The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-02-02
EASY WORK FOR
STATE COMMITTEE
Senatorial Race Is No Longer
Involved In Doubt
TWO THINGS TO BE SETTLED
Date Is To Be Set For Primary Eleo.
ten and Another For State Con-
ventlon-Port Rate Question
About To Be Clarified.

Atlanta, February 1.-(Specia1) I'm
usual interest no longer attaches to the
meeting of the state democratic executive
committee, which will be held in Atlanta
next Friday
With the elimination of Governor Smith
from the senatorial situation, the COM
mittee's proceedings are no longer In
volved in any doubt, and there is no long
err any room for political speculation or
surmise.
1t will be a simple love feast, with a
largely cut and dried programme. The
name one date for primary and another
for the state convention. That done, the
committee will have performed its duty.
OF course 1t is to be expected that res
olutions will be adopted indorsing the
present administration and its work in
the direction of reforms, and it is also
generally understood that there will be
a resolution indorsing Mr.. Bryan and
declaring for him for the democratic NOM
inee for President
There is no question that the primary
will be ordered early in June, probably in
the first week, as the state convention
will have to meet in advance of the leg
islature's assembling, or at about the
same time. The legislature meets the
fourth Wednesday in June, and it is not
unlikely the state convention will be
called just before that time, so that it
can meet in the hall of the house of rep
resentatives, and so that plenty of time
will be allowed the delegates who are
to go to the national convention in Den
yer.
There will be only one primary; that Is
settled. In that primary state senator.
governor and all statehouse officers will
be nominated. In accordance with the
usual custom, Governor Smith will be
given another term unopposed, and it is
thought Senator Clay will be returned
without any serious opposition. So far
as now appears, there will not be any
opposition of moment to any of the state
house officers.
About half the county primaries will
be held on the same day as the state pri-
mares. The rest of the counties select
their own time for the primaries, being
governed largely by local conditions.
There is really nothing in the political
situation in Georgia this year that PROM
Uses anything exciting or out of the usual.
but had Governor Smith gotten into the
senatorial race, political slate-maklng
would have become frequent and popu-
lar.
Port Rate Matter.
1t may now be announced with practical
certainty that the so-called port rate
proposition has been dropped by the adj
ministration. and those who were loud
est in their demand for it, and it does not
appear to be in any danger of resurree
ton.
The one time advocates of the port rates
are not attempting to give any reasons fer
the abandonment of their pet issue. but
all indications point to the fact that they
have discovered the impracticability as
well as the impossbility of putting into
force any such system of rates as was
proposed under this plan. Though they
are 10th to admit this, they do it some
times in confidential conversation. but in
sist upon their absolute sincerity at the
time when the matter was first brought
to the attention of the railroad commits
sion.
The fact that some sentiment had been
worked up against the railroad commas
sion at the time II turned DOWN tne port
rates, made this good issue, and it went
so far as to become part of the Macon
platform, that instrument demanding their
enactment.
1t Is now admitted that the former
advocates of the port rates do not
propose to bring the matter again to
the attention of the railroad commits
sion. and it is the general opinion that
if they did the new commission would
turn them down just as emphatically
as did the old one.
The port ratS proposition, in gem
eral way, contemplated the reduction
in the present rates between the ports
of Savannah and Brunswick and in
terror points, by 10 to 20 per cent, and
the establishment of the same rate in
both directions, instead of igher
CLADCOAI