The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-11-08
COLONEL H|GDON'S
 MAJORITY IS 11O1
Chairman Robert N. Bell Makes
 Statement
JUDGE J. P. STILES TALKS
Has Not Decided What Business He Will Follow In Future--WiIl Rest for Few Weeks.
 Is Knocked Out.


 Judge J. P. Stiles 4117.
 Higdon's majority, 11O1.
 That is the result of Tuesdays ballot ing for sheriff of Jefferson county.
 The last box to be reported to the sher. if yesterday afternoon was from Part, ridge Cross Roads, which gave Judge Stiles a majority of eight votes. Fifty two votes were boiled at that box; 30 for Stiles and 22 for Eigdon
 There was great rejoicing among Colo mel Higdon's supporters yesterday over the result of the election. and his private office at Twentieth street and Morris ave nue was crowded with his friends from all parts of the county throughout the day Colonel Eigdon, who lives at Wood lawn, came to town early and was busy for some time shaking hands with his friends and receiving congratulations. He greeted everyone cordially, expressing much gratitude for the support that had been given him.
 In discussing the recent campaign. he said: "I can never fully express my great appreciation of the hearty support that l have received at the hands of the people of Jefferson county in the cam paign that has just closed. I realize fully that the fight has not been alone for my self personally, but for a great principle in which the people believed.
 q have been elected to the office of sheriff of Jefferson county unhampered by promises to anyone. with but a single exception. As I have often stated dur f,,.~ II Irn xtyin he my chief deputy I have made no other choice yet for any position at my dis posal.'
 Judge Stiles Statement.
 When seen at his home last night Judge J. P. Stiles said: "I will spend a few days resting from the arduous can- paign just ended. It has been very try ing in many respects and I have worked hard for what I thought and believed was the best interests of the democratic party in this county. I want to thank my friends all over the county for the sup port that has been given me and the expressions of confidence that I have re. ceived since the voting yesterday.
 q have nothing to say as to my future course or what business I will pursue I will devote the next few weeks en- tirely to rest"
 Robert N. Bell, chairman of the Jeffer' son county democratic campaign commit tee. in discussing the result of the cleo ton yesterday, said:
 R. N. Bells Statement. "Is-have no apologies for my efforts tt carry successfully, the flag of my party no majority could make me, or should make any honest man, ashamed of hi. party or its banner. l would not b' doing my full duty to the people, if I dit not say. that in my judgment, the sol, cause of the disruption of the party il this county is the weak, inefficient anC practically unlntelligent primary and cleo tion laws, now in force. The old law:; under which we have been reared, ar, dametrically different in operation. Th, new law was intended to uphold fat elections and fair primaries; but the diff ference between the old and the new, ha! never been realized by the people, and il fact the new one is absolutely inadequat, to the purpose.
 Both sides have waged battle in thii campaign, with the war cry of fai election, and strange as 1t may appear each had a different idea about wha was fair The great body of citizens were excited and kept afame, on one sid' or the other, and only few were il condition to look at conditions in req sonable frame of mind.
 Many good citizens honestly believed oIo of no of the primary. by the returning board was in fact a legal and final nomination | that the committee could not, after this rightfully declare anything else. Man. | were infamed by rabd stump speakers most of them voted on conscience. | "All of this is ancient history to me I am still an ardent lover of the part. and want to see 1t succeed as a party ant an organization; I want to advise agains radical or early steps being taken b! any one, time makes more converts thai | reason
 "Friends ought not to estrange them selves because of this; they ought to d. all in their power to cure up old sore and let the discussion of politics alone An aggressive step now by any one mean total estrangement. If we can conduc ourselves properly and make no mistake the party can be made stronger an' purer and the fight will go down in his tory as a brave struggle by a faithfu few, for the established faith of the party Your reward will be sufficient. To thos who left us, and believed in doing s that they were doing right, l have noth | ing but the kindest feelings and I be seech all not to allow themselves to b. wholly divorced from the party, but t. | recognize the fact that the old part. cannot succeed without organization ant | that democrats are doing best for 1t il l the party lines. Do not be persuaded tha | it is best for one to antagonize 1t. For myself, my wounds shall not b. kept open. The voice of the majorit. is my will"
 Comparative Figures. The canvassing board, consisting O