The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-08-26
WEEK END POLITICAL
GOSSIP OF THE CAPITOL
BY HERVEY w. LAIRD.

his opinion that $1,000 will be the high
water mark. 1t is thought by others
that it will not exceed that and may
even go lower.
The last registration, taken in 1904
shows total voting strength of the state
of 20S,932, negroes numbering 1864. The
number prior to 1903 was stated as 1884,,
472, showing that the last lists were far
In excess of the others. 1t is safely esti-
mated that the registration this year will
show at least 100000 If that is so, 1t looks
as If there will be less than half the
voting strength polled.
The election for Bryan and Mckinley
in 1900 showed total of 97131 for Bryan,
Mckinley getting 55,512. That was a pref
ty fair vote, it is seen, if the above
guesses for this year are to be consid-
cred. In 1904 Parker received 1851, and
Roosevelt, 22,472, large falling off for
the four years. In 1904, in the general
election, B. B. Conner received SO, 497 for
commissioner, and Chief Justice Mcclellan
S1,224.
Those Who Go Out.
The following are the state Officers now
in service who will retire to make way
for new men next January:
Governor William d. Jelks, Secretary or
State e. r. McDavid, Treasurer j. Craig
Smith, Auditor j. M. Carmichael Super
intendent of Education l. W. Hill, COM
missioner of Agriculture r. r. Poole, At
torney General Massey Wilson, Associate
Railroad Commissioners w. c. Tunstali
and W. T. Sanders. These must retre
by constitutional provision. Or course,
DR.. Cunningham goes out as lieutenant
governor no matter how ms election BUGS
as to the governorship.
There are large numbers of men VINO
go in and out with the administration
who will likely retire with Governor
Jelks but as these are not certain 10
have to leave, there is nothing to say OF
them. However, there are not very many
appointments that the governor takes
control of in this way, less thal III tne
olden times when spells were quite plen-
tiful.
Many Reports of Schemes.
IT is reported that one or two schemes
are to be worked, and that the word mas
been sent along to that effect. one, 1t
is alleged, is to have two certain candi-
dates designated as Conner men 1or the
supreme court bench, and to inform the
voters who they are by slips or notices
sent out Monday morning. IL Is lalr
sample of the feeling of the people TO
say that very few credit the report.
II is also said that the word is to
he sent along early Monday morning that
certain men in the race for all the otnces
are for Conner and ask the Conner men
to vote for them. This may or may not
be So no one can be found VINO VIII
vouch for the story, and many say they
do not believe 1t. 1t looks as II the race
is going to be close enough LOT eacn
candidate for governor to look after his
own play house.
The MONTGOMERY Conner club made its
appearance yesterday in tangible FORM
printing a list of names and saying VINO
are his leaders in the county. Ihere IS
a good list of them, made up largely Oh
business men. These, and others, nave
arranged to see that the Birmingham miu
man is taken care of at the election here
next Monday.
A Fair Election.
So far there is no reason TO Deileve
that there will be anything but the fair-
est methods in the election next Monuay.
while II IS charged that Cunningham has
.the machinery. 1t is also fact that many
of fine members of the machine are for
Conner so much so that there Will be
NO chance to do anything wrong II any
one were so disposed. 1t Is Wen known
that the disposition of the voters Is 10
be fair and to give every man What Is
coming to him. Once or twice there mas
been a warning that some counties would
not do as they should, out tney nave noe
been taken seriously.
The adoption of the new constitution,
which eliminated the negro from politics,
has given the white men OF the state
the opportunity they desired to be honest
in elections, and they are not going to
begin over again by stealing from each
other 1t is pretty safe to say that the
elections from now on will be fair, and
that every properly registered man will
be given his chance. The negroes will
not get all that is coming to them in the
way of registration this year, and maybe
not for several yearsfi but that is of little
consequence. as there are too few Of
them to make much of a showing.