The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-10-04
 I. |. SOWELL
 WILL RESIGN State Auditor Seeks a
 JudgeShip. ASKS FOR APPOINTMENT Desires to Go on Bench Of Walker Law Court. Judge Cook, MT. Smith and General Brandon Mentioned as Applicants For Place to Be Vacated
 At Capitol.

before October 15. It would be caused by the resignation of the present in
 hopes to be appointed to succeed Judge Peyton Norvell. of the Walker County
 Law and Equity Court.
 The resignation Of Judge Norvell | was sent to Governor Jelks last Sat- | urday. Application for the office was ing by Auditor Sowell who had a con- ference with the Governor in his prf- | vate office.
 The seeming certainty that Auditor Sowell will get the appointment is
 founded on the strong petition of the bar of Walker County. If the Cover
 nor did not receive such a petition signed by nearly every lawyer of the county last night he will most likely
 receive it today. Besides the heavy endorsement of the court practitioners Mir. Sowell is backed by many of the
 most influential citizens of the county outside of the bar.
 Will Resign Today. In the application for the judgeship Auditor Sowell yesterday assured the Governor that he was willing to resign his office If the other office was con- ferred on him. The formal appiica-
 tion of MT. Sowell will be in the hands of the Governor today with the pe- tition of the Walker County citizens. These papers had not been received at a late hour yesterday afternoon. Until they are received and considered along with any other applications or petitions the Governor will delay &C., ton.
 Rumors of the intentions of Audi tor Sowell have been rife in Capitol circles for the last two or three days. But the positive mind Of MT. Sowell about the matter was not made public until yesterday. To a representative of The Advertiser he said he had made application for the judgeship of the Walker County Law and Equity Court and had told the Governor that in the event of his appointment, his resigna- ton of the Auditors office was avail
 able at any time.
 Has Strong Endorsement.
 With the quiet rumors of a near
 vacancy in the Auditors office came
 sharp speculation of the probable suc-
 cessor of MT. Sowell. The selection of
 this man, 1t is said, will engage the attention of the Governor more than
 the appointment of Judge Norvelfs
 successor. In fact, 1t Is generally be-
 lieved that the Governor will not he's
 itate in the appointment of Mr Sowell
 when he reads the strong endorsement
 that is to accompany the application.
 It is claimed by the friends of MT.
 Sowell that he is endorsed by the court patrons and all who have business with the court because of his eminent qualifications for the office. It Is un- derstood that Judge Norvell will ask fer -the appointment of MT. Soweil. In the office of State Auditor which he has held for two successive terms
 Mir Sowell has had opportunity to ex- ercise his judicial qualities and those who have had dealings with him in this period of several years are ready to affirm the recommendations as to his fitness for the bench.
 As State Auditor he has had prac- tt nP indiCfql nature while act ing on the State Board of Compromise. His associates on this Board have generally agreed with him in his com promise suggestions which are usual
 ly based on equity. He is besides
 man recognized for many years for his accurate knowledge of law, hav- ing had no little practice of the pro
 fession before being elected to the of-
 flee of Auditor.
 Successor of MT. sowelI.
 Judge John T. Cook of Wilcox
 County, the present clerk of the Audi
 tors office. is prominently mentioned
 as the probable successor of Mir Sow
 ell c. Brooks Smith of Hale County,
 warrant clerk in the office, will no
 doubt have also a warm endorsement
 faithful righthand lIeurenants of MT.
 Sowell for a number of years Out
 side of the office another applicant is
 being consistently talked about the Capitol and he Is Adjutant General w. w Brandon of Tuscaloosa County.
 While none of these gentlemen has
 positively announced his intention to anply for the office. 1t is generally be- ueyed they will be in the race at the very start Out of propriety. no appl- cation for the auditors office is expect ed to be made until the vacancy Is real While it is practically sure MT. Sowell will receive the appointment he ha aHfnn1 will not be declared until the Governor acts in the premises.
 Roth General Brandon and Mir. Smith are commonly reported candidates for inc office of State Auditor in next years campaign. They would be quick to realize, therefore. the value to their campaigns of an appointment for the
 remainder of the present term coming at this time. It would be an oppor- tunity for either of them to demon strate his ability to fulfill the duties of the office and could go before the cleo tors of the State with very tangible asset. Both are young men with large friendship throughout the State and have been in the service of the State to prove their worth and build up a | popularity.
 Judge Cooks Application. fudge Cook has demonstrated his | ahilitv 10 conduct the office from time
 to time during the occasional absence of MT. sowell from the office. He is thoroughly acquainted with the intri- cate details of this department of the state Government and from his long clerical experience has gained abundant
 knowledge that would stand him in good stead were he made the successor
 of his present chief. He Is confed- crate veteran and bears the scars of