The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-03-11
VIII Be Democratic Leader Of
Next Congress.
Mr.. BANKHEAD IS IN CITY
But Declines to Discuss His Chances
for Leadership Talks Enthusiast
cally Over the 100000 Appro-
priation for Warrior River.

way from Washington to his home at
Fayette.
The congressman never looked better, and
was never in better spirits He has per-
feet right to feel cheerful indeed, to feel
absolutely satisfied. In all human proba-
bilty he will be chosen the democratic
leader of the Fifty-sixth congress, But
apart from that, Congressman Bankhead
has been enabled to secure 100000 for the
improvement of the Warrior river. In this
he has had the invaluable aid and assist
ance of Congressman Oscar w. Underwood,
of the Birmingham district.
Is the Logical Leader
The return of Congressman Bankhead is
of more interest now than any appearance
of his has ever been heretofore amongst
his own people. Mr.. Bankhead is the logi-
cal leader of the democratic minority in
the next house-that is, the house that is
to assemble next December, unless a special
session be called in the meantime.
Mr.. Bankhead is making special fight
for the leadership of the democrats of the
house. If 1t please his democratic col
leagues to bestow upon him that high
honor he will appreciate it, and will fully
demonstrate his capacity, his worthiness to
lead
II am satisfied that Mr.. Bankhead is the
strongest man for the leadership of the
democratic side of the house." said Con-
gresham Underwood last night. II
heartily in favor of his leadership and he
will have the strongest vote on the first
ballot in the democratic caucus. He will
win. l do not speak as his friend merely,
but | give you an expression of my sober
judgment when l say that Bankhead will
be chosen as leader. One happy feature
about the matter is the perfect good faith
and good feeling between Mr.. Bankhead
and his friends on the one side and. Mr..
Bailey and his friends on the other. There
has never been any ill-feeling between MI.
Bailey and Mr. Bankhead, or between the
friends of either. Mr. Bailey has declared
In favor of Mr.. Bankhead, and most of his
following is likely to go to my Alabama
colleague. Combine this with Bankhead's
own strength and he is certain to lead
In the caucus. l am confident of Bank
head winning"
-Four Names Will Be Presented
1t is likely it appears, that four names
will be presented to the democratic caucus
for the leadership of that side of the house,
namely, Mr.. Bankhead of Alabama, MIR.
Sulzer of New York, Mr.. Richardson of
Tennessee, and Mr. DeArmond, of Missouri.
judged by present conditions, Mr.. Bank
head Is certain to lead on the first ballot,
and after possibly two or three ballots will
De declared the choice of the democrats for
the speakership of the house. Mr.. Suizer
is likely to receive most of the eastern vote,
which numbers forty-one; but the western
and southern vote will be much split up,
the majority going to Bankhead
Representative Bankhead last night de-
clined most positively to discuss the ques-
ton of his proposed leadership In reply TO
repeated questions, he answered that he
knew nothing upon that particular subject,
and had nothing to say. He had no opinion
to express as to his own chances, and in
respect to that matter declared that he
would not be quoted.
Warrior River improvement
II felt very happy over the outcome of
our fight for the Warrior river improve
ment," he said. I'VE got $500, Co., and that
means that we shall have a waterway of
six feet at low water from the coal fields
to the gulf. This will be slack water, as
tenn of dams and locks. The passage of SO
large an appropriation is of vast impor-
lance to the coal region of the state. 1t
means that this district can place coal on
the gulf cheaper than it can be sent to tide
water from any other section of the United
States. A happy circumstance about 1t all
is that we have the hearty support of Penn
sylvania and Ohio. The coal and iron mas
tiers in those states desire to see Alabama
cultivate the foreign trade and thereby re-
move from the home market our sharp
competition. And the improvements which
congress has determined to carry out at
Mobile are of far-reaching Importance.
They mean a clear waterway to sea TWEEN
ty-five feet deep and 100 feet wide at the
bottom.
1.-The chairman of the rivers and harbors
committee, Mr.. Burton, has invited me to
meet him at Knoxville ina very short
time and travel with him down the Ten
nessee river to Colbert shoals in order that
he may personally inspect that great
waterway, and more especially to see for
himself the needs of Colbert shoals, SO
that he may deal intelligently with the
subject in the next congress. I shall ac-
trip will be of great interest to all the peo-
pie along the Tennessee.
1.-THE present understanding is that the
rivers and harbors committee will, during
the summer, proceed to Nicaragua and
personally inspect the route of the pro-
posed canal. This is provided for by re-
cent legislation. If the committee really
decides to go to Nicaragua, l shall as a
member of it feel In duty bound to ac-
company it; more especially as the build
ing of the canal means more to Alabama
than to any other state of the union"
Congressman Bankhead was enthusiast
tically received in Birmingham yesterday.
He was accompanied by his daughter, Miss
Maud Bankhead, and the two will proceed
today to the family homo at Fayette,
where the congressman will rest for a few
days.