The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-04-28
E. K. McDAVID
 GETS OFFICE Is Appointed Secretary Of
 State. SUCCEEDS MIR. HEFLIN Was Choice of Governor Jelks
 For Place. Honor Goes to Deputy State Insur- ance Commissioner Who Was
 Not an Applicant fer
 the Vacancy.

TNODlIlSOn NRC1|dNkuy hiOnu LO host of friends throughout Alabama as Ned McDavid, Deputy State Insurance Commissioner, succeeds J. Thomas Hef- lin as Secretary of State of Alabama. David, who recently finished a term of four years as Secretary of State.
 MT. McDavid was the choice of Cover nor Jelks. In response to the request of Governor Cunningham to name his preference among the applicants for Sec retary of State fine had one, Governor Jelks wired Governor Cunningham that MT. McDavid was his choice. Governor vate Secretary Jackson to announce the appointment.
 The appointment, which becomes effec- tive May l, gives Mir. McDavid three nounced last night that he would. upon the expiration of his three years ser vice, retire from public life and that he would under no circumstances be a can- State election.
 Another Place Vacant.
 The appointment of MT. McDavid leaves vacancy in the office of Deputy State Insurance Commissioner. which of- ficer is appointed by the Secretary Of State. He said last night that since he was informed of the appointment late in the afternoon he had not had time to fully consider the situation and that he was therefore unprepared to say whom he would name as his successor at the head of the Insurance Department
 The appointment and the peculiar cir- cumstances which surrounded its be- stowal are held by the friends of MT. McDavid to be a high compliment. MT: the. place. He never discussed the va- cancy with Governor Jelks before the latter left for Has Vegas, N. M, where a telegram or letter. The honor de- sired by a number of prominent citizens of Alabama Is all the more appreciated that it came unsolicited.
 The position of Governor Cunningham on the appointment of a Secretary of State was made perfectly clear in his statement given to an Advertiser repre- sentative shortly after he had taken the oath of office as Governor last Monday,
 T shall ask Governor Jelks," said Governor Cunningham, If he has pref erence among the candidates for Secre- tary of State, informing him that l shall me the name of the man whom he pre- fers for the place 1 will immediately name him. This I think is only right and proper. am in the Governor's off, weeks. On the other hand. Governor Jelks has three years of his term to serve. It is only just that he should have as a member of his official family d man who is agreeable and congenial to him."
 McDavid Named By Jelks.
 The telegram to Governor Jelks asking him to name a preference was sent to Las Vegas Monday. The wires to Las Vegas, however, were down as a result of the severe storm which did so much damage in Texas and adjoining States. The telegram, thus delayed in transmits sion, did not reach Governor Jelks until yesterday. He immediately wired back that MT. McDavid was his choice.
 Governor Cunningham in the mean while went to Ensley yesterday morning for the disposal of some private business. Private Secretary J. Kirk Jackson late in the afternoon called him up over the telephone for a conversation. At the close of the telephonic conference MT. Jackson called Mir. McDavid over from across the hall and congratulated him as the new Secretary of State. The news was soon circulated around the building and the new State official was over whelmed with congratulations. He is one of the most personally popular men who eyer held a State office. He has a wide circle of friends in Montgomery who have been drawn to him by his singular modest and sincere demeanor. His Mont gomery friends and his associate Capi- tol workers. to whom his appointment brought genuine pleasure, were first with hearty congratulations.
 A Successful Official.
 It was generally conceded that two causes contributed to Commissioner Mo- David's selection as Secretary of State the splendid record he has made at the head of the Insurance Department and the close personal friendship existing be- tween him and Governor Jelks.
 MT. McDavid has for four years been Deputy Insurance Commissioner and as such has had complete charge of the State Insurance Department. He has in- troduced many reforms pleasing to the insurance men of the State and remun- erative to the government of Alabama He has systematized the department in most thorough fashion. The increase of revenues to the State during MT. Mc- David's incumbency in the office has been 1 remarkable: It is no secret that Gover- | ic business man, has been highly grati- | fled with MT. McDavid's management of l