The age-herald., 1898-09-14
ABOUT POLITICS AND POLITICIANS

The action of the First Congressional 1 district convention at Jackson yesterday Bis not a surprise to those posted on the Estimation. The George Washington Taylor lI'men had the machinery and they worked | their mans nomination unanimously, Mo- | bile county refusing to participate in the convention after the partisan action of the
 machinery G. ". Taylor's district com mittee seemed to be getting its revenge
 on the state committee.
 Of course, there is no certainty as to
 what the outcome will be, but the action of the Mobile delegation would indicate that the Hannis Taylor delegates propose an appeal to the state committee to again take hand in the natter With the evi- | dence at hand Hannis Taylor seems to have had a majority of the delegates in the county conventions of both Choctaw 1 and Washington, which, with the vote or Mobile, would have secured him the noml- nation at Jackson by a majority vote or l one But the G. ". Taylor men were con- l testing from both Choctaw and Washing l ton, and both the contesting delegations
 were seated by convention controlled by i G. w. Taylor. This caused the withdrawal
 of the Mobile delegates from the conven- ton, and c. w. Taylor was unanimously
 nominated by the five remaining counties | The evidence tends to show the use of | little power to make a nomination There is but little doubt as to what the outcome will be. Hannis Tayior's friends will ask the state committee to recognize him as the nominee, which, Judging from their recent action, it would do. In that event G. w. Taylor would likely bolt, and the two names will go before the people in November.
 Probably the reference of the whole mat
 ter back to the white people in a primary
 election is the best way out of the tangle. The state is watching the case with much interest.
 The recommendations made by Governor Johnston a few days since that the United States war department detail Lieutenant Joseph Wheeler, Jr., as instructor of mil
 itary tactics at the university has occa-
 stoned a deal of talk among the friends of the university as to what is to be done with the present commandant-Erle Pettus.
 MT. Pettus was at the meeting of the board in June, elected commandant for the
 next scholastic year, and hence the con fusion in the minds of the public as to the
 effect of the governors suggestion It de- velops that the appointment of Lieutenant Wheeler would in no way conflict with Commandant Pettus' position. Under the old custom of the university, the positions of commandant and military instructor have been filled by the same man. The government has heretofore detailed a mem-
 Der of the reguaf-a army as instructor and ha would ampOV him fn-
 mandant. During his one year of service
 MT. Pettus has made a splendid reputation and is very popular with both the boys
 and the faculty. But should the university fail to have regular army man as in-
 structor of military tactics, it is quite prob | able that it would lose the use of the | several thousand dollars worth of arms | and accoutrements which are furnished by 1 the government.
 The appointment of Lieutenant Wheeler l as military instructor would prove a most popular one in Alabama. and it is under. stood that both the trustees and members of the faculty have indorsed Governor Johnstons action in making such a request of Secretary Alger
 The death of Colonel Willis G. Clarke leaves a vacancy on the board of trustees of the University of Alabama. Colonel Clarke has served as a member of the
 board for many years and has always been very punctual in his attendance upon the board meetings Possibly no one has taken more interest in university affairs
 than he
 The matter of a successor on the board to Colonel Clarke is being talked of among the uinversity's friends. There is splendid | material in the First district from which 1 selection may be made. Among those 1 whose names are mentioned are Col. B. l.. | Hubbard, of Monroe; B. F. Elmore of l Marengo; w. l.. Gray, of Choctaw; Judge I Price Williams, president E. L. Russel, of l the Mobile and Ohio railroad; Joel Colds | by, A. s. Lyons and D. M. Robinson, of | Mobile.
 The alumni will clamor for the selection l by the governor to come from their ranks, | while a large per cent. of the alumni and | students will want to know whether he is | for athletics or ant-athletics. Governor 1 Johnston will not lack for suitable material l to fill both requirements. KERSH