The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-09-06

crease the city and county police forces
in accordance with plans already out
lined. The county commissioners TO-DAY
elected twenty-four new county policemen,
increasing the force to thirty-siX, ana
these will go on their beats at once.
The city council yesterday appropriated
$500 to pay the expense of putting on
forty new city policemen between now
and January l. 1t has finally been set
tied after a long wrangle that these men
will be appointed only as the result OF
civil service examinations.
Tax Rate Fixed.
At their meeting today the Fulton eoun-
ty commissioners fixed the county tax
rate at 5 mills or So on $1,000, the same
as last years rate. The state rate IS
$3.50 per $1,000
At the meeting of the Young Mems
Democratic league of Fulton county 10 De
held next Friday night, Lamar Hill
well known young lawyer in the ofnce OF
Arnold & Arnold, will be chosen president
to succeed j. Gid Hannah, the present
presiding officer.
Hoke Smiths Big Stick.
The state democratic convention is a
thing of the past, but 1t left the boys at
the capital and over the state plenty TO
talk about for some time to come.
The chief and strongest impression that
was gathered at the state convention In
Macon yesterday is that Hoke Smith
totes a 'big stick" and that he is going
to WELD it.
That Mr.. Smith proposes to dominate
was apparent from the manner In winch
the convention conformed closely to his
ideas on every subject that was touched
upon.
In no instance was it more apparent
that Mr.. Smith is going to have Things
as he wants them, than when Boykln
Wright of Augusta was strongly opposed
by delegates from his own district Tor
executive committeeman. Mr.. Smith, ii IL
said practically told the Tenth district
delegates who opposed Mr. Wright that
it made no difference what they thought
or wanted Mr.. Wright shall go on the
new executive committee. He VIII be
placed there as one of the eleven menu
beers to be chosen from the state at large
and appointed by the chairman.
But Mr.. Smiths hand was seen in other
matters with which the convention had
to deal. Mr.. Berner of Monroe, Mr..
Smiths law partner, was the frequent
mouthpece presenting suggestions and
resolutions with noticeable frequency.
Other suggestions and resolutions came
from Reuben Arnold and Congressman
Hardwick of the Tenth, both of whom
were fully posted as TO exactiy what
Mr.. Smith wanted.
In his speech accepting the nomination
Mr.. Smith again showed that he pro-
posed to WELD his big stick. He declared
1t to be necessary that the presiding Oh
ficers of the house and senate, as Well
as the members should be in line with the
reforms which he has suggested and
urged. He even went to the extent oil
threatening them with political extinc-
ton unless they agreed with him.
In other words, Mr.. Smith wants clear
field for the enactment of all the laws he
has suggested, and if there is any way
to get it. he proposes to do it.
All of which is leading the well-known
politicians of the state to ask IL Mr..
Smith after strongly denouncing what he
termed ring rule, is not mapping out
the biggest, strongest and most extern
sive ring ever known in the history Of
state politics.