The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-13
POLITICAL GOSSIP
 AT THE CAPITOL
Tatt's Probable Policy Is Being
 Watched
FIGHT FOR COLLECTOR
Tebbetts of Mobile Scents Trouble Ahead-Judee s. D. Weakley is Being Mentioned For Guber-
 material Race in Ala.
BY HERVEY w. LAIRD.

BY HERVEY w. LAIRD.
 Montgomery, December 12.-tSpecial9- For the first time since reconstruction days there is a decided interest on the part of all classes of citizens in what may be termed republican politics in the south. While there has always been more or less attention to the relations of republican politicians to the balance of the community, this year sees an ad- ditional notice because of the evident in tention of Presdent-elect Taft to proceed along different lines in the matter of se- lecting officers for the various positions. It is an open secret that some of the present officeholders fear that they will not only lose their places but that dem ocrats of the more conservative order will be assigned to the duties which they now perform Already there is much activity in the matter of securing in dorsement from all classes of citizens for men who desire to hold on to their present situation. E. J Parsons, who was made district attorney at Montgom- cry, although he lived outside of the dis trict, is said to be seeking the sigma lures of the bar as a whole to sug- gestion that he be re-appointed. His term does not expire until next Febru- ary.
 Fight For Collector.
 The fight for collector of the port of Mobile promises to be one of the most spectacular of the coming contest, w. r. Tebbetts, who is now the collector and who has held his job in large measure as a result of his kinship to United States Senator Frye. already sees trouble ahead. It is very evident that F. H. Lathrop will be so successfully boomed for the position that he will stand a good show of appointment Lathrop is practical sort of fellow, a successful business man, owner of extensive sawmill plants in Alabama and in the northwest. promo ter of river and harbor improvement and the son-in-law of Governor Conner,
 It is by no means certain, however. that this good job will be allowed to waver between even so popular a pair as Tebbetts and Lathrop. Rumor has 1t that a number of strong fellows are looking out for the position and that when it comes time for appointments Washington will be pretty well advised as to the adaptibility of some half dozen men. Of course this work is of the gum shoe order and is not getting very much into the papers.
 State House Gossip.
 Whether or not former Chief Justice s. D. Weakley will become candidate for governor is about the livest topic in state politics at this time. To illus trate how uncertain men are this story is told: A man from the northern part of the state was seen one day and O slxad uhaf ba tbouPhf abOut +tY can put it down that Sam WealSley is not going to run for anything else but the chief justice of the supreme court Three days afterward this same man expressed doubt and said that he did not know what was going to come out of it except that his information was that much pressure was being brought on Weakley to go into the raee.a
 Some men seem to think that Gov ernor Conner has senatorial ambitions and that he believes his chances would be better for succeeding Bankhead with man thoroughly in line with him and his policies in the governors chair. Some have gone so far as to intimate that a combination might be formed with the governor for senator, Judge Weakley for governor and Chief Justice Tyson for chief justice. To be frank, however, very little credit is given to this report. There is also story to the effect that Speaker Carmichael and Congressman Richardson of the Eighth district are considering an agreement to pool forces with view to sending Richardson to the Senate and Car michael to Congress. This, like the other story is not taken with any great amount of seriousness.
 Prohibition Situation.
 The week has developed the fact that Montgomery and Mobile are much more likely to observe the new prohibition law than was anticipated some time ago. Whether this is the result grow ing out of a fear of an extra session of the legislature or a development of the law and order spirit. one is not able to say However, this seems to be fact. Both the governor and Brooks Lawrence of the Anti-Saloon league have stated publicly that in their opinion both counties will give sympathetic support to the anti-liquor enactments
 This Is especially interesting in con nection with the report that reaches the capitol that after all R. E. Spraggns of Huntsville will enter the race for gov ernor on a local option platform. Several men here this week have expressed the belief that Spraggins really intended to run, and that if he did he would have the entire support and backing of all those forces which are opposed to prohi- bition of the absolute order. These would include the straight whisky people, the local option advocates, and ?. great many who do not believe in the effectiveness of any liquor laws in controlling the situ- ation.
 Another interesting feature. of this situ- ation is that under the new law doctors will not be able to prescribe liquor or wines of any kind in the ordinary run of their practice. Druggists will be allowed to sell alcohol in limited quantities, but not allowed to dispense that class of liquors commonly designated as beverages The attorney general of tb~ state has had a number of letters from doctors seeking to knUwe how they shall consider this fea- ture of the law. It is contended that in certain classes of illness the use of liquors is imperative. It is alro contended that none of these can be prescribed pur- chased or sold within the limits of the state without violsL'on of the prohibit tion laws This is considered a very seri- ous thing, and effort is now being made to secure a ruling that will he effective in obviating the most radical features.
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 Death Leaves a Vacancy
 Anniston. December 12-(Special )-The death of w. L. Dale leaves the office Of constable of beat 15 vacant and his successor will probably be named by Gov