The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-24
PECULIAR MIX-UP
 IN MONROE COUNTY
Funny Turn of the Political
 Wheel
GOVERNOR MUST DECIDE
Office of Tax Assessor Is Declared Va cant as the Result of Political Manipulation That Failed
 to Carry.

Selma, January 28.-(speeial)-A pecu- liar situation exists in Monroe county over the recent declaration by Judge L B. Slaughter that the office of tax assessor Is vacant. At the election held last November Boardman Finl5lea was elected tax assessor. In the May pri- maries he had been nominated to the office over Julius P. Parrish and MT. Rawls the incumbent.
 A double-barreled primary had been ordered by the Monroe county democratic executive committee and the race seemed to be between Rawls the old assessor and Julius Parrish. In order to cut down MT. Rawls' chance of getting a ma brity in the first so 1t is stated, Finklea who was a civil engineer by profession was induced to enter the race. little thought being held among the "wise ones" that he would stand great deal of chance of being elected. The plan was that Finklea having cut down Rawls strength, Parrish if he did not run ahead in the first primary would certainly be second and would then make the landing in the run off But "the best laid plans of mice
 
 vised version has it. The primary was held and Finklea led all the rest with Parrish second and Rawls In the 'also ran" class, however, neither contestant had a majority of the votes cast.
 Finklea's Friends Make Move.
 Then came the move of Finklea's friends. It was recalled that the state executive committee had declared against the run off primary plan, and the Monroe committee was called and the sec ond primary was annuled.
 MT. Finklea ran unopposed in the No vember election. Then came petition to Judge Slaughter to declare the office vacant on the grounds that MT. Finlklea had not paid his poll taxes nor had he lived in the state for two years having previously resided in Florida. The peti- ton was submitted by MT. Parrish and 1t was incontestible as to facts. MT. Parrish did not claim his own election or nomination, but set out that MT. Fink lea not having been a qualified elector in the democratic primary could not have been nominated and for the same eason could not have been elected in November. Upon the facts being substantiated Tn the petition Judge Slaughter declared the office vacant.
 The matter of appointing democrat
 
 tating the minds of the democrats Of Monroe and Governor Conner Is soon to have the question on his hands. MT. Far rish has the strongest kind of endorse ment including practically all of the gov ernor's staunch supporters MT. Finklea in the natural order of things would likely receive the appointment but he is barred if the appointment is not put off until after March 1, for he will not have been in the state two years until that date Of course the opponents to the latter will urge that the appointment be made at the first possible moment and the prospects of a battle royal over the office seems probable.
 A New FIim-FIam Game.
 Selma negroes have a reputation far and near of being more than ordinarily smart Since prohibition went into ef- feet they have, or at least one of them has, hit upon new fiim-f1am game.
 Friday afternoon negro from Lowndes county was approached by a Selma negro and asked if he didn't want to buy a little whisky. The visiting darkey grinned and began to lick his lips at the very prospect, for he had been unable to scare up a single drink during the en- tire day. The Selma negro then told him that he was afraid to sell it to nim inside the city for Chief Walters guar dians of the peace were too alert but he would meet him at the south approach of the county bridge as he was starting home and would have the whisky with him.
 The appointment was kept and a bot tie labeled as whisky and looking like whisky was handed over in exchange for a dollar. The country negro then drove off and when about a mile from town pulled the cork and took a nip To his disgust 1t was found that he had paid a dollar for a flask of sweetened water and he immediately returned to the city to look for the negro that had finn f1ammed him, but he is still looking for