The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-09-18
HEAVY ARTILLERY IS BEING PLACED Strenuous Fight Absut to Open
 In State GOSSIP AMONG LEADERS Anti-Amendmen Faction Will Center Attention on Main Fight and
 Will Espouse No Mans
 Cause for Office.
GOSSIP AMONG LEADERS

| While the conservative element of both factions admit that at the present mo- l ment the anti-amendment contingency has the shade the stronger support, and be- cause of the fact that both realize this advantage can be overcome there Is des- tined to begin almost immediately one of the most thorough political campaigns in the history of the state of Alabama The prohibition party favoring the adop- tion of the amendment the purpose of which is to put prohibition plank in the constitution of the state, having se- cured the promise of its leaders to raise large campaign fund, will put forth Its strongest men to endeavor with per- suasion of the tongue to call back to the fold those. who are no longer it's mem- bers.
 The temperance faction, which seeks to keep intact the constitution of the state. will formally organize It's campaign com mittee in Montgomery Wednesday. I. Lee Long of Butler will be chosen chair man of the committee, and representative men from every section of the state will be placed under his leadership to carry out the programme, F. M. Jackson of Birmingham, as Is known, Is chairman of the pro-amendment faction.
 Center Attention on Amendment. Unlike the pro-amendment faction, the temperance side is exerting It's efforts solely to carry out the programme as concerns the amendment Therefore, 1t is certain that no candidacy for gov ernor will be announced until after the fight. which wages at present is settled The pro-amendment faction, as is known, has centered its affection on Judge Sam uel D. Weakley, the man who made the Fuller bill, and who fathered the amend ment to the constitution. Walter D. Seed, state treasurer, is also a candidate and his platform is prohibition. Hugh s. D. Mallory of Selma is another candidate, and his platform is prohibition. So for the newt month or more the pro-amend- ment faction, it is presumed, will be sadly split up between its love for Weak ley and the claims of those others who have strong claims on it's affection.
 While 1t is said that Governor Conner will not make any formal speeches in fa- vor of the amendment for some time to come, it is generally believed that he will put forth his energy to carry the point to which he has declared fealty and in the bringing to the front of which he was chiefly instrumental. As to wheth- CT or not Governor Conner will make the race for the Senate at the head of the pro-amendment faction there is doubt among the conservative element. Will Try to Defeat Leaders. The anti-amendment side of the ques- tion Is grinding no mans axe. It is safe to predict, however, that after the amend ment election certain gentlemen opposing the wave which they declare to be ntem- perate in the extreme, will endeavor to defeat the prohibition candidates, Judge Weakey, Colonel Mallory, Treasurer Seed and others. Judging from the pulse beats of that representative gathering of Ala bama statesmen in Montgomery Wednes- day Robert k. Spragins, state senator of Madison, seems to be the favorite at the present time.
 Senator Spragins, who was elected on the dispensary platform. and who is now opposing the amendment to the constitu- ton, has made no statement in regard to political ambition, but it Is known that were he chosen he would make the fight against incorporate views and legislation In Alabama. It has also been said that Charles l.. Henderson, president of the railroad commission, an appointee of Gov ernor Conner, has many friends who will endeavor to persuade him to enter the list. Emmett O'NeaA made the declaration in Huntsville that he was serving the anti-amendment clause with no other am- bition than to restore Alabama to the ranks of the sane.''
 Grays Position.
 Although Lieutenant Governor Henry B. Gray, who was elected on the prohibition platform made formal announcement for governor some months ago in Mobile 1t is not considered likely that he will make an announcement of his .candi- dacy unless the amendment to the con stitution is defeated. Some days ago he stated to a representative of The Age Herald that he would announce in case of the defeat of the amendment, declar- ing at the same time his belief that in defeating the amendment the people would be repudiating WeakIey who made 1t an issue and Mallory, "who preserved 1t an issue"
 There has been no announcement for lieutenant governor. A. H. Carmichael speaker of the lower house of the legisla- ture, will not be candidate unless as he says. something comes between you dhe prohibtionists) and your desires" which the people interpret to mean unless the amendment is defeated"
 His candidacy, therefore, hinges on the condition on which that of Lieutenant Governor Gray hinges
 It is generally known that John l., Parker the popular druggist and presi- dent of the Board of Education is a can didate for lieutenant governor. although he has made no announcement. J. A. Mitchell of Gadsden, well-known Ala bamian, has been mentioned He is and has been for number of years a member of the state executive committee.
 Perry Thomas May Run.
 And Perry Thomas of Barbour will run, if, as he says they want me to run" In Montgomery Wednesday. in converse ton with an AgeHerald representative, he said: T am not making race for lieutenant governor or any other office. After the amendment fight, however, will make the race if the people want me to run. I am against the constitutional amendment first, however, for I believe the introduction of sumptuary laws into the article of principles is stab at the heart of personal liberty and the institu- tion of home"
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 In Favor of the Hebrews.
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