Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-06
WAITING LIST" LONG ONE
There Are Seven Candidates for Alter
nate Senator.
LARGEST LIST OF VOTES COUNTS
Governor Can Only Appoint Under
Certain Conditions-Former Gov.
Johnston Stands Fine Chance.
pec,.l Correspondence Of The star.

Special Correspondents OF The Star.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala, July g. 1909.
Much interest Ia felt in Alabama In the
reports which have come from Washington
recently regarding the declining health OF
United States Senator Edmund w. Pettus,
who becomes eighty-f years Of age on
July 8. General Pettus has been In poor
health for some time and recently 1t ID
said he suffered partial stroke OF paraly-
sis. He contemplates spending the sum
mer at Tate Springs. Tenn. with the hope
that 1t will restore his health.
Members of the Alabama delegation re-
turning from Washington are very fearful
that the venerable senator will not survive
the long and hot summer. This news COM
ing at time when hot campaign is on in
this state creates more than usual interest.
for at the democratic primary to be held on
August q, successors to both Senators
Morgan and Pettus are to be nominated,
while the nominations of two alternate
senators" are also to be named.
Present Senator Not Opposed.
The present senators are unopposed and
IL they live both will be renominated. but
lively race is In progress for the honor
OF going the waiting list" as their sue
cessors. There seven candidates for al
ternate senator and the one who receives
the largest number of votes will be entitled
to the first vacancy which occurs In the
Senate, while the man with the second
largest vote will take the second vacancy.
Candidates for the legislature and candf-
dates for governor are pledged to observe
this rule in electing appointing senators.
However. the rule does not apply to Gov
ernor Jelks, who holds office until January,
1pO7, and were vacancy to occur In the
Senate before Jelks' term ended he could.
II he so desired. appoint some one else than
the nominee of the primary to the Senate
Still If such an appointment were made
the legislature which meets in January
would have to elect both for the full term
and the unexpired term, and its members
would be in honor bound to name the man
who received the. highest vote In the "al-
ternate" senatorial race at the primary.
The Candidates
The candidates for alternate senator are
former Governor Joseph F. Johnston of
Birmingham. who opposed Senator Morgan
six years ago; former Governor w. c. Oates
OF Montgomery. Representative J. H.
Bankhead OF Fayette. former Representa-
tive J. F. Stalllngs of Birmingham, former
Representative r. II. Clark of Mobile
former Attorney General w. C. Fits Of
Mobile and John B. Knox of Admission
president Of the last constitutional con-
Vention. All OF the candidates are actively
at work and while there is much specula-
ton as to the result. 1t Is almost the unani-
nous opinion of observant politicians,
regardless OF whom they are supporting,
that of the two alternate senator's to be
chosen. former Governor Johnston will be
one 1t Is also the opinion of many that he
will run first In the race, in which event
no will be in line for the first vacancy In
the Senate from Alabama.
Captain Johnston was for years the presi-
dent of national bank In this city. He
has been an active figure in Alabama poll
tics for twenty years and served as COVER
n Ia syua rDn nP fha
free silver and Bryan leaders In 1896 and
made an unsuccessful race for the United
States Senate against Morgan in 1900.
Aroused Much Bitterness.
This campaign aroused so much bitter
ness that the constitutional convention
which met soon afterward and which John
ston had opposed, incorporated a provision
in the new constitution prohibiting the
governor of the state from being a candi-
date for United States Senator during his
term of Office and within year after It's
expiration. But the bitterness of that cam
paign and Johnstons opposition to the
new constitution seem to have largely dis
appeared and more weekly newspapers are
supporting Johnston for senatorial honors
today than have ever espoused his cause
before. Not one of the leading daily papers
Is fighting him, which Is regarded as re-
markable in view of the opposition he has
always heretofore had from that quarter.
Admitting that Johnston win run first In
the alternate senatorial race, interest CEN
tiers In the choice of the second man. John
B. Knox a prominent lawyer of Admission
and former chairman of the state demo-
cratic committee and former president of
the constitutional convention, has many
followers who believe he will be one of the
winners. He has been grooming for sena-
torial honors for years and has strong
support. Oates. Bankhead and Clark of
Mobile are also strong. Altogether the
race is very interesting.