The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-10-23
IS A PLAN UNDER WAY TO
 DEFEAT R. M. CUNNINGHAM?
Rumors of Such an Agreement Are Attracting Aenton-H s. D. Mallory is Mentioned as the Man to Make the
 Race-Gossp About the Next Senator
BY HERVEY w. LAIRD.

this reported. or rumored, agreement is said to have been entered into between the Hon. John B. Knox of Anniston, president of the constitutional convention of 1901, and lawyer of renown and abil- ity, and the Hon. Richard H. Clarke of Mobile, former congressman from the First district and one of the most prom inent men of the state, or their friends. The story goes on to intimate that the movement looks to the running of a man for gubernatorial honors who has no sort of strings on him, and would not have friends to whom he felt obligated be- cause of past political favors.
 That man, it is thought, will be the Hon. H. s. D. Mallory, chairman of the state democratic committee, leading man of the Baptist denomination in the state I7and man of clean life and high char aeter. Having never held political of flee he has no past. For years he has served the party without asking or &C., eepting reward, and without any back ing of an organized nature, would be a strong man for the popular acting gov ernor to have to fight.
 In the early days of the career of the acting executive Congressman Bankhead was warden of the state penitentiary. and gave to the former the position of convict physician. Since that time the two gentlemen have been fast personal friends, though it would not seem that the success of the temporary governor could in any special sense be attributed to the help of the Sixth district congress- man.
 True, they have been friendly and no doubt helped each other in whatever way two friends could, but Captain Bankhead has been most of the time too far away to have lent marked aid in the securing of the honors which have come to pr. Cunningham. On this history of the for tunes of the two men, however, friends of other possibilities are reported to base a fear that they would have poor chance when pitted against Bankhead, and therefore, it behooves them to place a man In the executive office who has no debt of this character which he might think he vas called upon to pay. The face that Cunningham has manifested a disposition in all his public acts to be fair and above personal consideration does not seem to be enough in itself to give the gentlement and their freiends full peace of mind.
 One of the weak places of the story lies in the fact that there is no certainty that Colonel Mallory will be induced to run. In letter to the correspondent of this paper las June he said that at that time he had no idea of making such race. but was not able to say what the future might bring forth, rather giving the im- pression that he would not offer.
 Since then there have come changes in sentiments that promise to bring about new alignments number of leading men. at the meeting of the state demo- cratic committee here a few weeks ago, expressed the opinion that Mallory would be urged to make the race by influences opposing some of the men known to be very close to the acting governor, The writer asked Acting Governor Cunning Tam if he had heard if this reported rangement to keep him from the execu- tive nomination, and he said he had not.
 He was asked further if such report gave him any uneasiness. He replied in the negative, but did not say in what par ticular his answer was to apply; whether that he was not worried about the report itself or the effect which such agree ment might have on the race for his nom ination. So far as Dr. Cunningham Is concerned he will not discuss the pros pect of appointing a United States sena- tor for the very good reason that he does not anticipate the opportunity at any time soon. He does not pretend that the matter of appointing such official is in any sense an issue in the campaign that may be waged for the nomination for governor.
 It is also quite certin that when it comes to filling a senatorial vacancy Colonel Clark will not be the only Mobile man in the running. Col. Edward L. Rus sell expects this particular class of light ming to strike him one of these days, or at least his numerous friends antici- pate it, and they would make it very interesting for any and every other can didate. The record of this widely known lawyer-railroader is one to give him great advantage in such a contest. not to men, ton the influences he would be able to gather to his following.
 He has been a working democrat who has adhered to the party platforms what ever they have been, and fought the party fights against whenever waged. This much cannot be said of Colonel Clarke who rebelled against the Bryan free silver regime and did a few 'stunts'