The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-04-05
IN HOTEL L0BBIES
AND ELSEWHERE

Montgomery. Within a few days the JEFF
ferson case will reach the supreme court,
but for the Montgomerians there is no
court of appeal. The governor is supreme;
and he has signified his will that the board
which has served the county for twelve
years shall be broken up and new blood
brought in. One man, DIR. Nicholson, an
eminently worthy citizen, has been menu
Der of the board for twenty-four years.
Colonel j. G. Gilchrist a planter, and
Warren d. Brown, publisher have served
twelve years. These three have been
turned down" by his excelency.
II cannot perceive any good purpose the
governor could have had In view by his
action" said a Montgomerian who was in
Birmingham yesterday. 1.-THE old board of
revenue has served the county wisely and
faithfully for a dozen years. 1t has paid
for bonds, arranged for the building Of
eighty miles of perfect county roads, and
has managed the finances of the coun-
ty most admirably. Fully 80 per
cent of the tax payers of the county favor
ed the boards reappointment; but, for rea-
sons of his own, the governor elects to dis
regard public sentiment The only possible
objection to any member of the board
might have been made against Colonel Gill
christ on account of purely physical In
f1rmities. His mind is brilliant he has at
tended to all his duties, and is one of the
most highly esteemed citizens of Mont
gomery county. The pay of the members
of the board is, 1 believe, only 81 a week"
This is not the place to discuss munici-
pal politics The primary election is done,
and the winner wins At the moment of
writing this paragraph his name is a mys-
terry. Therefore this is merely to call at
tention to the picturesque side of the con-
test which ended at nightfall last night.
The numerous cabs and carriages, which
bore flaming legends, told of hopes that
were not in every case to be- realized. Up
and down the vehicles were driven all the
day, bearing voters to and from the polling
places; and after polls closed these Same
vehicles were driven homeward still bear
ing the placards that seemed almost
mournful in view of the hopes that lay in
the mysterious deeps of the tin ballot
boxes. 1t was all over; but the people
knew not whom they had elected. Not a
little impressive was the spectacle, and it
was wonderfully suggestive of the lottery
of politics. The weary horses rested last
h6HI, lhS weary WorkerS, the weary
candidates. 1t was all over 1t is a heart
breaking business, this same business of
politics. The winner exults-the loser re-
grets.
T. c. DeLeon has given out u DELIGHTFULLY."-
readable little book upon Joseph Wheeler
as stateman, soldier and citizen. Perhaps
Mr.. DeLeon makes General Wheeler cheap
by calling him patriot" but that Is cx-
cusable in so charming a writer. Mr.. De-
Icons work is really a running sketch of
the narrative order, and tells of Wheeler
from his cradle to his last appearance on
the floor of congress when he appealed in
vain for recognition 1t Is well illustrated,
perhaps the most interesting portrait in it
being that which represents the famous
hero as a cadet at West Point. There is a
very homeiike picture of the Wheeler FAM
lily residence at Wheeler, in Lawrence
county, Ala There is also the reproduce
ton of the Wheeler family groupe. All
the pictures are full of interest; but, as a
matter OF fact, the chief interest centers
in Mr.. DeLeon's exquisite story of the
hero's life. The storq is briefly told. Mr..
DeLeon very modestly disclaims any an.bi-
ton on his part to make it history" or
biography" but, in point of fact, it Is
both, and as such will find a wide sale.
The little book has been out only week
or TWO, but is already in its second ed-
ton. Its sale should run to the 100000
mark, at least. Much praise is due to Mr.
DeLeon for the great care and graceful
skill represented in his labor to place Cen
eral Wheeler before the public as he is.
e. c. barley, of Chicago, representative
OF one of the largest boiler-making COM
panies in the United States, is in the city.
He comes occasionally to Birmingham. and
is very earnest in his appreciation of the
remarkable development and advantages
OF this city. Speaking of the industrial
movement throughout the county, Mr..
barley said:
'As evidence of the satisfactory con-
dition prevailing, take our business Our
plant is of immense proportions, but We
are working at our fullest capacity night
and day, and perhaps we sometimes Dor
row a little of Sundays; yet we cannot
supply the immediate demand. OF course,
seek orders for forward delivery. Most
oil our orders come that way
1OlllilS, Ou6 VI Tile ltduIIlR Jewell
opers of the Pocahontas coal region Of
West Virginia, is in Birmingham on his
way back from visit TO his old home and
friends In Barbour county. Mr.. Collins is
a native of Barbour; but fifteen or sixteen
years ago he came to the Birmingham
mining district. About twelve years ago
he removed to West Virginia and became
largely interested in the famous Pocahon-
tas coal fields and he is understood to have
made large fortune. No young man has
gone out of Alabama who deserved for
tune more. With Mr.. Collins now is his
younger brother, Jairus Collins, who re-
sided for several years at Sheffield, and
who is said to be one Of the most expert
accountants In the United States. He, like
his brother is prospecting.
The fight for the sixth democratic dele
gate from Jefferson county to the consti-