The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-12-24
POLITICS WILL WAIT ON THE COMMITTEE Period of General lnaction Until
 January "A
  SOME OF THE CANDIDATES Four Aspirants For Governor Now In Field and Some Withdrawals
 Are Regarded as Not
 Unlikely.
BY HUGH W. ROBERTS.

In the opinion of many people there will be little change in the political situation in Alabama until after the meeting of the state executive committee, January 24, 1910.
 At the present time there are four candidates in the field for the governor ship. They are Col. Emmet O'Neal of Florence. Judge Samuel D. Weakley of Birmingham. State Treasurer Walter D. Seed of Tuscaloosa and Col. Hugh S. D. Mallory of Selma. For lieutenant gov- ernor, Senator F. Perry Thomas of Barr bour has made formal announcement. pr. John L. Parker of Birmingham has long been considered a probable candidate.
 It is generally believed that in choos- ing a governor the people will "remem- Der the amendment" Of the four gen- tlemen who have announced their cam didacies, but one fought the proposed ada dition to the constitution. Colonel O'Neal, as Is remembered. struck the initial blow which put into operation the army which fought and won the battle for the pres- ervation of constitutional rights in Ala bama. On the other hand, Colonel Mall 
 change their attitudes towards the sub mission of the amendment to the peo- ple was given credit, during the con- fict, for making that entirely unique is- sue possible. Judge weakley, as is re- membered, struck valiant blows in be- half of the amendment. He was tireless in his devotion to the cause, and it is considered probable that mnay of the votes cast for the amendment were won over by his argument. Treasurer Seed, too, was a mighty warrior in what he considered moral issue. and there is no doubt but that he deserves some sig nal recognition for the part that he played.
 Perry Thomas, in the opinion of politi- cal seers, has a splendid opportunity to win the position of lieutenant governor. He was one of the first to enlist in the cause of the constitution. His oratory was effective in aiding in the defeat of the amendment and he is man of great personal magnetism. Mr. Parker of Bir- mingham, the only man repeatedly men, tioned as probable candidate in opposi- tion, will, in case he formally announces, receive an excellent vote in the northern half of the state, and in Mobile county, where he formerly resided. In the amend ment fight MT. Parker took no active part.
 What the developments will be after the meeting of the executive committee is a matter for speculation. It is generally believed that Charles L. Henderson. pres- ident of the railroad commission, and anti-amendment leader, will ask for the governorship. Tn spite of his statement to the effect that he will not make the race, friends of Senator Frank s. Moody of Tuscaloosa are still hopeful that he will do so. His friends consider him tho ideal candidate in the present crisis, be- cause of the fact that while he was heart fly opposed to the amendment in that race, he yielded no little of his temper ance proclivities Because of the empti- ness of the treasury of the state, and the reputed need of a man who can refill it, Governor Jelks is mentioned. and his friends would be pleased were he to put on the armor again in spite of the fact that the applicant for third term has seldom met with success in this country. Sydney J. Bowie Is still receiving fiatter- ing mention.
 It is generally believed that those can didates who opposed the amendment will desire a spring primary. and that those who favored the amendment will ask that the day of balioting be postponed until August. The memory of the narrowing days when the amendment was an issue will be fresher in spring, 1t is pointed out, than in August.
 And 1t is said that if the primary is scheduled for spring two, at least, of the candidates who have announced will pull in" their colors in the interest of Colonel Mallory.
 At the present time, In the estimation of the people at large, the race is one between Colonel O'Neal of Florence, who first drew sword against the cohorts of the ''amenders." and Colonel Mallory of Selma, whose influence with certain senators made possible the awful amend ment conflict.