The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-01-06
Advertiser Bureau,
 MALt1A nna 2

Mobile, Dec. 5. Nothing was discussed on the streets of this city today save politics. Mobilians | have witnessed many exciting municipal campaigns, but the oldest inhabitants de- clare this to be the hottest within their recollection. Fever heat was reached late this evening and on every corner and in every hostlery and public place discus sion was up as to the merits of the I mayoralty candidates. Naturally the office of chief executive of the city had prestige over the others and Walsh. Craft and Mclean were discussed, until a stranger would, had he cared to listen, come to the conclusion that all of them were either models of executive ability or the rankest of pot-house politicians. Without question there is and has been, for several days past, more genuine en- thusiasm and warmth injected Into this contest than has ever been known be- fore. Walsh, with the administration naturally behind him, also has many wealthy and representative men on his campaign staff. The same can be said of Craft and Mclean. All of these have their following and the struggle is and will be until the polls close at 2 o'clock tomorrow night, for the silent vote There is a large amount of this character of voters. whose vote, perhaps. will never be known. And, so far as predicting the result is concerned, this will hardly be among the possibilities until far in the night of tomorrow.
 The largest ward in tn city Is the eighth. Heretofore 1t was impossible to know the actual result there until the following morning This, however has been. to a certain extent. changed in that the General Council, on an appeal from hA E,NAa hoa aA for two voting places there. The next largest ward is the seventh. Naturally the most interest centers in these wards and doubtless the results will be deter mined by these. The first, second and third wards, like the two already named, are neutral fighting ground, though the registration in these wards Is not ex- oeedingly heavy. MT. Craft resides in the fourth and this is conceded to him by e good majority. MT. Walsh lives In the fifth and there are some who claim he will not get much of majority there, if he carries the ward at all. Mclean lives in the sixth ward and has always been considered as carrying it's vote in his vest pocket An enthusiastic Walsh and an equally enthusiastic Craft man, were heard to say that on this occasion some one had stolen the vest, though this Is hardly credible. It is safe to say he will get by far the largest vote in that neck of the woods.
 Many bets have been made on the re- suit some enthusiasts going so far as to wager on a call of the race. This, with out question, from an unbiased stand point, would seem foolhardy. Much money has already been used in the campaign and an immense sum will be put in circulation tomorrow in order to catch the floating vote. This, of course, | will have to be used on the quiet as. already some ardent supporters of the | candidates have declared arrests will be made if attempts to purchase votes are brought to their notice.
 Possibly the second hardest fight being waged is the recordership. The three candidates are all young men. one. J. N. McAleer. being the incumbent. c. w. Tomplkins and B. W. Faith are the other entries. As in the mayoralty contest. this will be waged bitterly, as 1t has for two or three weeks past. As before noted, McAleer Is we'll in the lead.
 There are eighteen candidates for coun- cilmen, two of these, however. being without opposition, to wit: Foster K. Hale in the Second and A. s. Lyons in the Third Ward Each ward elects it's own councilman and while this office. as with the aldermen, Is non-paying, it Is surprising to see the interest manifested Seven aldermen at large are to be voted for by the entire city and there are just twice that numbef of entries.
 In the contest for the City ClerkshiD the incumbent R. B. Owen, Jr., Is op- posed by L. DeV. Chaudron. former holder of the office. Both are popular. though the odds are greatly in favor of the first named candidate.
 D. M N. Ross, the present Engineer. an old citizen and for several years in this office, is opposed by young man. Albert s. Towle. who Is making an ag- gressive fight
 B. B. Boone, incumbent of the Attor-