The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-12
Ed. R. Norman Is Elected Mes
 Senger to Washington
BATTLE ABBEY LOCATION
Books of Girls Industrial School at MontevaIIo Are Reported Correct By State Examner-lnter-
 est in Crop Contest.

Montgomery, January 11.-(Special.)- After solemnly declaring that William J. Bryan and John Worth Kern received the total electoral vote cast at the elec- tion in Alabama on November 8, the members of the electoral college today elected Ed R. Norman, Birmingham newspaper man, to be the messenger and transmit the findings of the board to Washington. The entire Il electors chosen at the said election were present save MT. Haralson of Pike, whose place was taken by Kyle Price of Troy.
 After assembling in the office of the secretary of state. Emmett O'Neal of Florence elector at large, was selected as president. c. B. Brown, chief clerk to the secretary of state, was made clerk. Horace Hood, Jr., of Montgomery; J. M. Parker of Equality, W. T. Edmondson, Jr., of Anniston, W. W. Haralson of Troy and E. R. Norman of Birmingham were nominated for messenger, this being the only place for which there was a fight. William E. Wailes of Selma was also nominated Norman was elected on the fourth ballot.
 In making his address MT. O'Neil said that the democracy furnishes the only real science of government and the south trusts yet to see a democratic admins tration at Washington. '"The result of the recent election did not meet our approv- al,'' he said, nor do we consider the election of MT. Taft, the republican nomi- nee, benediction.''
 The following were present: From the state at large, Emmet O'Neal and John c. Pugh; First district, W. L. Hybart; Sec ond district, w. w. Haralson; Third dis trict, G. Earnest Jones; Fourth district, Harry Edmondson; Fifth district, c. S.. Cornelius; Sixth district. Robinson Brown; Seventh district, S. L. Fuller; Eighth dis trict, R. c. Brickell; Ninth district, Lee Cowart.
 Richmond the Place.
 Montgomery followers of Lee and Davis take the view that the Battle Abbey of the Confederacy ought to be located at Richmond, if the site selected in that city Is such as to be In every way creditable to the enterprise In the event, however, that the institution does not receive the attention it deserves from the people of the Virginia capital, 1t is thought that Montgomery is the logical place. Mayor w. M. Teague, Tax Collector M. s. Gil- mer and Probate Judge J. B. Gaston agreed on the views expressed above.
 Books Examined.
 Examiner John Purifoy has reported the books of the Girls Industrial school at Montevallo in perfect shape, and the ex- pendlture of $2oO,0O0 in the budding fund all reported, only $500 of the amount be- ing yet in the treasury.
 Assistant Examiner H. T. Lee reports Tax Collector T. P. Crsnford of Coosa county due the state ssO7aS. a result, he thinks of the failure of the probate judge to certify the total taxes. These other officers are given clean record: J. H. Johnson, superintendent of education; w, E. Bartley, circuit clerk; T. H. Jones' tax assessor; R. w. Walker. sheriff: T. J. Tipputh. ex-sheriff J. A. Crawford, pro- bate judge.
 Interest in Contest.
 Much interest is taken in the excellence of crop contests just launched by the com missioner of agriculture. East Alabama reports half dozen entries and there Is hardly county that has not sent in mo- tice that 1t will have from three to a dozen competing. The office at the capital is sending out the information to many now.
 The outlook for big crop of cotton Is reported in the increased sales of fertil- izer tags at the office of the commits sioner of Agriculture. They are very much heavier this year than at the same time last. Shipments from the factories are heavier, the idea being that the goods can be hauled out and gotten ready for use be- fore the bad weather sets in.