Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-04-11
POLITICS In ALABAMA
MOST LENGTHY BALLOT TO BE
VOTED TODAY.
Railroad Commissionership Bone Of
misunderstanding Contest Be-
tween Bankhead and Hobson
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.

Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala, April 8, 1904
Monday next a general democratic primary
election will be held In Alabama for the
nomination Of nine representatives, presi-
dent of the railroad commission, seven
Judges Of the supreme court, seventeen cir
cult Judges and as many circuit solicitors,
five chancellors and numerous county OFF,
GERS. At the same time delegates will be
named to the state democratic convention,
which meets in Montgomery on May 70, to
select delegates to the national convention.
nominate presidential electors and adopt
platform.
Although this is not the year in which
the governor and regular state house OFF,
Gals are to be elected, the ballot to be
voted next Monday will be the most lengthy
ever cast at primary election In this
state This is because of the large number
of judicial candidates on the list.
Fight Against the Railroads.
Interest in the contest has centered In the
fight for president Of the state railroad
commission and the selection of represen-
tatives in certain districts. These have
completely overshadowed the supreme
court race. The railroad commissionership
is the bone of what might be termed rail-
road and anti-railroad contention.
John ". Smith of the commission at this
time is regarded as the candidate of the
present regime, opposed to any radical
changes. B. B. Conner of Birmingham. the
candidate Of the Merchants Consumers
| and Farmers League. is the candidate of
those interests. which two years ago made
a successful fight before the people, and
afterward before the legislature, for an
elective railroad commission, with enlarged
10 other 0apdidat for this Of
flee are Capt. Reuben F. Kolb, twice the
candidate of the populists for governor of
Alabama, and H. c. Compton. a travelling
| salesman. This fight has been very active
and bitter
Both Confident Of Election.
The race between Representative ]. H.
Bankhead and Capt. r. P. Hobson for con-
gressional honors, in the sixth district, has
perhaps attracted the widest general inter-
est These two aspirants engaged in a
series of joint debates lasting several weeks,
but these debates came to an end last Fri
| day, and since that time the two candidates
have been on a still hunt.
1t is now admitted that the race between
| them will be close, and while the politicians
are declaring that Bankhead will be the
| winner by a small majority, Capt. Hobson's
supporters are absolutely confident of the
success of the naval hero. Hobson himself
| declares that he is certain of election. There
| are nine counties in the district, two of the
| largest of which are practically conceded
| to Hobson. OF the others, two are conceded
| to Bankhead, while the other five are gen.
orally regarded as close. This would make
1t appear that the race is sure to be neck
| and-neck contest unless something happens
| in the meantime to change the situation.
In the seventh district, where John A.
Iusk has been making a lively race against
| Congressman John l.. Burnett, the politi-
| clans, as a rule. say Burnett will be the
winner, though by a reduced majority. The
| joint debates between these two aspirants
have been among the hottest in the political
history of the state
Six Candidates in One District
Six candidates are offered for congression-
al honOrs in the fifth district, which was
| represented by the late Colonel c. w.
Thompson, recently deceased. At this time
| 1t is the opinion of close observers that j..
Thomas Hefiin, secretary Of state, has the
| lead. Mr.. Hefiin belongs to one of the
most influential families in the state politi-
| cally, and is himself man of much force
| and strong speaker, who attracts crowds.
| He is being opposed by Rev. s. ]. Cats, H.
r. Golson, editor of the Wetumpka Demo-
crat; DR.. ]. A. Goggings, State Senator
Walter Smith and A. J. Riddle. All of the
| candidates are making lively canvass and,
while the political observers think Helm
Is in the lead, the outcome is very uncer-
tain.
OeleSaCeS 10 SC. Louis.
Interest is being aroused in the selection
of delegates to the national democratic
convention, the initial fight of which is be-
ing made on the choice of delegates to the
state convention, which is to be made at
| the primary on Monday. A lively fight has
| been precipitated in this county between
former Governor Joseph L. johnson and
General Rufus N. Rhodes, editor of the
| birmingham News. Governor johnson is
a candidate for delegate to the state con-
! vention and has put out ticket made up of
| ms friends General Rhodes is a candidate
| for delegate-at-large to the national con-
| Ventfon and johnson is opposed to his
selection.
Another ticket of delegates to be voted
Ior IN this country is favoring General
Rhodes, and a warm fight Is on, some
caustic newspaper discussion being one of
| the features. In Montgomery county, where
Major w. w. Screws, editor of the Mont
gomery Advertiser, Is candidate for dele
gate-at-large. fight on him was threat
ened, but the matter was patched up and
| but one ticket Of delegates is in the field.
Both General Rhodes and Major Screws edit
| newspapers which have antagonized Bryan
| ana Bryanism though General Rhodes per-
| sonally voted for Bryan The Montgomery
Advertiser supported the Palmer and Buck
| ner ticket In 1893.
Favor Unrestricted Delegation.
While almost all concerned in the fight for
delegates to the state convention favor an
uninstructed delegation to st. Louis senti-
ment seems to be crystallizing for Judge AL
| ton B. Parker of New York, "or some other
| eastern man who can unite the party and
| whose election can be made to amount to a
probability" as a prominent leader express
| ed It, Some of the candidates for district
delegate favor Hearst. but it seems probable
| that the majority rule on the delegation will
be adopted and that majority will be anti
| Hearst men, thus multiplying any Hearst in