The age-herald., 1898-11-12
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
 AND ELSEWHERE


 ''w. c. Davis has retired from the contest for the solicitorship of the Eleventh cir cuit,'' said politician in the Morris lobby last night. "There is an interesting story about MT. Davis. He was nominated for the legislature by the democrats of Marion county without his own knowledge or prev ious consent. He was in no sense a candi- date, and the office of representative was thus forced upon one of the best men in Marion, or any other county. In the same way he was almost impelled to consider himself a candidate for solicitor of the Eleventh circuit. He is lawyer of great accomplishments, and a growing practice.
 Marion is developing at remarkable rate. A new railroad is being built into the very heart of the county, and some of the finest coal veins in the vast coal fields of Alabama will be shortly opened to the world. These material facts, added to MT. Davis growing law practice and what he considers an honorable obligation to dis charge his duties as a legislator have combined to influence him in arriving at his decision not to be candidate for so- licitor The field open to him in private practice is too inviting for him to turn away from in order to fill a solicitorship. Great success awaits him, and with charac- teristc shrewdness he comprehends very fully the situation. Therefore he does not care for the solicitorship, and will perform his duties in the legislature, of which he will be one of the ablest and most useful members"
 The retirement of Representative Davis leaves three candidates in the Eleventh circu.t-Mr. Sawtele, the present popular and efficient solicitor, and Messrs Weedon and Orme.
 .'There is gong to be great rush of eastern capital to the south, and particu- larly to the Birmingham district" said Major James Spence, the energetic and successful Tuscaloosa capitalist, who has been for many years largelyl interested iii Birmingham real estate. Major Spence re- turned yesterday from business visit to New York, and he was greatly encouraged. He was, by chance, in New York on cleo ton day, and enjoyed it as an onlooker II do not pretend to tell you why" he said but the men of money were glad Roosevelt was elected governor. It encouraged then. in their enterpr. ses."
 Did they talk to you of Birmingham was asked.
 Yes; and in a spirit of hearty apprecia- .-cn. The capitalists of New York un- doubtedly believe in the Birmingham dis 1rict especially and Alabama and the south generally. As l sad, there will be rusif nf al fh a long time since 1 felt so hopeful of the lccal situation. My friends in New York talked like l wanted to hear them talk, ana theyrare ready to put their money in legit- innate enterprises. 1 went to New York on business, and l return very greatly en- couraged. Birmingham never had better prospects"
 Major Spence is a very conservative and observant business man. He cannot be de- ceived by mere surface indications. He knows what he is talking about.
 ''The coming session of the state legisla- ture will be interesting, and, I am sure, very useful to the people of Alabama" said Representative J. H. Wallace, of Madison a the Morris, last night. MT. Wallace is one of the youngest memberse of the new house. and will prove himself to be one of the ablest.
 Il shall introduce a bill requiring uni- form system of bookkeeping by county of- ficers, sheriffs, tax collectors and other of- ficials," said MT. Wallace "The books and records of public officers should be kept ac- cording to fixed system, and the only way to arrive at that is to require it b yact of the legislature.
 ''I shall also introduce a bill requiring all county officers to make their official ponds with properly authorized surety com- panies. These seem to me to be questions of vital interest to the state, and I shall urge them as best I can. There is a law requiring each surety company making the bonds of the public officers in the state to deposit $500O0 with the state treasurer as guarantee. Let the officers who have to make bonds take them out with such companies as comply with the requirements of the law.''
 ''I am heartily in favor of John W. Tom linson for railroad commissioner" said Mr. Wallace "He is good and faithful dem- ocrat and an eminently worthy and deserv- ing man. His appointment as railroad com missioner would give general satisfaction throughout the state He is popular and deservedy so, for he is a strong man, a straightout democrat and has worked faith fully to maintain the interests of our party"
 Politics was lively in the lobby of the Morris yesterday. Amongst the candidates whose hopes rise with the near approach of the legislative session were the two re- doubtable candidates for the soictorship of Jefferson county, Dan Greene and Har- rington Hef1in; Sawtelle of the Eleventh district; Oscar L. Gray, of the First; Charles w. Ferguson, of the Tenth; Mitch ell of the Sixth, and Ramsey, of Sumter, candidate for the assistant secretaryship of the senate. John T. Proctor, candidate for the secretaryship of the senate, went north, to return this way tomorrow. Rep- resentative Wilson Brown, of Colbert, was here en route to Montgomery, keen for the oc he always He is the cha m mDiOn