The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-05-27
POLITICAL GOSSIP HEARD
AT THE ALABAMA CAPITOL
BY HERVEY w. LAIRD.

votes, the fight centering about Messrs
Conner and Smith.
The Supreme Court.
The supreme court race was quite in
teresting. The legislature had increased
the number from one chief justice and
four associates to six associates and
chief. Judge Sharpe of the old court
did not stand for reelection and that
called for the selection of three new
men. The choice fell to John c. Ander-
son of Marengo, whose vote was 4S,n2;
N D. benson, Chambers, 5l,116; r. I.
Simpson, Lauderdale 1926. OF the old
men. Tyson ran ahead of the entire court
save the chief justice, receiving 5S,629,
with 44501 for Dowdell and 1929 for
HARRISON. Thomas N Mcclellan had no
opposition for reelection as chief JUS
tice. and received 62,SS4
BY adding the vote of the three can
didates for president of the railroad COM
mission it was seen that the total cast
on that date was 96,67S Tyson had the
largest number of any man with oppo-
sition, receiving $500 of a total of &c.
67S. Mr.. Conner was next, with benson,
Anderson. Dowdell, HARRISON and Simp-
son following in the order named.
General Election Returns.
In the general election of November
s, 1904, the nominees received the fol-
lowing votes. the opposition securing so
few as to count nothing in the showing:
B. B. Conner, SO. i97; Mcclellan 1924; An
derson, S1,9s6; benson, $780, Dowdell.
5000; HARRISON. Sl,9S0: Simpson, 1894;
Tyson. 81 ,9S7.
1t will be observed that the vote in
the general election was about 1900 less
than that of the primary for the primary
nominees. For instance. Mr.. Conner had
S3,497 in the general election compared to
a total vote of 96.67S in the primary. The
total vote for chief justice in the general
election was SPIT. Mcclellan securing
81, 224 a further falling off than was
shown by the vote of Mr.. Conner.
Registration is far above the vote OF
1904. as it was In 1902. Prior to January
1905, the registration books of the coun-
ties showed total with authority to
vote of Az. all whites. save 1880. In
1904 this was increased to 205,27S whites
and 1854 negroes, total of 20S.932 If
the ratio of increase which occurs in 1906
at the registration to be taken, is as
great as between 1902 and 1904, the total
to vote at the November election of this
year will be 223,392 with about 1000 ne
groes.
Interesting Figures.
For what they are worth in the way
of speculation the figures for several cleo
tions are given here. In the election
for and against a constitutional conven-
ton April 90, 1901, the vote was for, TO-
305; against, 1906; total, 115S10, majority
24,S00 On the vote on the constitution
that fall November II, the majority for
the new instrument was $3.50 on a vote
of 190,347.
1t will be seen that in this vote on
the constitution there was intense in
terest and the entire strength practi
cally was gotten out. Note, the entire
registered vote of 1902, was 194,4I2 and
the vote on ratifying the constitution
one year before 190s47. It is fact, how
ever that many who could vote in 1901
could not register under the new lawes.
In the general elections of 1902, the
vote was $3.50 for Williams D. Jelks.
the nominee of the democrats, and 241@
for ]. w. A. Smith. the fusion nomi-
ness Cunningham received 65.SO4 for
lieutenant, and Lane. his republican OPP
ponent. %, 40 The other nominees of the
democrats received the following: Hefin,
secretary of state. 65, III; Smith. treasurer,
Co .207; Sowell, auditor, 1885, Wilson, at
torney general 65.341; Hill, superintendent
OF education. G,s91; Poole, commissioner
of agriculture. g., 442.
In 1900. Alabama gave Mckinley, for
President, 55,512: Bryan, 97,1s1. In 1904,
Roosevelt received in Alabama, % Az,
much less than half the vote given Nc
Ixinley. and Parker. 1857 much less than
had fallen to the lot of Mr.. Bryan.
Where officefs Live.
1t Is quite interesting to note the loca-
lions of the men who are now serving
the state. with reference to geography
of the state, If a line be run across
the state just below Montevallo. in Shell
by county, and called the exact division
1t will be seen that nineteen state Off
GERS classed as heads of departments
and including the associate railroad COM
nrissioners and convict inspectors to the
south. with only fifteen north. thus Civ
ing to the southern part Of the state a
better showing In the way of patronage,
both of the executive and the voters.
The governor comes from the south,
Barbour county. The next two. the
lieutenant governor and the secretary
of state, come from jefferson The audi
tor is Dale county man and the treas
,lrer from Dallas. The state superin-
tendent of education is credited to-the
north, from Etowah. as Is the adjutant
general from Tuscaloosa. The commits
sioner of agriculture and attorney general
are from the south. Marengo and Clarke,
respectively. The president and one as
sociate of the railroad commission are
up state men. the other being from Hale.
which is near the dividing line. The
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