The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-11-21
GOSSIP ABOUT
FUTURE RESULTS
Effect of Amendment Fight on
Political Situation
BANKHEAD SURE WINNER
Fight For Seats In Congress Likely to
Be Lively-oscar Lewis May OPP
pose HefIin in the Fifth
District.
BANKHEAD SURE WINNER
BY HERVEY w. LAIRD.

Montgomery, November 20.-(Special.)-
Now that every Alabama member of the
Congress Of the United States is lined up
on one side or the other of the prohibi
ton amendment fight, some of the prob
able future results may be discussed, and
1t is becoming an interesting question.
Almost every man who talks of 1t at all
thinks there will be serious opposition to
each one save possibly the senator, for
whose places there is no great amount
of gossip SO far.
The defeat of the amendment certainly
could not injure John H. Bankhead for
return In 1911 to the upper house, as his
letter In opposition is REGARDED as one of
the strongest pieces of anti literature
now in circulation. At the same time he
has the call of usage, as long and as
honorable as the democratic party, of
giving a man at least two terms. Conner
is eliminated as a prospect against him,
as is Weakley, no matter what his out
comeafor governor. Johnston's time does
not run out until 1916 so that 1t is not
worth while discussing his successor.
1t is thus shown, l. return to Bankhead,
that his chances are bright, no matter
what the outcome. He has never voted
ing the amendment a. much because 1t
is not for prohibition in fact, as because
it Is a dangerous possibility In the juris-
prudence of the future. The rank amend
ers have nobody they can run with spe-
cial strength to begin with. now that
Conner, Weakley and even Mallory are
outside by their own actions. Hence the
outlook is good for the Fayette states
man under condition as they now exist.
Lower House Men.
With the two senators, these congress-
men are against the amendment: I'm
derwood of the ninth, Craighead Of the
fourth, Richardson of the eighth, Dent
of the second, and Clayton of the third.
Hefin of the fifth, Taylor of the first,
Burnett of the second, and Hobson of
the sixth, are with the amenders.
Already the friends of prohibition are
grooming Virgil Boulding of Jackson for
the place of Judge Richardson, who fol-
lowed the late lamented and greatly hon
ored Joe Wheeler. Harry Martin is stir
ring up his old camp fires to have an
other shy at Clayton 1t now appears,
while in the first district, where the anti
sentiment is strong, Taylor Is going to
have the fight of his life for his polit-
ical. head.
Even with the defeat of the amend
ment, now regarded as almost certain,
wise ones believe that Hobson will be
able to beat out opposition in the sixth
because of the popularity of the man.
which will overcome disapproval of his
position on the constitutional question.
Neither is the report that Hobson may
be induced to run against Bankhead for
the Senate credited, the impression being
that he will be content for awhile at
least to hold on to all that has been
given him.
Lewis May Get In.
There is a line of talk indicating that
Oscar Lewis may enter against Heflin
in the fifth, but the most interesting
feature is the possibility Of Judge N. d.
benson, who resigned last August from
the supreme bench, taking shot at the
handsome and affable Thomas. To be
honest, there is little credence given the
Lewis gossip, though this prominent Tus-
kegee man is against the amendment. 1t
is also recognized that Hef1in would be
mighty hard to dislodge, such task be-
ing possible only for strong man like
benson, who is red-hot for the latest
prohibition movement.
Dent, who Is making speeches against
the amendment, is serving his first term
from the second, and has had no time
to get into the limeight. So far no one
has been discussed as his successor
Craig, however, is sure of fight In the