The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-04-07
Vital Bearing on Politics
No EZRA SESSION IN SIGHT
Judge Weakley May Make Race
 for Governor.
yhe state Being Upheld In its Two Meat Important Cases, Makes
 aa Asninistr.tsen Candi- date . Possibility.

Tho two decisions Tuesday. the one by the State Supreme Court in Mont gomeryS and the other by the United States Court of Appeals at New Or leans. stirred things in Montgomery and set tongues to wagging. The de- clsions are expected to have vital bearing on political and governmental matters. for the next year. primarily because both the prohibition and the rate question have been wrapped up in the politics of the State.
 In the first place. as result of the 2sy's work. the proposed extra session of the Alabama Legislature is "indef- einitely postponed - The Governor has said so himself and even before he said it the wise ones in Montgomery had made the prophecy that with the Supreme Court decision upholding the prohibition act. the extra session was all on.
 At the. Capitol and on Dexter Ave- nue. the political gossipers declared that the New Orleans decision increas- ed the probabilities of Judge s. D. WeakIey's becoming a candidate for Governor. This phase of the case. as matter of fact. caused more talk than any other. Judge wsakley has not said he would or would not he a candidate. His recent statement, in ef- feet. was protest against the cam- paign opening so early, leaving the in- ference that he might get into the contest if the opportunity offered,
 On the other hand. the Montgomery politicians expressed the. opinion that the days happenings might lessen the chances of Dr. R. M. Cunningham entering the contest. although 1t was admitted that all talk was merely gos- sip. They based their opinion on the proposition that with a strong and for midable candidate in the race. like Hon. q Mo1f bama. and with Hon. Walter D. Seed running from West Alabama. Jefferson County could not well afford to have two candidates. inasmuch as at the present time the Governor. the Lieu- tenant Governor. one United States Senator and the Congressman were all from Jefferson. It was predicted that both Judge Weakley and Dr. Cunning ham would not run. On the other hand, some of Dr. Cunningham's s friends declared that his candidacy did not depend upon any other mans ac- tion and that his strength would be largely personal, that could not be won away. no matter who made the race.
 The gist of the opinion in Montgom- cry. however. was that Judge Weakley was nearer candidate for Governor Tuesday night than he was Tuesday morning.
 Mallory Sentiment Strong.
 In Lne mednWntle the COBt- mittee has continued its industrious work. Chairman Charles B. Teasley. who is at the head of the Montgomery County organization, said yesterday that the sentiment for Mir. Mallory was so strong that it did not matter who ran. ar what happened. He was sure that the majority of the people had already made up their minds as to Mir. Mallory and nothing would change them
 The decision of the Supreme Court in the prohibition case was a surprise to many, on account of a number of baseless rumors which had it that the court had made up It's mind to declare the law unconstitutional While there is apparently e strong anti-prohibition sentiment in Montgomery, the decision of the court Caused no great disap- pointment.
 The anti-prohibitionists were recon ciled to it. They knew that If the court declared the law unconstitution- al. the Legislature would be called inn mediately into extra session. And they feared that the Legislature would not only enact the prohibition law, but would put some extra trimmings on 1t
 On the other hand. the bust, . IS in. terests of the city were we'll pleased with the developments which prevent. ed an extra session. The merchants have suffered from the prevailing hard times. They do not hesitate to say that the bard times were brought on by drastic legislation both at Wash. fngton and on the hill. They did moi want an extra session and in this they are probably in line with the bushes, men of all the State.
 The decision at New Orleans means a continuance of the litigation. between the State and the railroads. The eases will come back to Judge Jones' Court