The age-herald., 1899-06-20
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
 AND ELSEWHERE

The expected has occurred in the declara-
 ton by Colonel A. A Wiley. of Mont
 gomery, that he will be a candidate for
 congress in the Second district to succeed | Representative Jesse F. Stallings who is
 bending all his energies towards the gover-
 norship, and is said to entertain no thought | of the congressional seat, being quite
 confident that he will win the higher place.
 Colonel Wiley has desired for many years
 to represent his district in congress. and
 has more than once been an active candi
 date for the nomination. His celebrated I spurt against Colonel Herbert in 1890 is a
 stirring incident in the states recent
 political history. He made something of
 a still hunt that year, and much to public
 astonishment came within a few votes of
 controlling the Montgomery county con
 ventlon against Colonel Herbert. The pub
 lie was not aware Colonel Wiley was can
 didate, and his work in Montgomery was
 the smartest of smart politics. He was
 after the capital county and had he got it
 he would have won the congressional nomi-
 nation over Colonel Herbert. Subsequently
 he made a determined fight against Stall l lings, but the latter carried Colonel Wiley'S
 old home county, Pike, against him. and | secured the nomination At present he is | member of the state senate. Colonel l Wiley is counsel for the Plant system of
 railroads and is one of the most success 1 full lawyers at the state bar. He has en- l joyed large income from his practice, l and is understood to have accumulated a 1 comfortable fortune. He has one of the
 most beautiful town houses in Montgom-
 cry, and just outside the city has superb l country home where he and his family re- l side almost all the time. Colonel Wiley l comes by his title from having been lieu l tenant-colonel of the Fifth United States l Volunteer Infantry, commonly called the Fifth Immunes" He saw several months service in Cuba, and was for time acting | governor of the province of Santiago. He | is a man of marked ability and boundess energy. So far he is che only candidate mentioned in connection with Second con- sressional district
 | During the recent session of the grand | jury of Chiffon county, there were only thirteen indictments returned and they
 were mostly for minor offenses," said a l public man familiar with the affairs of
 that peaceful county. At the January
 session of the jury not a single true bill was
 found, and at last summers session only
 thirteen. The income of the circuit clerk from his official work is but thirty dollars | a month. l am assured that in the history | of the county there has never been case l of arson; and one of the oldest citizens 1 tells me that there have been at most but l five homicides. According to the best of his knowledge and belief there have ac- l tually been only three men killed by fel- | lowmen in the county. The law-abiding 1 instincts of the people are remarkable l The soil being light the people are poor, | but they obey the laws and manage to get
 along. The new probate judge, the Rev | S. M. Adams the well known populist and
 former chief of the Kolb leaders inside and | out of the democratic party, has become
 thoroughly familiar with his duties at the | courthouse, and is making excellent | judge. The pure air and general charm of | Clanton agree with him wonderfully for he | has grown to be very stout The judge | now weighs over 200 pounds. Chiffon is a very beautiful and healthful county, and | the soil is susceptible of high state of | productiveness but in the meantime it is
 poor, and the probate judge is not likely | to grow wealthy from the fees that come | tardiy enough to his office.'
 The Hon. "Joe' J. Willett, of Anniston, | just elected president of the Alabama State
 Bar association is one of the most notably | successful young lawyers of this state; and
 his election will give great satisfaction to
 members of the bar generally, for he is remarkably and dessrvedly popular. MT. | Willett's ability and good fortune have en-
 abled him to get many "big cases" and his
 handling of them has been most sStisfac- l tory to himself and his clients. It is said | that in one case he received fee of S12,- 1 000; a very large sum for so young a man | to earn in a single case in court. MT. Will 1 lett is an alumnus of the State university, and was at Tuscaloosa with Congressman | Clayton and Stallings and with Lomax, l Cory, Lowe and others who have since
 achieved distinction in public life. He him.
 self has no taste for politics and has never | held office. Personally he is a man of rare
 polish and delightfully."- engaging manners, and is gifted in forming strong friendships l He is of striking physique and powerful
 physical strength.
 Honors come thick upon the gifted and
 fortunate MT. Willett. The Associated | Press announces that he has been chosen
 one of the orators for Tammany Halls
 great Fourth of July celebration in the | famous Nigwam in New York. This is
 a rare tribute to so young a man, and one
 eninently merted, as the braves of Tam
 many will discover when MT. Willett ad- | dresses them; for the able young Ala l bamian is worthy representative of his state and of eloquent southern ortators.
  Representative Oscar Underwood has re- l turned home after a prolonged stay at | Washington in the interests of his constit-
 uents, concerning whose wishes and well l fare he is constantly vigilant. The heat of what is almost the hottest of towns in
 summer appears to have been 6 tonic to
 him, for he never looked better and never
 was in more robust health. Politics is at
 rather low ebb at the national capital just now; but MT. Underwood talked to