The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-04-26
Called to Montgomery by
 Jelks. TAKES OATH OF OFFICE Lieutenant Governor Will Re- spect Wishes of Governor. . Declares That Illness of Chief Execu- tive Gives Him Inexpressible sorrow-Appointment of secre-
 tary of State First Im-
 portant Duty.
TAKES OATH OF OFFICE

Russell M. Cunningham of Jefferson County, Is Governor of Alabama.
 In compliance with the request of Gov ernor William Dorsey Jelks, who is i'll Tn Las Vegas, New Mexico, and by yif- ture of his office of Lieutenant Governor. pr Cunningham yesterday morning at il o'clock assumed the duties, powers and prerogatives of the Chief Executive to lay them down when Governor Jelks crosses the Alabama line on his return trip home.
 Governor Jelks Saturday night tele- Rraphed Lieutenant Governor Cunning nam to come to Montgomery and take up the burdens of the gubernatorisl office. governor Cunningham made no an- nouncement as to the receipt of this tell egram. but quietly came to Montgomery yesterday morning at Il o'clock. Private Secretary J Kirk Jackson, who has been h charge of the Governors office since Governor Jelks went to New Mexico was waiting to welcome the new Chief Fix. ecutive.
 Cunningham Took Oath.
 In the presence of a small crowd of public officials Lieutenant Governor Cum ningham took the oath of office adminis- tered. He spoke briefly of the sadness of the occasion and pledged himself to requesting the State officials present to assist him in that resolve.
 under the ordinary operation of the constitution Governor Cunningham would A1 oSSulhEu lflc uuLleS or the OIflC0 until May 5. the day following the expi- retion of the twenty days allowed by the States organic law for the Governor a absence from Alabama. The Constitu- ton provides, however, that on the dis- ability of the Governor from illness OF from any other cause the Lieutena nj governor may assume the duties of the Chief Executive, It was under this pro- slsion or the constitution that Lieuten- ant Governor Cunningham yesterday morning took the oath of office and un- private office. :"
 To Perform Jelks's Wishes.
 Governor Cunningham laid special stress upon his purpose to carry out the policies of the administration of Cover nor Jelks, Not only did he emphasize 1t in the few remarks he made when he nad taken the oath of office but in an Advertiser he said: "rhe public record Of Governor Jelks and my own public record are so alike that 1t is not to ba dounted that I will carry on his policies"
 Lnter In the day he sent a telegram 10 Governor Jelks at Las Vegas asking nm to express preference as to the can didates for Secretary of State and as- suIlng the GovernoI that any man he ment S "PP""'-
 The entry of Lieutenant Governor Cun- nlngham upon the discharge of the du- ues ot governor of Alabama was a scene
 
 than by any within the small crowd who HItnesSeS the taking of the oath of of- nee. There was not in the crowd within in tne tb SoVeTnor 1iI ofnee, nor anywhere with closer personal friend of Governor Jelks than Lieutenant Governor Cunninoban The close tie which has bound the Gov erroI ernor or Aianama and It's Lieutenant Gov ernor together for many years past has been one Of the beautiful things fn fbS PoHtlcal and official affairs of Alahama The group that stood about the Lieu- ten tenant Governor as he swore to uphold the constitution of the United States and Of the State of Alabama was Scom- posed or the warm and admirinR friends or Goveri,or Jelks his daily associates anu tho eTi,aoorers Tn the management of the dHdirs or Alabama.
 A Scene of Sorrow,
 To them there could not be other tbon pathos in the scene. informal. but no less solemn for that. That which had called for such a scene was in tho minds o1 aIi' the absence of the familiar figure when had become so associated with the surroundings in which they stood. SO much tangible part of the visible form Of the State Government There was not In the crowd one who did not with quick touch of pain note the absence of the sturdy. alert figure the kindly glance and the warm smile of Alabama's young Governor and recall with a start that in the prime of life just entering hpOH tHe luitlilnleHL or ms nfe'S greatest promise. William Dorsey Jelks was out in the Mexican hills far from the friend who had leaned on him and on whom he had leaned lighting bravely the ap- proach of an inslduous disease.
 No man felt the pathos of 1t keener than the Lieutenant Governor who was there to take up the reins of govern ment where the stricken Chief Execu- tive had dropped them. He gave voice to the solemnity and the pathos of the scene When he had finished the repe- tion of the oath of office as 1t was read to him by Colonel R, F. Ligon, Clerk of the Supreme Court, Governor Cum ningham said:
 Cunningham Speaks.
 Gentlemen, this is an occasion of sad ness to me. I am here to take up the duties of the office of Governor at the request of Governor Jelks You are familiar with the circumstances which have made my coming a necessity. hope that he will return to us in health and strength in the near future to re-