The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-04-05
A WEEK MORE AND
ELECTION is OVER
turmoil in Alabama VIII Soon
be Ended
COM MISSION RACE LIVELY
Is Drawing More Fire From the oppos-
ing Sides Than Any other Con-
test-Supreme Court Judge
ships Almost Forgotten.

One week from today anxiety will have
ceased and political turmoil will have
ended for another brief span of time
Every candidate who now claims the
earth and the fullness thereof will have
ascertained he correctness of his theo-
ries and the 'I-told-you-sos" will be as
numerous as fish stories In the spring. IT
Is safe to say that not less than 100 can
didates will wake up in Birmingham this
morning feeling confident of success and
by noon will have spread the news to
every person who has time and inellna-
ton to listen. If some of them could ap-
propriate Edward Belamys theory of
looking backward for week a local jes-
ter says it would cause a shudder to re-
allze how many would wake up In the
slang sense of the word, seven days
hence.
As the day of fixing the fate of candi-
dates approaches the voter Is becoming
more entangled in the mass of names
stamped on the official ballot and, ac-
ccrding to persons familiar with elections,
the man who finally lands vote has Ger
tainly earned his constitutional right.
Railroad Commission Contest.
At present the contest for president of
the railroad commission seems to have
drawn more fire from the opposing sides
than any other race and 1t Is believed
this will be the most important fight to
be decided. Within the past few weeks
both sides have been working with might
and main to put the merits of their re-
spective candidates before the people and
fI,o tar a chance
CLEAN information at little expenses all
authorities concede that the opportunity
Is offered in this contest. Mr.. Conner has
made his fight in the interest of the ship
pers, according to his campaign liter
ature and has undoubtedly a strong fol-
lowing. On the other hand Mr.. Smith
has steadfastly maintained that he rep
resents no particular interest and will de-
eide questions purely on their merits and
has appealed to the people on grounds of
conservatism, His friends claim that his
strength has been greatly increased by the
fact that this idea has become prevalent
among the people and on account of the
withdrawal of Mr.. Lowe, who was also
conservative in his views, In fact both
sides are claiming the state by large ma
jorities. In the meantime Captain kolb's
friends maintain that while the other
candidates are fighting 1t out he will
slip In between them and gain a victory.
The three congressional fights in the
state have almost overshadowed the race
for supreme court judges and 1t apepars
that the voters are paying but little at
tention to this matter which is regard
ed of the utmost Importance to Alabama.
1t Is argued, however, that contest for
the supreme court bench is not sufficient
~ spectacular to draw attention for any
length of time, but that the voters will
be fully aware of what they are doing
when the polls are opened.
Congressional Fight.
The election forecasters are still unde-
cided as to who will be elected to con-
gress in the Sixth district, but the sup
porters of both Bankhead and Hobson
are claiming practically every county in
the district. This has furnished one of
the warmest and most spectacular cam
paigns the state has ever experienced.
Captain Hobson proved himself good
campaigner and has gathered strength be-
yond the expectations of many of his
closest friends Colonel Bankheau is very
popular in his district and his friends
maintain that he will win by good ma
jority.
In the Seventh district Lusk and Bur-
nett have waxed warm and in their joint
debates the personal stage has been
reached. 1t seems to be the general opin-
ion of persons who have visited Birming
ham that Mr.. Burnett will be reelected.
though Lusk forces are still apparently
confident.
In the Fifth district J. Thomas Helm
seems to have carried things in a sweep
for the past few days and as the cam
paign has been very brief his friends
believe that he will be elected If MIR.
Helm is successful another political ex-
element will arise over the appointment
Of a successor to his office as secretary
of state. From the number of applca
lions already before the governor. 1t
looks as II the citizens who want to be
secretary Of state believe that Mr.. Hefln
will be the next CONGRESSMAN.