The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-06-28
SOME WEEKEND GOSSIP
 FROM THE STATE CAPITOL
BY HERvEY W. LAIRD.

Montgomery, June 7.-(Special) )-Even two years away good politicians believe that the fight for governor is lined up. There seem to be right now three cer- tainties for the field, with two or three probabilities. Henry B. Gray of Birming- ham, lieutenant governor, and H. s. D. Mallory, chairman of the democratic state committed. are announced, and Will liam w. Brandon may be regarded as sure to come making the three certain ties. Probabilities are Walter D. Seed and A. H. Carmichael
 This estimate leaves out former Chief Justice s. D. Weakley, who has been spoken of with favor by many in line with the administration, and former Lieutenant Governor R. M. Cunningham, who was recently, and without any effort on his part, elected to the Denver con vention as a delegate at large. The dope here is that Cunningham will not run, but throw support to Mallory, and that Weakley is not going to just yet give up his ambition to become chief jus tice by the votes of the people.
 Whatver of talk there may have been about Gray not fighting to a finish is without foundation in fact. He will re- main to the end. In fact, there has never been time when he for a moment con sidered retiring. Though he has been lit- tie in the limelight recently it is fact that he has been very earnestly at work, with many friends in all parts of the state, building up and developing his fol- lowing.
 MT. Seed has said that he will not en- ter the race if he has not a fair assur- ance beforehand of success. He is in a receptive mood. MT. Carmichael, who is speaker of the house, made his greatest plea for prominence on the prohibition issue, and the bill was passed, so that there is no prohibition question in Ala bama, the state having now as good laws to that effect as one could wish.
 Second District.
 The politicians of the Second Congress sional district have had more caucusing and talking during the past 10 days than one would have thought possible in con test for an office even as good as that of Congressman. A dozen men have Leen on the point of announcing for the vacancy caused by the death of Col A. A. Wiley, and trades and counter trades are reported to have been made in all sec tions of the district. It now seems that in spite of all that can be done some five or six men will go before the people for the position. fighting it out to the end Of the campaign.
 The Second district has always been somewhat of a ground for spectacular political contests. Among the men who served in Congress from this constitu- ency is the Hon Jesse Stallings, erst- while citizen of Butler county, now of Birmingham, who made much of repu- tation as a lawmaker in Washington and gained much more notoriety as candi- date for governor in the race which was won by the late Governor Sanford. The report that possibly Colonel Stallings may come back to have a try at his old posi- ton Is an interesting event of the pre- liminaries in the campaign.
 Just here 1t may not be amiss to say that Alabama lost a very valuable man in the death of Colonel Wiley. In the event that MT Taft is elected President Colonel Wiley, who was his close per sonal friend, would have been able to accomplish a great deal for the state. Tn addition to this the popular Second district Representative had many ways of influence at the national capital that had been and would have been utilized for the profit and advancement of his people.
 Means Much For Business.
 Conservative business men take view