The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-07-31

summer inactivity has settled upon the state headquarters in this city, and one hears but little in the way of gossip , along political or other lines. The race for judge in the Fourth circuit has aroused a great deal of interest and the wheels within wheels which seem to keep constantly turning in Lowndes county has developed a kind of continuous watchfulness for what will come next.
 Many state officials are out of the city among them being Secretary or State E. R. McDavid Members of the supreme bench left last week.. distributing them- 4 selves over various sections of the country to stay until the court reorgan- Adzes with the new members next Novem- Der. Acting Governor Cunningham spends great deal of time visiting around among the people and making speeches while State superintendent of Education Hill is pushing his campaign of local taxation for educational pur- poses
 The race for judge in the Fourth cir cult is exciting The candidates are B. M Miller, of Camden, and W. F. Hogue, of Marion, and the partizans on both sides are very busy indeed. Some body accused MT Miller of being cor poration lawyer and presumed that Vice President Andrews of the Southern Railway should know all about him. A letter was written to that official with view of getting the evidence on MT. Miller and to show him up as the worst sort of corporation booster.
 But MT. Andrews knocKs the fat into the fire by saying he does not know MT. Hogue, neither has he discovered that n an election was to be held; and further, strange to relate, he does not know MT. YA1iller He gives it out that the Southern Railway is too busy watching it's many fompetitors to engage in politics, and Will not be able to take a hand in the night
 Nt seems that a letter was also written tot Col. J. M. Falkner, district attorney 6oH the Louisville and Nashville railroad, dn ithe effort to locate where the candi- dates had offended in taking care of cor poration business. Col. Falkner confess es his ignorance of the whole matter wher he says that he 'did not know either Mr. Hogue or MT Miller was a candidate for circuit judge until the re- ceipt of your letter." and that so far as he is informed mo officer of the , Louisville and Nashville Railroad Co.,, is i concerned in any way whatever as to the outcome of the race. The genial colonel expresses the belief that no off, fcer of his company ever knows the candidates, and assures the writer that the "L.& N" neither votes nor holds office and never engages in politics" By way of helping the writer and his friends to understand the business of the letter with the statement that "the brain and energy of its management is devoted to the upbuilding of the country through which its lines extend"
 
 The vacancy in the Fourth circuit was caused by the death of Judge John Moore after the April primaries, which made 1t necessary to set new date for nomination, at the hands of the demo- cratic party. August l, was de- signated by the circuit committee and all most at once lively fight opened up The governor appointed Daniel Partridge Jr., of Selma, to fill out the unexpired term, but he will not ask for nomination to tho full term.
 Both MT. Hogue and MT. Miller are men of prominence and the intenseness of their campaign only illustrates how much a contest for political office may arouse every man directly or indirectly interested Mir. Hogue represented Perry county in the legislature and also his state senatorial district. He has been mayor of Marion ana interested in a number of movements for the better ment of his state, county and town. Mir. Miller has for several years been one of the foremost citizens of Wilcox county, and has been active in everything pro- posed to build up that section of the state. To the credit of both men there has been nothing seriously charged by either side that would render the accus- ed unfit for the place he seeks
 r. te hat I,ol lot Lowndes county before they are able to repeat the names of their parents It is in the blood down there The average citizen knows all about the different par ties while yet a schol boy, and can tell how to conduct campaign before he be- comes posted on any other thing.
 Be as it may, it has developed lately that the game is played down there with a great deal of skill and success The latest contest began with the effort to fmpeach Judge of probate, J. Colvin Wood, who was charged with a number of offenses not compatible with proper administration of his office. His alleged violations did not effect many believe. anything but the present term, so he re- signed. abating all the charges and re- establishing himself as a private citizen with nothing against him. Ordinarily this would have been satisfactory to even those who oppose him but in this case 1t was anything else. He is the nominee of the democrats for election to d term of six years. next November and not only his friends but those who have been after his scalp. will have to vote for him.
 In some counties there might be a failure to keep the primary election obl- gation, but in Lowndes 1t would be a crime for which no pardon save long penance is provided. The opponents of the judge are not only game but loyal. They say they are going to vote for him. but one has said he will see that other impeachment proceedings are filed if he is elected hoping to secure charges that will hold In .reputed violations of the pri-