The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-07-19
BRICK MUSCROVE
 TELLS 4 STORY Probably Illustrates His Position
 in GOVerROrship Race
  SOME POLITICAL GOSSIP
Prominent Citizens Call on Governor Jelks and Assure Him of Their Support and That He Will
 Carry the County.

The political pot is coming to a boil, and from now until the primary election on August 9 it will fairly sizzle and sput- ter.
 The situation yesterday was unchanged. The Johnston party will open headquar- ters today at the Morris hotel and the JellSs party will also have their headquar- ters in Birmingham, the exact location not having yet been selected. L. B. Mus grove, who is being urged by his friends to enter the race for Governor is still on the fence. He has not made any definite announcement of his intentions.
 MT. Musgrove was asked yesterday if he would be candidate for the Demo- cratic nomination.
 q have not decided yet" he replied.
 Being pressed for an answer, MT. Mus grove told the following story
 Many years ago during the boom days of Birmingham. when every time you turned a corner you made $1O,O0O on your cuff (and usually nowhere else), farmer came to town and tried to sell John Riddle pair of mules. I saw good deal of MT. Riddle at that time. The farmer was a man who appreciated good liquor when he saw it. and pending the negotiations for the sale of the mules MT. Riddle would take him across the street and give him drink. This occurred many times a day for two days. I usually went with them, and I finally grew tired of crossing the street and taking drink and then returning to look at a pair of mules. so I asked Mir Riddle why he did not tell the farmer that he didn't want his mules. You know you don't want them, I said to him, and why don't you tell him so?'
 "'Breck,' he said, I am a much older man than you, and let me give you a piece of advice. Don't ever tell a man you don't want anything, for he is liable to turn fool at any moment and give it to you
 Governor Jelks' Callers.
 Governor Jelks spent yesterday in the city having engaged room at the Metro politan hotel. Many prominent citizens called on him during the day and assur- ed him of their support and informed him that he would not only be elected, but would carry Jefferson county. During the afternoon the governor went to East Lake to review the cavalry and he will return home this afternoon. He is look ing in the best of health ard feels pleas ed at the political outlook. He did not care to discuss the political situation fur ther than to say that he would have his headquarters in Birmingham and that his campaign in this county would be managed by Back Tax Commissioner Asbury Thompson. The state campaign committee has not been definitely select ed.
 Former Governor Johnston did not an- nounce yesterday the names of his cam paign committee, but will probably do so today. It was rumored that Henry L. Badham, president of the Bessemer Land and Improvement Company would be chairman of this committee, but when asked about this yesterday MT. Badham said:
 'The matter has not been mentioned to me by MT. Johnson I am, however, a warm supporter of the ex-governor and since the rumor has been published of my probably being in charge of the cam paign I have been surprised at the num- Der of people who have approached me and stated that they had been against MT. Johnston in former campaigns, but were now with him."
 MT. Johnston when seen last night stat ed that there was nothing to give out to the press, except that he would an- I.t.
 L. B. Musgrove of Walker County was in the city yesterday as were the fol- lowing politicians. who were seen around the hotel lobbies:
 Congressman John H. Bankhead of Fayette, J. Thomas Hefin of Chambers candidate TOT secretary of state, A. M Tunstall of Hale, member of the state Democratic executive committee, Judge Thomas Coleman of Eutaw, a prominent member of the recent constitutional con- vention, Professor I. W. Hill of Gadsden. candidate for state superintendent of education. Richard Clarke prominent citizen of Mobile. John V. Smith, presi- dent of the state railroad commission. Wiley Tunstall state railroad commis- sioner, Jones Moore, state senator of Bibb. B. F. Fillmore of Marengo, a prom inent black belt politician.
 Some Three-corner Fights.
 Among those who called on Governor Jelks was Dr. R. M. Cunningham. who is a candidate for the office of lieutenant governor and Is friendly to Governor Jelks. The unexpected announcement of Ex-Senator Charles F. Waller of Hale as a candidals for this position makes it