The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-11-29
SOME WEEKEND GOSSIP
 FROM THE STATE CAPITAL
RY HERVEY w. LAIRD.

fer not to discuss it in any more ex- tensye way"
 It is believed that in case the call is made it will be delayed until spring in order that every opportunity be given to the people for the enforcement of the prohibition laws, as it is regarded that this will be the principal question legis- lated upon in case of a session. It is not known just what form legislation will take. An effort to pass the bill for state constabulary at the last sion was unsuccessful. There are many who believe that it might be passed at an extra meeting. There are also a great many who contend that such a system would be entirely without reason for the people of the state, as it would create a large number of offices and greatly in crease the salary list. which at this time has grown past what a great many people think it ought to be.
 Governorship Talk.
 With the passing of the election there has been somewhat of a renewal of polit- ical gossip tending specially to the pros poets of the race for governor. It is un- derstood that Governor Conner is in no sense in accord with the ambitions of H. S. G. Mallory of Selma to succeed him as chief executive of the state, not be- ] cause he does not hold the retiring state , chairman in highest esteem, but for the 1 reason that he believes his environ
 ment" is not such as to guarantee a con i tinuaton of the policies of the present ad-
 ministration.
 A north Alabama man who is here this week expressed a belief that the admins tration forces had not altogether given up the hope that former Chief Justice s. D. Weakley would be induced to make the race. This man said, however, that he did not believe that Judge Weakley would do so, but on the other hand it was his opinion, and that of the other lawyers in his section of the state, that Judge Weakley would make the race for chief justice In the latter event the opinion was expressed that the administration might agree to support Henry B. Gray of Birmingham, the present lieutenant gov ernor, for promotion. MT. Gray possesses the advantage of having been in accord with practically all of the principal legis- lation of the present administration, and one of the leaders for the adoption of not only local option, but statewide prohibit tion.
 Temperance Situation. While there was considerable talk of State Senator Spragins of Dallas enter ing the race on the local option platform, very few believe that in the end he will
  of the men now seeking political prefer ence seem to agree with it, that the pro- hibition issue has been disposed of by the adoption of statewide prohibition and that 1t will be impossible to so shape the ques- ton as to make it one for political con- test.
 In other words, it is not expected by even the most conservative that there would be any chance in the world to elect a legislature which would repeal the pres ent statute for local option or any other. However much the business men might desire it. and however much feeling may have been aroused with regard to it., there are few men who keep themselves posted at all but believe that the prohibi- l ton bill is an established fact in the state, ! and that it will be practically impossible, with the enormous rural vote to ever dis l lodge It. Therefore it is considered that 1 the better part of valor will be to under l take to adjust conditions to the laws as | they now stand rather than to attempt any legislation which would be regarded | as a backward step by the temperance ! interests.
 1 With the combined influence of prac- 1 tically all church organizations in the l state and great sentiment which exists as a general proposition against the liquor 1 traffic, it is not expected by any that for ! many years at least there will be any backward step in the fight that the pro- 1 hibition people are making, even in the
 face of the fact that great numbers of l conservative, careful Christian men and 1 women fear that the present machinery 1 Is not going to be effective, but on the l other hand produce system of lawless- l ness that will have it's effect for evil upon l the citizenship as whole.