The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-10-08
A BIG REAL ESTATE DEAL CLOSED
 FOR SOME VALUABLE PROPERTY
THE PRESENT PROSPECTS,

THE PRESENT PROSPECTS, Many Will Try to Succeed Sheriff Bur-
 oIn-Some Officers Will Not
 Have Any oppo-
 | siton.
 | During the past week the county court house corridors have assumed more political appearance than at any time 1 since the close of the warm campaign 1 last year. That the proposed candidates | are "deadening timber" and "building up | their fences'' Is noticeable on every side. All the courts are In session and this fact combined with rounding out an- 1 other harvest season by the farmers and | the falling of the leaves, have brought people from all parts of Jefferson county to the temple of justice. the mecca for 1 the lovers of politics.
 | Already the candidates for sheriff are framing for the great handicap to be ! run next year. The aspirants for this 1 office are having their cards printed and are scattering literature over the county So for the probable candidates for this | position are: Capt. Frank P. O'Brien, AL bert Stratford, chief deputy in the sher- if's office; Col. F. l.. Higdon, Thomas Pounds, Hugh w. McGeever, James Dow ney. Walter Moore, Harry Jones. Capt. J. D. Hanby of Sloss and Mayor N W. Scott of Ensley
 While interest will be largely centered in thls race, there will probably be Q lively contest for county auditor and for the members of the legislature. For the county authorship Robert A. Morris, the incumbent, will be opposed by Robert J. Montgomery. Both of the aspirants are young men and both reside at East Lake. Mir. Morris has filled the place for one term and has a splendid record MT. Montgomery was formerly chief clerk in the judge of probate's off, fee pno is a member of the East Lake city council.
 The Legislature.
 So far very few men in Jefferson coun- ty have publicly expressed ambition to go to the legislature next year. One sen ator ana seven representatives are to be elected. Hugh Morrow is serving his first term in the senate. He has not yet an nounced his intentions of running for reelection.
 The present members of the house are: Alex T. London, Augustus Benners, Felix E. Blackburn, W. c. Cunningham, Joel C. DuBose, L. J. Haley, c. W. Hickman It has been reported that Captain Ro- maine Boyd of Ensley and w. T. Stewart of Birmingham. will be in the race for the legislature.
 Two judges of the criminal court are to be elected next year So far no one has been mentioned to oppose the present in cumbents, Judge Daniel A. Greene and Judge Samuel Weaver. For clerk of the criminal court the indications are tha John T. Bradley will be unopposed. This Is considered a coveted position, but thus far no one has come forth who wants to try his hand with the popular officia that now fills the place.
 A chancellor for this division will alsc | Benners, who was appointed by Actin, Governor Cunningham to succeed the la mented Chancellor Altman was only ap | pointed until the next election. Judg 1 Benners has made, it is said, an excel lent record as hard-working, painstak ing jurist, and he is being highly praised by the members of the bar. So far n, one has been mentioned to oppose him. County Committee. ] Chairman B. A. Thompson of the coun | ty democratic committee seems to be O the opinion that the county committe will not be called together until afte the state executive committee shall hav acted. From the interview given out b. Chairman H. S. D. Mallory of the stat committee, 1t will probably be afte Christmas before this committee will have a meeting. Mir Mallory seems t. be favorable to a late primary, preferabl. July or August, thereby giving the youni |. men who will become of age between , now and the election in November an op portunity to register.
 In Jefferson county there are 1900 , registered votes. According to statistic gathered by Capt. Frank P. O'Brien , only two-thirds of this number are sub ject to pay poll taxes. Last year, whicl was an off election year. there were onl 5000 who paid their poll taxes. For 19os which preceded an election year, onl , 1000 paid their poll taxes.
 The Tax Books.
 } The tax books were opened on Octobe l and will be closed on February 1. Il order for the full registration. which doe not include nearly all the men of votin, . age, 12.000 registered voters, subject L poll tax, must pay their poll taxes. Fou thousand of these must pay their taxe 7 for not only 1905, but 1904 as well, am 1000 more must pay poll taxes this yea over the previous in order for the ful number of registered voters to becom qualified electors.
 As there are large number of youn
 men in Jefferson, running perhaps up i the thousands, who have not been in tn state two years, and hence who cou l not register last summer. the votin strength of this county would be mate , rially increased if the primary should b postponed until after July. In this even the registered vote of the county woul l easily go over 2O000. as the election nex year promises to be one of the most hot ly contested in the history of Alabama.