The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1898-12-03
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
AND ELSEWHERE

mingham this afternoon for Washington 10
be present at the opening of the last ses-
sion of the Fifty-ffth congress at noon on
Monday.
/ CONGRESSMAN Bankhead declined last
night to be interviewed as to his own pros
| poets for supplantidg Mr.. Bailey In the
democratic leadership. Upon that matter
he had nothing to say for publication But
| it is known that the proposition to make
| him. leader, made though The Age-Herald,
| with the sanction of the Alabama delega-
| ton in congress, has met with hearty APP
| proval all over the country. All the lead
| ing newspapers of the country irrespective
of the differing shades of political opinion,
have spoken in the kindest possible terms
of that sturdy democrat, John Bankhead,
| in point of service one of the Oldest demo-
cratic members of the house, and in prac-
tical capacity and influence easily amongst
the first, If not the very first Of them ALL
1t is understood that the fight has already
narrowed down to Bankhead and Bailey.
The New York Sun, for example, which is
ardently republican, declares that the prize
lies between the Albanian and the Texan.
| Hundreds of other daily journals are in
| agreement with the Sun on that PROPOSE
ton. Representatives DeArmond and
| Richardson are not in the fight.
One interesting feature in the democratic
situation in the present house is created by
the retirement of Congressman McMilln,
| who has become governor of Tennessee
| Two most important committee positions
| become vacant by Mr.. McMillins retire.
ment-one on the ways and means and the
other on the committee rules. 1t is
believed that Speaker Reed will name
| Richardson for McMillins place on the
| ways and means, and that the speaker will
| logically appoint Bankhead to fill the
| cant place on rules; the other democratic
member of the committee being Bailey.
That would even things up all around and
| give the leading contestants for the demo-
| cratic leadership a somewhat equal show
| ing. Richardson being from the same state
| as MeMilin and being old member may
| reasonably hope for appointment to the
ways and means though he is only a trife
| less heartily disliked by the speaker than is
Bailey himself.
| The position of affairs is extremely inter-
| esting. What the outcome shall be cannot
be foretold with any degree of accuracy.
| Only this is clear-the contest for the demo-
cratic leadership is between Bankhead and
| Bailey, with the chances apparently favor
|
| has been busily engaged in securing
| pledges to his own support, with view to
| a possible democratic majority in the lower
| house of the next congress. There will be
no such majority, but the pledges to Bailey
hold just as strongly
Colonel William Jennings Bryan writes TO
| Hon. John w. Tominson that he will pass
| through Birmingham this morning his
| way to rejoin his regiment at Savannah.
| Colonel Bryan failed to state which train
he would arrive by but presumably he will
| travel by the Louisville and Nashville fast
| mail due here from the north at 7:45. There
| is another train due here from st. Louis
| over the Kansas City road at 5:45. Colonel
| Bryan's note to Mr.. Tomlinson was purely
a personal one, and in the course of it he
| says, "come to the sleeper and wake me
| up" If the democratic leader travels by
| the Louisville and Nashville he will be
! walked for breakfast before reaching this
| city. But probably Colonel Bryan did not
closely inspect the existing schedule of that
line In any event Mr.. Tomlinson will join
| his distinguished friend here and travel
| with him as far as Montgomery.
Arrangements are in progress to provide
| for Colonel Bryan stopping over in Mont
| gomery and being received by the two
| houses of the general assembly at the capt.
toll, where it is hoped he may be induced
| to make a speech. 1t all depends upon the
| wishes of the distinguished traveller. He
| would be given an enthusiastic reception at
| Montgomery, as he would receive in Bir-
| mngham did the hour of his arrival here
| make that possible.
| AS is well known, Colonel Bryan has been
| at his home in Nebraska for several weeks
on sick leave. Whilst his health has not
| perhaps been quite fully restored, he is a
| great deal stronger and within a few days
| will have fully regained his strength. The
| trouble with him before he left Savannah
| was that he would persist in working when
| his physical condition did not warrant it.
| His physicians warned him, plead with him
| to abstain from all work and avoid all ex-
| element, but his restless and marvellous
energy and spirit kept him from complying
with the medical njunctions.
| 1t is not generally known the Colonel
| Bryan's ailment was typhoid fever. His
| remarkable physical strength and the reg
| ularity and temperance of his personal
| habits alone prevented serious complica-
| lions.
1t is given out that Frank H. Lathrop,
of Riverside, who was the republican can
didate for congress against John L. Bur-
nett, democrat, and o. S. Street, populist,
In the Seventh district, will not contest
Burnett's seat in the house. Lathrop told
a friend of his that he felt that he'd had
enough of politics, and he meant to attend
to his own private business.
AS a matter of fact, Lathrop would
stand no show in contest, even before
partisan house. There is no sort of doubt
or question that Burnett was elected, and
he will occupy his seat without opposition,
United States Judge Toulmin has signed
an order transferring the office of United
States Commissioner H. A. Wilson from
,frg tn