The age-herald., 1899-03-16
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
 AND ELSEWHERE.

The action of the populist state executive committee in this city yesterday with ref erence to the constitutional convention
 adds additional interest to the primary
 elections of next Saturday the 18th, and to | the campaign that will be prosecuted for | the convention. There was more of con- vention talk yesterday than on any other | day. since the agitation began. Interest in
 the Jefferson county candidates for dele | gates is increasing, and there will be a 1 larger vote boiled in Saturdays primary than has been hitherto expected. Most of | the twenty candidates are making an ac- | tive canvass. The Age-Herald of Sunday | will give the names of those who win. It | is matter of such serious importance to | the public that the voters will doubtless | nominate the best of good men. Some of 1 the strongest and worthest men of Jeffer- | son county have announced themselves as 1 candidates. There can be no excuse for
 mistake in selecting. the six delegates from | the county.
 It is gratifying to note that in Montgom- | cry county, which is entitled to four dele l gates, four of the county's ablest and best | citizens ask for the votes of democrats in the primary. They are w. 8. Thorington, some time justice of the supreme court, and at present professor of law in the state university; Edward A. Graham, twice mayor of Montgomery; w. C. Bibb, at present a member of the legislature, and Thomas H. Watts leading lawyer and
 son of the famous governor of that name.
 There are doubtless others, but these
 names impress one as peculiarly fitting. Hon. Tennent Lomax Is without oppoSi-
 tion for delegate from the state-at-large
 as representing the Montgomery senatorial
 district, and, of course, he will be nomi-
 mated. It may be accepted as practically
 certain that MT. Lomax will allow the use
 of his name for the presidency of the con-
 vention in which case his election will be
 exceedingly probable. MT. Lomax is known to all the public men of Alabama and en- joys their confidence and esteem. He is a
 lawyer of rare attainments, a parliamenta-
 rian with few equals, and orator of
 great eloquence. He is a conservative man,
 calm and deliberate in public affairs, and
 is governed by the highest sense of duty.
 He makes ideal presiding officer.
 Tomorrow will be "St. Patrick's day in
 the morning." and Irishmen all over the
 world will pay reverential tribute to their
 patron saint. The shamrock will be worn by every one who can obtain it; but every
 Irishman will wear his sprig of green upon his coat and swear renewed devotion to the
 "ould sod" The principal celebration in
 this district will take place at Pratt City, where banquet will be served in the city hall about 1 o'clock. The day will be spent
 gladly with songs, speeches, recitations and
 that great-hearted good cheer so character
 istic of the Irish people; for amongst all Christian peoples there is none so laughter loving as the Irish.
 George w. Jones, the able assistant to Colonel J. M. Falkner in the Louisville and Nashville law department at Montgomery
 was in Birmingham yesterday, and was
 cordially greeted by many friends here. He
 Is Colonel Falkner's right hand, so to speak, and he is perfectly worthy of his responsible position. He shares largely his
 chiefs remarkable popularity and deserves
 it all, for he is painstaking in and devoted
 to his work, has the ability, and has the
 grace of a courtesy that does not fail.
 
 Marcus Well, the well-known and pros porous clothing merchant, Is considering the matter of becoming a candidate for
 police commissioner of Birmingham. Mr.
 Veil is one of Birmingham's best citizens
 and most progressive business men, and he
 would be an admirable police commission
 CT.
 "Is this holiday in the neighborng towns
 and has anybody come to Birmingham?"
 asked George Primrose, the famous come
 dian, on Tuesday "No,' he was answered
 "Why the question:" "The crowds in the
 streets astonish me; that's why. Birming-
 ham is certainly lively. It beats any other place I know"
 Serious conditions have been brought by the long-continued heavy rainfall. Building operations in some particulars have been brought almost to a standstill Every sort
 of business has been injured by the terri ble weather. The railroads find it impossi- ble to keep their tracks in perfect order.
 The Louisville and Nashville, for example,
 which has one of the best roadbeds in the United States, suffered yesterday from nearly dozen washouts between Birming- ham and Decatur. The terrible rains have set human skill at naught. As for the farm CTS In this district ana the Blackbelt, they are weeks behind in their work. It has
 been simply impossible to prepare the fields for the crops.
 J. J. Willett, the distinguished member of the Anniston bar, and prince of good fellows, is in Birmingham, where he Is al- ways welcomed by many warm friends. MT. Willett is greatly attached to Bir-
 mingham, believes in 1t. and always sings its praises. This feeling of attachment is heartily reciprocated. Two well-known former newspaper men were here yesterday as members of the state populist committee. They were Frank Baltzell, of Montgomery, now a United States commissioner, and I. L. Brock, now circuit clerk of Clarke county. Both are brilliant writers, and at one time