The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-08-10
in HOTEL LOBBIES
AND ELSEWHERE


There was a small party at dinner to-
gether yesterday. Congressman ]. r.
stalings, General Charles NJ. Shelley, Hon.
Joseph J. Willett, State Auditor Walter s.
White. Solicitor Charles w. Ferguson, and
two or three others present They talked
politics under the roser" and made mem
ton of many things. Somebody likened
politicians to 'possums. The big, fat,
heavy 'possums took to the bushes whilst
the little three-pounders took to the trees,
when they heard "Old Bulger's bark.
Still others didn't try to climb any tree at
all. but burrowed amongst the leaves for
nuts, roots, and the like. Charlie Fergu-
son said:
The big 'possum walks just before day
and always get caught,
But the little 'possum takes to tall timber
and frequently escapes.
1t seemed to be the general opinion that,
in a political sense, Stallings was a big
possum. He is mighty likely to be caught
by the political forces, and they may make
him governor. Stallings was not displeased
at being regarded as a big 'possum; and it
is proper to say that whilst he Is agile,
still he is getting the nuts and the roots,
anu tine SelhIdi VI dNtiNitS' ~"
doubtedly Mr.. Stallings is on the move"
He is doing a large amount of hustling.
He is one of the large, fat 'possums that
the people may catch, and make their
chief. He realizes this fact and is one OF
the joest, happiest men between the
Mississippi line and the Chattahoochee
river
AY--I
willie railroad. has in his office at the Nor
ris the model of railroad crossing that
seems to be perfect. How the crossing
would work on great railway lines carry
ing enormous engines and heavy cars Is
coniectural, but for street railways the pat
ent seems to be perfectly adapted. The
model is made of wood. The car passes
imperceptibly over the crossing; and seems
capable of vast development. The rafting,
Earring, annoying sensation peculiar to all
crossings of tracks is entirely avoided. 1t
makes it so easy that crossing is unknown
to passengers for to them there is no sort
of discomfort, no disturbance of their COM
fort in any way now experienced by all
passengers at all railroad crossings, wheth-
in streets or elsewhere. The invention
in possession of Mr. Jones is remarkable
for its simplicity, and is certain to attract
the attention of all practical men. Whether
Mr.. Jones will endeavor to develop 1t is
known to himself; but anybody may see
the model by visiting the Louisville and
Nashville Office under the Morris hotel.
Mr.. Robert j. Chambers, of Montgomery,
the brother of Chef Justice William L.
Chambers of Samoa, the Alabama king
maker, spent yesterday in Birmingham,
where he has relatives. Asked as to the
movements of his now famous brother,
Mr.. Chambers said that he knew nothing
farther than that Chief Justice Chambers
was at Colorado Springs, Colo. The judge
has written of his arrival at the Colorado
resort, but had little or nothing to say as
to his future movements. The return of
the judge to Alabama Is awaited with a
great. deal of interest. He has made his
tory since he left here several years ago
to preside over the supreme court of the
much-troubled islands. Whether he will
return to Samoa is not positively known.
but it is presumed that he will not do 50.
His devotion to and watchfulness of Amer
lean interests and his ceasless espousal of
the cause Of common justice have made him
disliked by the German government, one
of the three powers concerned In the con-
troll of the Samoan islands, and so 1t be-
comes very improbable that he will return
to Apia in any capacity.
The Hon. Jesse F. Stallings, member Of
congress for the Second district of Ala
bama. is in the city, on his way from
Montgomery to North Alabama. Mr.. Stall
lings is candidate for governor of the
state, as everybody knows, and he Is
Smelling the woods" nightly, as the
phrase goes He was seen yesterday and
was found to be all smiles and happiness.
The congressman was radiant with conf
dence. There was no doubt In his mind
that success would crown his efforts.
Jesse Stallings believes that the state
democratic convention will nominate him
for the governorship. and no man ever
worked harder for that exalted houor thana
he
Mr.. Stallings believes he will win
doesn't doubt 1t. Already he has visited
more than half the counties of the state.
Eyerywhera he has haa,a most nnr7;aI,x, -