New-York tribune., 1900-03-11
ALABAMA GOTERNORSHIP.
PROSPECT OF CONGRESSMAN sTALLINGs sECUR-
ING THE OFFICE.

Birmingham. Ala. March 10 (speciaD-That the
next Governor of Alabama will be Jesse Stalngs
Congressman from the lid Alabama District, is re-
garded a wellnigh certain proposition Mr.
StalIings is a remarkable character. He comes
from one of the backwoods counties of Alabama
He received collegiate education, but he has al
WAYS adhered to the manners of the country peo
Pile and has advanced that platform steadily
from solicitor of his circuit to the halls of Con-
gress and now in his forties. asplres to the high
in the gift of the people of his State He
has conducted a personal campaign and has been
into every county of Alabama and into nearly
every precinct He has been cheek by jowi with
the individual voter, and in year when there are
no issues except personal preference this manner
of campaigning will probably earn him victory over
his opponents.
He has gone into the most remote rural precincts.
and has chewed the long twist plug tobacco with
the residents, secreting HIS higher priced tobacco
for the nonce In his vest pocket. In five minutes
after he a his arm is around the mans
neck and the recipient OF this friendly action feels
that he has known Stallings from infancy.
Mr. Stallings's opponents are Genera! Charles M
Shelley Of jefferson, former Third Auditor Of the
Treasury under Cleveland. former Congressman
from the WITH Alabama District and several times
chairman of the State Executive Committee.
formidable adversary under ordinary crcum-
stances, but not so against Stallings: John W.
Tominson, OF jefferson, an ardent supporter OF
Bryan and chairman of the National Bnletallic
Committee; j. IL
lawyer of distinction, and Charles T. Waller, of
Hale, former Speaker of the Alabama House
Tomlinson has gone wrong on the Bryan issue, but
that amounts little in State where all Demo-
cratic office seekers least nominally support
Bryan. Mr.. Sanford has a following in Fast Ala
bama but not enough to nominate. Mr.. Waller
controls a number of counties in Central TO South
ern Alabama but his strength lacks cohesion,
General Shelley late In getting into the race,
and IL is said that his is really meant to keep
Tomlinson from getting jefferson County, the
largest in the State; his strength will eventu
ally go Stallings, and that Shelley for this ser
vice will be appointed chairman of the State Rail-
road Commission. In the counties that have so
far acted Stangs has carried Jackson with nine
delegates, Crenshaw with seven. Marshall with six
and he got four from Clarke, dividing this county
Sanford, Tonlinson getting fraction of
delegate. The remaining counties act April II.
State Convention, which meets April Il. with
many more delegates than any other candidate.
Sometimes a majority of the delegates make the
other candidates combine against the strong man.
But Stallings has excited animosty and Gen
eraI Sheley's strength will go to him the
ond ballot and THIS viii probably victory.
Besides this. the Senatorial contest between
Johnston and Senator Morgan has
shadowed everything else in Alabama politics this
year thu State issues nave been purely secondary,
cations with uninstructed delegations from other
counties which have favorite sons In the for
other State offices.
II Mr. Stallings is made Governor and his natural
common will enable him to steer clear of
grave errors will be In such close touch with the
common people become the second Bob
Taylor South General Wheeler Is X
pected enter the race for Governor