The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-11
FEW ARE SEEKING DELEGATES' PLACES Democratic Politicians Have Suddenly Lost Interest EXPENSE IS TOO HEAVY County Campaign Promises Some ln- teresting Fights = Committees
 May Be Called in the Next.
 Few Days.

The action of the state democratic ex- ecutive committee, in naming state pri- mary for electing delegates to the na- tiona1 democratic convention, checked in- simultaneously all political gossip-all that gossip which had begun so auspiciously.
 Since, however, the primary plan has been decided upon, and the big question of sending delegates to the national con- vention has been left to the "dear peo- ple,' everything politically is at halt as if it had been subjected to great surprise, if not a douce of ice cold water.
 There is not a general announcement of candidates for the i7norary positions of delegates as there W. have been had there been no cost of 5000 attached to the candidacy. There have been but three announcements for delegate at large. There have been no announce ments for district delegates from any of the nine districts of the state. It is considered probable that the reasons for this apparent apathy is that the dele gateships are simply honorary positions, that to get them entails an expenditure of a considerable sum of money, inas- much as the times are considered hard" :" and that to make the trip to Denver, be a good fellow" and return, requires additional money. At any rate, there is no avalanche of announcements.
 R. N. Rhodes of Birmingham announce ed himself a candidate for delegate at large yesterday. It is considered cer- tainty that Col John w. Tomlinson will be another candidate, as will Capt E. w. Booker. Inasmuch as the sev- eral congressman will have to make the races for reelection in the May pri- mary, it is considered probable that that fact will exclude them from the race for delegate. Governor Conner will not run, and in spite of the most urgent requests of the prohibitionists, who desire Henry B. Gray to represent them, it is consid- cred positive that the lieutenant gov erpor will not comply. Prior to the adop- tion of the primary plan there were sev- eral prominent citizens mentioned. In ad- dition to MT. Tomlinson, Capt E. w. Booker was mentioned, as were R. J. Lowe of Eufaula, and Congressman lief lin. Since the adoption of the primary plan, however, nothing has been heard from any of these gentlemen.
 
 It becomes evident that the only fea- lures of the state primary will be the contest for the two vacancies on the bench of the supreme court. for which there are several announced candidates, viz, Judge James J. Mayfield of Tusca- loosa, Senator John A. Lusk of Gunters- vile, J. M. Chiffon of Montgomery and J. A. Bilbro of Greensboro. No opposi- tion has developed as yet to Charles M. Henderson, president of the railroad commission, and John H. Wallace, fish and game commissioner.
 Chairman Aird of the Jefferson coun- ty executive committee, and Chairman E. K. Campbell of the Ninth district committee, will probably call their com mittees together within the next two weeks The county campaign will bring out many candidates, and is expected to be exceedingly interesting for an off-year in politics. There will hardly be oppo- sition to Congressman Oscar Underwood, who has already announced his cand- dacy for reelection.