Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-03
The Senatorial Situation is Result Of
the Election-Notes Of the
Candidates.

political map. Many also thought that
John B. Knox of Admission. president of
the late constitutional convention, would
come in for the second alternate senatorial
nomination: Very few figured Col Bank
head among the probabilities. He did not
enter the race until after he had been de-
feated last April by Capt. Richmond P.
Representatives.
At that time all the other Candidates
were at work and several of them had can
vassed a large part of the state, Col
Bankhead was the last man to announce
for alternate senator. and his announce
ment made the seventh entry into that con-
test. His friends were hopeful that he
would get second place. but it was hardly
to be expected, because OF his several
handicaps including late entrance, tho
burden of fresh defeat, ETC., that he
could gain first place.
His Record Did It.
It was largely his record as a representa-
tive and the appropriations which he got IN
the past for Alabama rivers and harbors
and public buildings that enabled Bankhead
to muster such a large following. He was
wise enough, too. to make his campaign for
the Senate largely on this issue-the issue
of better and cheaper river and road serv-
ice; both dirt roads and railroads-fnstead
of on a straight fight against the corpora
Is believed by many, also, that the relent-
less fight which Hobson kept up against the
veteran representative until he had taken
his congressional seat from him, excited
considerable sympathy In Bankheads be-
half and made votes for him.
Captain Johnston's friends, in seeking to
explain his failure to run ahead of Bank
head, say that It was due to oyer-confdence.
They are visibly disappointed. for with
Bankhead as the first alternate senator,
Johnston may have to wait a long time to
get senatorship, and may not get one at
ALL
What the Nominations Mean.
An alternate United States senator is
something new under the political sun. and
Alabama will be the first state to- have
such an Office. 1t means simply the seiec-
ton of the two men who are to succeed by
appointment or election the present sena-
tors when they shall die or resign. pro-
vided either Of those contingencies shall
arise within the next foui years. The can
didate for alternate senator with the high
est vote at the primary will be entitled TO
the first vacancy to occur during the ad-
ministration of the governor whose term
begins next January.
The candidate for alternate senator with
the second highest vote will be entitled to
the second vacancy. However, the pledge
upon the governor and legislature cannot
last longer than four years-the length OF
the terms of those officials. Thus should
either of the Alabama senators die, Repre-
sentative Bankhead will be entitled to ap-
pointment or election to the vacancy. After
he has been thus appointed or elected
should second vacancy occur former Gov.
Johnston, according to the will Of the DEM
ocratic voters. will be the successor.
Senators Morgan and Pettus were both
without opposition at the primary, and
when the legislature meets next January
IT will re-elect Morgan for a term beginning
March next and Pettus for a term begin
| ming March 5. 1893. Representative Bank
heads term in the House will end next
March. but there Is no telling when his
senatorial term will begin. That will de-
pend altogether on when Morgan or Pettus
shall die or resign. and as senators as a
rule do not resign, Of course. he must wait
for death to take one of them. Then
Capt. Johnson must also wait after one
Of them has died for the second one to pass
away before he can get the Office to which
he has been conditionally nominated.
Rate Reform Victory.
The recent primary was quite a sweeping
victory for reduced freight rates and rail-
road and corporation regulation, for those
were the paramount issues of the campaign
B. B. Conner nominee for governor, car
ried practically every county In the state
He represents the radical side of the rate
reform and railroad corporation regulation
proposition. His rapid rise in politics has
been relentlessly opposed by the big cor
pOrate interests of the state but as Conner
himself is a rich man. a farmer and manu-
facturer. he spent his own money freely In
forwarding his advocates.
His triumph is the result Of logged per-
sistency and defiant holiness in the face of
concentrated capital and united politicians.
The state administration, the railroads, the
politicians, the corporations and the ultra
conservative elements OF society were
against him, but the farmers and the ship
pers were on his side and he won.
When Conner goes into the governors Of
fee next January it will be the second state
Office he will have held, his first being pres
ident Of the state railroad commission.
which he now holds and to which he was
overwhelmingly elected two years ago. He
has been a factor In state politics only
successful business man who Is also sue
cess in pontics. somewhat on the order of
the late Senator Hanna As illustrating
Corners strong determination and rigid de-
votion to principle, he viii not resign his
Office as president Of the railroad commits
sion. but wiz hold on to 1t SO that he can.
when he becomes governor. name as his
own successor man In sympathy with his
views on railroad rate reform and regula-
ton. He fears that II he were to resign
now Gov. Jerks would not appoint q sue
cessor to his liking.
The Nominees.
The list Of nominees Of the recent pri-
mary as shown by tho returns which wers
canvassed in the various counties today ID
as follows: For governor-B. B. Conner Of
Birmingham: lieutenant governor, Henry
B. Gray Of Birmingham: secretary of state,
Frank N. Julian Of Tuscumbia; state audi
tor, W. w. Brandon Of Tuscaloosa: state
treasurer, w. D. Seed OF Tuscaloosa; state
superintendent Of education. Harry C. Gum
nels of Admission: commissioner Of agricul-
ture and industries, J. A. Wilkinson Of
Prattville; attorney general. A. M. CARRIER
Of Tailadega; associate railroad commits
sioners. Charles Henderson OF Troy and J.
the supreme court, Judge John r. Tyson Of
Montgomery: associate Justices OF the su-
preme court. Judge J. R. Dowdell Of
Lafayette and Thomas G. Mcclellan Of