The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-01-21
STATE POLITICAL GOSSIP
HEARD AT THE CAPITOL
BY HERvEY w. LAIRD.

+, of the meeting of the committee here
when he did not go near the assem-
| bly, hall though he was all day in the
city. However, 1t now seems that
man may have a following If he Is not
| in line with Mr.. Conner and his asso-
ciates or that 1t is possible for Corners
| friends to be depended upon to stand
for those who do not subscribe to his
doctrines ALL of which promises to bring
about number of things not thought
worth while to figure on before.
| About the first of these prospects to
receive serious consideration in the capi-
| toll gossip has to do with the selection
! of a man for the next speaker of the
I house. In many respects he will have the
| chance to be big man and making
good will be very much in line for the
governoship next time. So far there has
! been only one man talked of at all, and
he in guarded tones. That man, and here
we give away the secret whether we have
| a right to do or not, is William Hodge
Sanford of Troy, spoken of for many
| places in the state service, but agree
| ing to accept none. 1t is regarded as
quite certain that If he cares to he
| may represent his county In the legiSla-
| ture, and it is also thought that coming
| he will be able to marshal strong
! following for the speakerShip. 1t seems
reasonable to hope that In the first
place he will have a strong pull with
the Conner people through Charles Hen
derson of Troy, a close personal and
| political friend of both, and that his own
popularity over the state will do much
| toward the rest.
! He has not had anything to say about
the rumor himself, but it Is known that
he has not only said he would not run
| for any state office but declined to enter
the race for Congress. Furthermore it
| is somewhat current that he has been
| importuned to run for governor this year,
| but did not take to the idea seriously
| Mr. Sanford has been discussed a great
deal in connection with political pre-
| f~rment in the state, but In each case
when asked the direct question he has
J said he was not a candidate for any
| thing.
| Incident to the talk that there would
| be another candidate for governor in
the field, some good stories are coming
| out One is to the effect that plan
was bruited to have two or three men
more announce for office from Jefferson
county and to get out the idea then that
I the mineral section was trying to hog
the whole thing. In this way 1t was
| hoped the story runs, to muddy the
waters and turn sentiment to a man from
some other section. But so far as can
be discovered the suggestion was laughed
away. 1t was thought that by doing
something like this there might be new
situations brought about that would
change the prospects of the two men
| living in thsS county and seeking the
| governorship.
! 1t was also pointed out that besides
these there was one man after the lieu
tenant governorship, two with senatorial
| bees and some others with minor amb-
| tions But with the light of discus
sion the whole matter was dropped. About
| the same time news came along the in
| side wire that H. s. d. Mallory of Sell
| ma, more than once spoken of for guber-
material honors, might seek to be named
| as alternate senator, which seems to put
| him out of the talk for the other honor.
| So far the senatorial bee Is not mani
| Testing himself freely in bonnets of Ala
| bama politicians. 1t is regarded here as
almost a certainty that former Governor
Johnston will not only be in the race but
X Morgan most likely. His friends are very
1 active and say that in no case would
1 he consent to run for governor. In
tensity of feeling the rate question
| has made the impression that some one
has determined to seek the defeat Of
| Senator Morgan and why not Johnston?
| He made one rifle at it and failed sig
that there will be no more flying squad
| rons'' 1t is also thought that General
Oates will offer for one of the elective
places If at all. He does not like the
endorsement plan. as 1t gives no chance
| to the man who runs in the race for the
/ place, no matter how good showing
| he makes. His idea was to have the race
| wide open and let the two first men have
the places and the others in order of the
vote they received have the others. AS
a matter of fact many believe with Gem
eral Oates that this would have been
best.
friend of Richard H. Clarke of Mo-
bile said this week that he was discuss
ing the question with close associates.
This seems to be the case with all the
rest. save Mr. Fits of Mobile. who has
announced for endorsement for vacancy.
Though little has been said of the inten-
tons of Col. E. L. Russell Of Mobile,
lately it is not by any means certain