The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-03-11

|
ought to be wide open and let the two
men who get the most votes be the nomi-
nees for senator's and the next two in
| the number of votes the endorsed for
the succession, and SO on down the line,
in case there is any reason why either
of the two endorsed for the succession
fail to qualify Gen. W. C. Oates wants
| this plan. and 1t is fairly well settled
| that all those who seek the endorsement
| for the succession agree with him.
| 1t seems also a safe guess that Captain
! Johnston and the others are to have
great deal of backing in the efforts they
will make through friends to this effect.
It is the talk that the committee made
this plan in order to take care of the
two old senator's, thereby relieving them.
of the necessity of making a gllt straight
sout against the field for the honor. This
has not pleased those who desire to
| have hand in the matter to the extent
of being in line for vacancies, and they.
have been busy stirring up sentiment in
opposition to it. f.
1t is commended by those who oppose
the idea that there is no question about
the popularity of either Senator Morgan
| or Senator Pettus and that both will
| land with ease. However. there seems no
| good reason. they contend, to cut others
! out who wish to have a try at them,
and in this is the plan of tine committee
criticised, and at this point will the at
tack be made, If at ALL 1t is said that
| Captain Johnston has an idea that he
can beat Senator Morgan himself If he has
fair fight at it, and has entertained the
notion since he fell before the onslaught
of the "Flying Squadron and wants to
/ try it. However, it is not attractive to
| him If he has no chance to do that and
get endorsed for the succession at tho
same time.
1t also seems certain that there will be
some sort of effort to have the plan of
| selecting candidates for members of the
supreme court bench by convention chang
! ed also. Since the death of Judge Nc
| Clellan Chief justice 1t has become nee
| essary to nominate three men instead of
| two as anticipated by the committee at
! its meeting here in January and there is
a pretty general contention to have them
! named like the others by a primary The
primary idea is running riot in the minds
of the voters at this time and they are
very jealous of even q small bit being
| taken back to the convention plan, which
| grew so unpopular in the old days of cleo
| ton rottenness in the state.
While there is some interest in the race
for associate justices it is a fact that
most of the fight is on the chief justice,
/ and neither Chief Justice Weakley nor
| Judge John r. Tyson, the only candidates
for the higher honor, seem to have any
preference as to plan. With this condition
/ there need not be surprise If the commit
| tee seriously considers the idea of
| change. There is also a contest in the
Second Congressional district several
democrats contending that the commit
| tee took snap judgment of T. j. Hall of
| Montgomery and set the primary at a
| time when he could not get ready for it,
An effort will be made to have the state
committee set aside the action of the
| district committee.
Though it takes nothing from the popu-
larity of Lieutenant Governor Cunning
ham, it is a fact that there is general
restlessness among his friends that he
does not thrash about through the woods
more and make a greater racket. Many
| seem to think that he is not going to
run the race out, but his friends believe
that he will and make a great fight at
! that. However. in case he should come
/ down. it is rumored that the Conner fol-
lowing will at once line up to take in
J every one of the state offices.
! The idea seems to be now that Mr..
| Conner will devote himself to the race
! for governor long as DIR. Cunningham
remains in the running but that If the
! latter retres he will at once pull off from
| active canvassing for himself and try to
| land the whole list of state places for
| the men who are in line with the radi-
! calism which he represents in state poll
| ties at this time If that Is so the out
| look Is good for the capitol crowd to
| be a bunch of anti-rairoad men next
| time If he should have no opposition
| II is regarded as certain that he would
| bring up following that would do any
| thing he wants done. The result would
be disastrous to any who opposed him.
| and for that reason, If no other, there is
| little expectation that he will be allowed
| to take the entire hog without a fight
from some one. be it Cunningham Or some
other man of ability.