The age-herald., 1899-08-01
IN HOTEL LoBBIES
 AND ELSEWHERE


 company, and who will put in good elec- tric road in place of the old dummy, did not stop the tongue of political gossip in Birmingham. It will be a year before an- 1 other governor is to be elected in Ala bama. yet from the talk lndulged in about the hotels and in political centers, the casual observer would think that gov | ernor of Alabama would be elected within | the next few weeks. It seems to be decided | that Jefferson county must have a candi- | date The men most conspicuously men, toned are Dr. Cunningham and MT. Tom- linson. There have been conferences ga- | fore. All these conferences, however, have been informal and, in most instances, the question discussed was as to whether pr. | Cunningham would be the strongest candi- date that Jefferson county could put out. As matters stand now, 1t seems that Gov ernor Johnston has not been able to find a man whom he would indorse and whom he could nominate. It is reported that If pr. Cunningham runs, Governor Johnston will himself oppose him, immediately an- nouncing himself a candidate for a third term. The Johnston partisans in Jeffer- son claim that the governor can carry Jef- ferson county over Dr. Cunningham. They claim that the business men and liquor men would unite in fighting him, because of his advocacy of the dispensary question. Business men claim that a dispensary law in Jefferson county would interfere materi- ally with both the wholesale and retail trade of Birmingham.
 On the other hand, Dr, Cunningham's friends claim that he would have the SUD- pert of all the church people, the preach CTS and the women, and, further than this. he would have large financial support in this district They claim that pr. Cum ningham is good stump speaker, person. ally popular, man of magnetism, ability and energy, and that this combination would make him governor, if any Jefferson county man can be nominated. They fur ther claim that the whisky men of the state would not oppose him. on account of his declaration in favor of leaving the mat ter of the dispensary to a vote of the peo- pie in each and every county.
 
 There are many men who are urging John W. Tomlinson to become a Jefferson county candidate. MT. Tomlinson has de- clined to make any definite statement in regard to his plans. He says it is too early to open up the gubernatorial con- test, and at present he is unable to say what he intends to do. In the meantime, & number of his friends are urging him to make the race, not only on account of his own ability, but because of his straight and loyal democracy. MT. Tomlinson is not only strong in Jefferson county, but has much strength throughout the entire state. In the last campaign he was the leader among the straight Chicago plat form democrats in Alabama and he has recently been elected chairman of the na- tional democratic bimetalic committee. MT. Tomlinson is particularly strong among the rank and file of the democracy of the state-much stronger than he is among the politicians.
 There are those who think that Jeffer- son county may have two new candidates in the persons of these two mentioned, and Governor Johnston as third candidate.
 Congressman Jesse Stallings and Speak CT Charles Waller, of the house of repre- sentatives, are Already announced candi- dates, and 1t is said that there are several others in different sections of the state
 
 candidature. Thus, from the present out look, there may be lively scramble in the pending gubernatorial canvass.
 
 Tammany Hall has ordered printed two hundred thousand copies of J. J. Willetts now famous Hong talk made to the braves on the Fourth of July this year. These printed copies are to be distributed throughout the United States, and are n- tended to preserve in permanent form the speech that has had such remarkable atten- ton throughout the country, and the sub- stance of which has been given by all the newspapers. This action of Tammany is an extraordinary tribute to one of the ablest of young Alabamians and most eloquent of southern orators. The invitation to MT. Willett to make the Hong talk was an honor that had not been previously con- ferred upon one so young as he. That he proved himself worthy has not been ques- tioned in any source, and finds ample proof in the order for nearly quarter of mill lion printed copies of his speech.
 John A. Payne, of Cincinnati, one of the most noted racing men in the country, is in Birmingham for the purpose of consulting with Chairman Peyton G. Bowman and Secretary Rountree regarding racing at the state fair proposed to be held in Bir- mingham next October. MT. Payne. who Is one of the most popular of American turf men. is associated with George c. Bennett, and Is largely interested in the principal race courses. MT. Bennett, by the way, was formerly Mobilian, but now resides in Memphis Associated with him and MT. Payne is MT Odell, widely known in rac- ing circles. Their principal office is in Cov- ington, Ky. MT. Payne is delighted with Birmingham, and contemplates making some investments here. He is a man of large wealth, and personally is of most engaging manners. He believes that Bir- mingham is the ideal place for the winter ing of horses. This is due to climate and the unsurpassed railroad facilities
 It will be remembered by the older peo- pie that in September, 1s64 the United States authorities sent six hundred con