The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-10-04
q a ELMORE MEN SAFE AND SANE Amenders Fighting For New Converts. UNIQUE SITUATION DEVELOP. Former Conner Men Desert Band
 Wagon. Anti Strength Lies in Northern Section, While Ardent Amendment Men
 Are In south Part
 of County.
UNIQUE SITUATION DEVELOP,
BY CLYDE 4. yERBEcK.

Tallassee Oct. 3--lSpeclal.l l--Al- though the special election on the Con- stiturional Amendment is almost two months in the future. the campaign has reached that point in Ehnore County where polls of the strength of the op- posing factions have already been ta- ken.
 The most conservative impartial es- timates give the county to the Antl- Amendment forces by close majority, while the leaders of that faction de- clare positively that the majority w.H be in the ratio of from two to one as high as five to one. On the other hand those in the front rank of the Amendment faction are claiming the county, but admit that. If they win. 1t will be by only close vote.
 The political situation in Fillmore County Is unique in itself During the last two gubernatorial campaigns. El- more County citizens gave Mir. Conner handsome majority in each instance. In other words. a minority of Fillmore voters espoused the cause of Dr. Cum ningham.
 It was noticeable that during his re- cent tour through the country beats ot Fillmore, Governor Conner was accom- panied by men who had followed the Cunningham banner in the past In
 
 eral pointed references to his friends on the platform as having been Gun ningham men,"
 Many Desert Band Wagon.
 A majority of the men In Elmore County who followed Mr. Conner dn' ring his campaigns for office. accord. ing to popular report. have deserted the band wagon for the Anti-Amend ment cause. It would seem that much of the Conner force of the past is now a.rainst the Amendment, while some of the Cunningham men now favor II
 Perhaps as feasibIe plan for se- curing prediction on the result of the balloting on the ans ndment Is iThorm- ation gleaned from rural mail carriers. A number of these nave been inter- \ viewed. Also written reports have been secured from all but one or two heats in the county. With one or two exceptions, it Is predicted that every beat will register against the Amend ment while in some of the beats only a fifth of the residents are known to favor 1t.
 In the northern section of the county are settlements of Primitive Ba9tists or "Hardshells" Three miles from Ec- lectic is a Primitive Baptist Church Services were held in this church Sat urday morning at the hour MT. Conner spoke in the normal school at Eciec- tic. The Baptlsts, however. attended ttefr own church ~ services. while 6 number of them drove to Eclectic in the afternoon to hear John V. smith oppose the Amepdment.
 Southern Beats Favor It.
 On the contrary, the most ardent friends of the Amendment in Elmore County are found in the southern beats whether they will be able to muster the strength to overcome the majority in the northern part of the county is question
 Fillmore County has suddenly become the field for bitter fight between the two forces The Amendment friends are sending their best talent into the northern part of the county in the ef- fort to secure eleventh hour converts. Governor Conner made tour of the country beats last week. Speaker Carmichael, of the House of Represent atives, will speak at Tallassee, Tues day night. And lesser lights are trav- cling the county in parties of three on an average of once a week.
 While the Anti-Amendment men are alive to the situation, they have as yet not equalled the campaign of their op- ponents. They claim that the minds of the Fillmore farmers are fixed. and that the Amendment speakers have not changed any part of the final result. Nevertheless, there is crying need In the more remote districts. 1t Is said, for Anti-Amendment speakers to bolster up the existing sentiment, and to answer opposing speakers. and 1t is claimed that requests for the same are being made to the county leaders.
 If the Anti-Amendment workers in- troduce speakers of equal talent Wfth their opponents. and continue to hold the present sentiment against the Amendment in line. it is believed that Fillmore will be in the Anti" column by safe ma jority on November 2s.