The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-05-22

| erage citizen is viewing the political sit
uation at this time is remarkable, con-
sdering that only two or three days will
eapse before the gathering of the demo-
cratic state convention, which will choose
twenty-five delegates to the national
| convention, and presidential electors for
the oncoming contest Few men take the
time, however, to discus the outlook, all
seeming to agree that there is little use
to stir up controversy Absolute lack %
attention to matters of this character
does not exist however, for once in 4
while punches of twos and threes get to-
gether and block out probable lines and
campaigns that tell in eloquent. If rather
quiet way, that there is an undercurrent
OF thinking and speculation that Is likely
to break through the thin crust of re-
puted non-attention and become lively
and rampant at any moment
The possibilities surrounding the COVER
norship are. perhaps, more conducive TO
political conversation at present than
any other, though even these are Indulg-
ed In with degree of caution that evil
dences lack of conclusion or course II is
presumed that DR.. r. M. Cunningham
lieutenant and acting governor, will offer
Tor the endorsement of his party at the
next primary He has not said so, con-
tenting that there is plenty of time yet
| to announce. 1t would appear however
! that ne Is expecting to enter the race. and
| it's a safe guess that he will make the
man who defeats him get very early
start From this end of the state II looks
| like he can win II lie desires the honor.
/ Some of the fsvorite policies of the act
I ing governor are coming TO the surface
since he has been In executive chair, and
+ II is only stating plain facts to say that
/ they have strengthened him before the
| people one of these is his position on
! the lynching question and expressed de-
termination to try by encouraging early
trials for all heinous crimes to decrease
the number of those outrageous offenses
that excite the people to the point of TAX
ing the laws into their own hands. With
just as large a measure of vigilance he
has decided to combat the lynching spr-
ii. He believes that only in the observ-
ance of the law can there be maintained
a substantial citizenship. and his inten1
ton is to use every means at the COM
mand of his office to punish those who
disregard the majesty of tho statutes.
While nothing has come from the exec
utive office recently on the subject. 1t Is
not at all Unlikely that the acting gov
ernor Will go much further into the sub
ject before the end of the summer.
After the question of outrageous crimes
and the punishment for them by lynch
ing, the acting governor is probably more
than in anything else interested in the
convict situation. For several years he
has worked for reforms and changes OF
method in the management of the states
prisoners, and will continue to give this
more than ordinary consideration. In the
general assembly session of 1869, while
a senator from Jefferson county, he
drafted bill and had 1t passed through
the upper house, providing for Just such
management of the conyictd of the state
as Governor Jelks later put into prac-
tce and is now in force, and In that
measure anticipated the great profits to
the treasury from this source that are
now enjoyed. DR.. CUNNINGHAM believes
there is great hope for reformation OF
the young boys who are sent to prison
for various offenses many of which are
| committed because OF absence of mental
as well as moral training, and looks TO
the reformatory plan to help In their
salvation. This idea is developed In the
| doctors advocacy of and friendship for
, the Boys Industrial school at East Lake,
and in the order for establishing a re-
formatory for boys at speigner. In the
s>-ss>>~~-><e~\\>
! as its own, and of whom the state Is very
| proud. He was a North Caroinian by
! birth. and served that state for six years
as a congressman. 1S10-1s16. In the ca
pacity of secretary of legation also and
In that capacity he accompanied the Hon.
| 10 Talf ,,.f,4
to Russia. Soon after his return he re-
moved to Alabama and In 1919 was elected
| from Dallas county a delegate to the
convention which formed the first con-
stitution of this state At the first ses-
sion of the general assembly after Ala
bama was admitted as a state in the
union, Colonel King was elected a senator
In congress, which station he continued
to fill until 1874, when he resigned on
being appointed minister to France,
where he remained until 1S47.
Afterwards he was minister to Russia.
| Again he was elected to the senate, and
was elected Vice President of the United
| States In 1852. His health failed him and
he never had an opportunity to perform
the functions of this high office. These
facts are taken from history of Alabama.
The manifestation of respect In high Off
cia quarters but show the character of
Colonel King. In his annual message to
congress in December, 1858, President
Pierce said:
President Pierce's Tribute.
"Since the adjournment of congress the
Vice President of the United States has
passed from the scenes of the earth
without having entered upon the duties
of the station to which he had been called
by the voice of his countrymen Having
occupied almost continuously for more
than thirty years seat In one or the
other of the two houses of congress. and
having by his singular purity and wis
dom, secured unbounded confidence and
universal respect his failing health was
watched by the nation with painful solic-
itude His loss to the country under all
circumstances has been justly regarded
as irreparable" "a.
Other eulogies were passed by both
branches of congress and by the supreme
court of the United States. And all of
these were of the most lofty order.
| Today Dallas county is honored with
representation by the two senators In
| congress from this great state, and it
will thus be seen that Selma has held its
own through several generations. which
has demonstrated the intellectual strength
of the greatest of all American states.
Rev. Arthur M. Small.
There is another hero, whose ashes lie
! buried here, and whose name is deserving
of special mention. The tomb is thus
Small, pastor Presbyterian church. Selma
a.. Il