The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-05-11

 elan. But no political machine is directed from the Governors office or from any other portion of the State at the present time and the Lieutenant Governor will have to fight his own fight with his own friends standing at his side.
 Two Ex-Governors Mentioned.
 The most interesting political gos- sip is contained in the statement that possibly ex-Governor William c. Oates will enter the political arena. Gen eral oates has not authorized the use of his name nor has he denied that he has considered and is considering the advisability of becoming a candidate. His name is frequently on the lips of those who are engaging in political gossip. The ex-Governor has con- tented himself with saying that he is considering the matter. The General once declined the Goverrorship of Ala bama. He had served two years in the chair and would beyond doubt have been given the Democratic endorsement of a second term had he not declined 1t. He has since his retirement spent his time in the practice of law in Mont gomery and to the writing of splendid history of the Confederate war. From private life he only emerged to serve as a member of the Constitutional Con- vention. The ex-Governor has always had a strong and loyal personal follow ing and would be a great element of strength to any cause or issue he might espouse as we'll as a strong factor in any race he might enter.
 And ex-Governor Joseph F. Johnston is also considering another entry into the political arena. The ex-Governor holds the record of having run for Governor oftener than any other man in the history of the State. Two Of the races were successful and his friends are saying that if the signs are favorable the ex-Governor will again make a call upon those of his old supporters who so assisted him in building up the one-time formidable Johnston machine. It was recalled by State politician that during the Dem- ocratic campaign of 1896 when Joseph F. Johnston was being opposed by Richard H. Clarke of Mobile for the nomination the Mobilian was accus- toned to felicitate himself upon the presence of any ladies who might be at his meeting saying. Tt always gives me pleasure to speak to the ladies, for their influence on the future is much greater than the influence of man. want them, too, to understand the is- sues that are at stake so that twenty years from now when Captain Johnston is making his fourteenth or fifteenth race for Governor their children will know how they should vote" The aforesaid politician was inclined to con- slider the Mobile man something of a prophet.
 Captain Richmond Pearson Hobson is more than a possibility as a guberna- torial candidate. Just now the naval hero is on the verge of matrimony and has no time to talk politics. He has given the public to understand that he, too, was considering the Govern or's race. It was for a long time thought that Captain Hobson would confine his political activities to the Sixth District until he had been sent to Congress, a thing which was almost accomplished a year ago. But he has given unmistakable evidence of @ lean- ing towards a try at gubernatorial honors. He has not committed him. self, however. and it is possible that he may decide to take another fall out of Congressman John H. Bankhead 1T the Sixth. The captains activity ir delivering public addresses of every sort within the State is regarded witt interest, to say the least, by men IT politics. A small Alabama town ha: much better chance to secure th' hero of the Merrimac for an address for a lecture, for a Sunday school tall than any big city in the East. Astut' politicians are inclined to see method in the captains fondness for address ing Alabama audiences.
 Race for Other Omces.
 Then the race for Lieutenant Gov ernor bids fair to develop an interest ing contest It looks now as If South east Alabama would be pitted agains Jefferson County. Hon. W. H. Stamford of Troy. late member of the Constitu tiOnal Convention and late an electoi from the State-at-large, is regarded a. strong candidate for the place. lief ferson County is expected to presen another strong candidate in the per. son of Colonel H. B. Gray. late treas urer of Jefferson County. and wei known throughout the State.
 There Is talk, too, that State Treas urer Craig Smith may look favorably
 upon the Governorship proposition and
 there is more talk, too, that MT. Smith
 may be a candidate for associate mem ber of the Railroad Commission. As tc this talk MT. Smith has nothing tc say. He gives 1t out that 1t is toe early to talk politics with any dea- l niteness.
 When MT. Smith goes out of the Treasurer's office he will have Eervcd | eight years as State Treasurer. Ho Is
 well known and popular in his own | right and he is the son in Jaw of Pres.
 ident B. B. Conner of the Railroad | Commission.
 | Incidentally this question of select. | ing two Associate Railroad Commits
 sioners is going to loom up large and
 ominous In the primary of next year | W. T. Sanders will be chosen In that | primary. The signs read that there | will be some hot politics in picking out
 the two new Railroad Commissioners | Will the two new commissioners stand
 for the same things that Mir. Conner
 stands for? That will be the rub There's where the fight will be.
 One of the most interesting bits oi l political gossip has it that maybe State
 Auditor Thomas L. Sowen will be 6
 candidate for one of the places. Nc
 man doubts that should Mir. SowelI RC 1 into the game he would be no incon.
 siderable factor. MT. Sowell is one O.
 the most popular of all the State of
 ficials. He knows the people of Ala
 bama and he knows politics In Ala.
 bama. In addition he has made a fin,
 record as Auditor and moreover, he il
 a fighter. which will count a good dea
 if the campaign next year is similar
 to the one that was waged last year.
 Report has 1t, too. that G. F. McEl
 derry of Talladega, a friend and sup.
 porter of Mir. Conner, Is contemplating l entering the race. Perhaps neither Mir
 Conner nor MT. McElderry would be of
 tended if 1t was said that Mir. McEt
 derry Is a man after MT. Corners owr
 heart. He has worked in harmony an, | conjunction with MT. Conner in tn,
 dght against railroads and railroad
 conditions. Both gentlemen can be-
 come excited while discussing railroa.
 rates but if there Is any difference MT
 McElderry can get much ma1dar thar
 MT. Conner. For a real hot and sava 2, | attack upon the railroads 1t Is con,