The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-12-19
.SPEAKERSHIP CONTEST
TWO CANDIDATES AND MEAS URES ARE DISCUSSED.
MT. Wood Has Declared Himself on Child Labor and Railroad Com mission-No Statement by
 MT. Tunstall.

The contest for the Speakership of the Alabama House of Representatives which
 meets in January has excited consider able interest.
 The two candidates for the position are
 Hon. J. R. Wood of Macon County. who has been twice a member of the House. and Hon. A. M. Tunstall of Hale Coun-
 ty. who has also been in the House sev- eral times and who succeeded Speaker F. L. Pettus. when he was stricken with an illness that proved fatal during the ses-
 sion. of the last House,
 Both of the candidates possess ability and are popular, having large circle of friends both in and out of the House membership.
 The main work before the next Legis-
 lature Is the passage of proper and ap- effect the new Constitution as adopted by the people last year. Without the full
 accord of the Legislature and the enact
 ment of legislation necessary the new as was contemplated by its frameEs. It Is certain that both of the candidates for Speaker are in full accord with the
 purposes of the Constitutional Conven- ton and that they will do all in their power to secure the required legislation should either be chosen as Speaker. The forthcoming Legislature will con- slider many matters of grave importance
 sions will be watched with the keenest | interest. There is the proposed bill to increase the powers of the Railroad Com
 mission, and something like the Georgia law has been suggested.
 It will be remembered that an active canvass was made in the State before the
 last election by a committee at Birming-
 ham headed by Captain P. s. White that demanded all these things in regard to
 the Railroad Commission. That Commit tee has announced that Q majority of Senators and Representatives are pledged to the enactment of such legislation. Mir. Wood has announced openly that
 he is in favor of such legislation and
 if elected Speaker he says he will do all in his power to secure the enactment of such a law.
 An effort is also to be made to secure the passage of a bill which will prohibit the working of children under F years
 of age in the factories of the State. Many of the leading newspapers and social organizations of the State have declared | for such a law.
 MT. Wood says he will favor it and if | elected Speaker will use all honorable | means in that position to secure the | passage of such bill
 | There Is much other legislation In which ! the people are most vltally interested | and Mir Wood has declared that he will
 so make up the committees If he is elect ed Speaker. that all bills referred to i them will be fairly and openly considered l and that time shall be given for free and | open discussion of all measures in the House.
 This position and public declaration or | MT Wood no doubt strengthens him in his candidacy for the Speakership. 1 Mir. Wood says he Is in the fight to the | finish He believes the House caucus
 will have to choose between him his only | opponent. | While MT. Tunstall has made no public announcement of his position on the ques- | tions at issue, his silence is said to be | construed as being due. at least to in | difference and taken by some persons 10 mean that he is at least not friendly to | the laws which so many organizations | and newspapers have demanded.