The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-05-26
POLITICAL DEBATE
HELD AT BOMBAY
nv e. A. WILLIAMs.l

BOMBAY, Fla May 25.-Congress-
man J. II. Smithwick and his opponent,
Hon. Ben S. Hancock. met IN joint
debate here Tuesday night, the speak
ing taking place In the court house,
which was crowded with interested
voters, both men and ladies'.
The debate was led by Smithwick,
who led off in a speech of Al minutes.
The congressman thanked the people
of Bombay and Holmes county for
their support in the past and briefly
reviewed his career in congress, saying
that. without Boosting. it was his belief
that he had been able to accomplish as
much for this district as had been ac-
complished for any district in the
country; that he had been on the Job
constantly and that not one single
person in the district had called on him
for assistance who did not promptly
get the very best service he was able
to render Mr.. Smithwick then took
up practically all his allotted time in
refuting the charges of his opponent
that he (Smithwick) had voted In ia
vor of the Alabama Power Co. IN. the
Muscle Shoals proposition. After the
congressman's explanation of this
matter, it was perfectly clear that
big majority of the audience approved
Of his vote, as he was constantly APP
plauded.
Mr.. Hancock followed, and although
he was given one hour, he only con-
suned 35 minutes of his time, 20 min
utes of which was devoted to reading
his charges, Congressional Record mat
ter and his printed platform. He told
the audience that he was born in Ar
Kansas his parents were Presbyteri-
ans and that he Yves raised in that
church. He was attracted to Pensa-
cola 20 years ago, he said, by the Mardi
Gras, got the West Florida sand in
his shoe and stayed. He told OF his
appointment as postmaster at Pensa-
cola and how he had cleaned up the
office" by removing the colored as
sistants and their private lockers; told
of his activities during the war and
that he had done so much that his
friends thought he ought to be sent to
congress. He then launched his attack
on smithwick for voting for the ten
million dollar appropriation for Muscle
Shoals. The time consumed in reading
wearied the audience, and whispers OF
"thls is not a reading match" were
heard from over the room. He was
pSI5p4Elh6 AAOV4J WAA0AA SSOA A-AS
seat.
In his rebuttal Smithwick put his
opponent IN a had hole by asking how
he would have voted II five million
farmers and five million iaboripg men
appealed TO congress to pass the ten
million dollar appropriation and by
ii there was a chance for the farmers
to get a reduction OF $3.50, 1000. 900 annu-
ally on the fertilizer bilis2 Mr.. Han
cook lodged the question by saying he
would vote very cautiously, This was
the answer smithwick said he would
make and when Mr.. Hancock came
and repeated the answer the
audience Foared. and 1t was several
minutes before order was restored,
Smithwick was going strong and ran
over his time and had to be called
down by the presiding officer, Col, @.
r., Mathis, He reluctantly took his
seat amid deafening applause.
Following the congressional siadia-
tors, Judge d. J. Jones was introduced
and made a short address IN behalf OF
his candidacy for reelection TO the
circuit judgsship His scholarly ad-
dress made him many votes.