of friends. Commissioner Went
he had not been called upon. Mr.. Reese
told him 70 20 back and sit down That
ne was running the meeting.
Not until then did fun realisation reach
the friends Of 8fr. Wentworth that ne
had been held back on the program untii
the audience had dropped from thousands
to a few hundreds. and their indignation
gave voice TO a esn for Wentworth.
which was silenced by MT. Reese with
the announcement that he was running
the meeting.
Not until after twelve o'clock did kr.
have an opportunity 20 speak,
and by that time the audience was 50
sman that he confined his remarks 70
some hot words directed at the chalrman
and a request that the audience cast
their vote for him this morning" or
BIS afternoon.
Stokes and FIlllnaIm.
Much interest centered IN the debate
between W. G. F9llingim. candidate for
the state senate and John r. Stokes.
who has represented this district IN the
senate.
Mr.. FillIngim spoke first. declaring thar
he believed that the people 0f his DIS
trict would do well TO maze a change
and send man 70 Tallahassee who was
not a lswyer Mr. FiHingim talked for
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