The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-04-30
THE DECATURS WANT
 4 JOINT DEBATE Citizens Desire to Hear Conner
 and Cunningham MORROW LEAVES RACE H. A. skesgs and Douglas scrusss are Alone in the Contest for
 Mayor of Decatur-Grand
 Jury Adjourns.

Decatur, April 2s-(special)- weeks ago the citizens of the Decaturs started movement looking to some plan to arrange a joint debate between B. B. Conner and Dr. Cunningham. the two gub ernatorial candidates. and they wanted the debate to take place at Decatur be- lieving that a larger crowd could be brought together here than at any other point in North Alabama. Nothing, how ever came of the plan.
 Now that Candidate Conner has ehal lenged Candidate Cunningham for joint discussion renewed efforts are being made by the citizens of the Deeaturs and North Alabama in general for the holding of the proposed joint discussion in Decatur. On account of Decatur's geographical lo- cation and it's unequaled railroad facilities it is the most suitable point in this portion of the state for the holding of a debate between the two well-known candidates for guberna torai honors.
 There are many questions of great state importance which the people of this sec ton of the state are anxious to hear dis cussed by the two candidates before cast ing their vote on August 27. and the eiti- zens here, as rule are of the opinion
 that a joint debate at Decatur is the proper way of enlightening the people on these matters of state importance. Decs- tur has a large auditorium of sufficient size to accommodate a large number of people.
 People are Independent. Another good reason for the people wanting Joint debate held here between the two candidates is that there are a good many people here who are quite in- different and without a debate between the two candidates to awaken more in- terest among this class. it is believed an exceedingly light vote would be boiled on August 27 at the primary election. The people of North Alabama feel that tho campaign has now progressed far enough that more political oratory should be heard in this section of the state. Dr. Cunning
 ham has not made single speech in North Alabama and MT. Conner has made l but very few thus far. Neither one of the candidates has spoken in Decatur up to this time.
 Emmet O'Neal candidate for lieutenant governor, is making a strong canvass
 over the state and his friends say he is
 gaining votes rapidly. North Alabama is almost solid for him. it is claimed | Henry A. Skeggs, candidate for asso- | ciate railroad commissioner. will com l mence an active campaign after May l. MT. Skeggs is regarded as being one of the | strongest men in the race, and from all | indications his chances for election are growing stronger all the while. His stand ing a home can be readily seen from the fact of his having been elected mayor four times and will on next Tuesday. be elect ed for the fifth time regardless of the fact that he is not candidate, but be- cause the citizens of Decatur believe that the cty's business interests demand that he serve them ten months longer, or un- til he is elected to the office of associate railroad commissioner.
 Has no Opposition. The indications now are that Judge William Richardson will not be opposed in the general election by any other par tsan candidate, but if he should be the opposition would not be of such strength as to endanger his chances in the least of reelection to the United States Con- gress
 As yet there is but very little doing In county politics, as the county executive committee has not as yet met to fix the date of the county primary election. It is the general wish of the party men that the county primary be held on the same date of the state primary-August 27. The candidates for state senator who have announced are s. A. Lynne the pres ent senator; Montgomery Groenendyke and w T. Lowe. There five cand dates for representative, as follows: Por- ter NJ Brindley, Dan Walden. A. W. Briscoe. W. H. Long, Jr.. and J. C. Me Glathery The race for sheriff is going to be the most interesting one in the county as there are eight candidates in the race and all of them are among the most popular men of the county. The can didates for sheriff are J. Lem Jones, W. A. Pettey. Silas P. Ryan. Edgar Fennell, Lon E. Graham, J. Newton Hendrix. Thomas R. Shipp and Abney Dunnaway. There are only two other county officers to be elected at this time-one comms- sloner from the first and one from the fourth districts. There are already sev- eral candidates in the race for these two offices.
 Retlres From Race.
 Last night Squire D. B. MOTION with drew from the race for mayor after q canvass of two months.
 This will assure the reelection of Mayor H. A. Skeggs by a large vote. notwith- standing the fact that he is not a can ddate for the office. Mayor Skeggs is a candidate for associate railroad commits sioner, but notwithstanding this fact the business people believe that the business
 interests of the city demand his re-elec- ton and are desirous of his serving them as mayor ten months longer, or until he is elected railroad commissioner. For these reasons, 1t is said, that Mayor Skeggs will be elected mayor of Decatur for the fifth time on next Tuesday May 1. Alderman Douglas scruggs Is a can didate for mayor and has been waging an active campaign for the past two months.
 The race for aldermen is warming up and this will be the only real contest of the municipal election. Five aldermen are to be elected and there are eleven can dldates in the race, which will make a lively contest. All of the members of the old board candidates for reelection with the exception of J. D. Scruggs and ]. T. Jones.
 The city election in New Decatur also takes place on May l. but only one alder man from each of the fonr wards are to be elected in this election There are Il number Of candidates in the raca. After ten days session the grand jury for the spring term adjourned yes terday. finding forty-two indictments
 Edgar Morrow, a nephew of Squire D. B. Morrow, and one of the most populaa
 young men of the Decaturs. is seriously I.at fn.- t ,fl l.l