The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-07-29
LIVELY FIGHT FUR THE NEW COUNTY J. A. Estes Is Leading a Strong
 Lobby POLITICIANS ARE BUSY John L. Parker, Emmet o'NeaI and MaIIory's Man Are Mixing With the People at Montgomery.
 Weakley at Work.
POLITICIANS ARE BUSY
BY HERVEY w. LAIRD.

BY HERVEY w. LAIRD.
 Montgomery July 2S-(special.)- )-rhe most active lobby at the capital Is that in the interest of the new county of Pet tus, which Is incidentally building senti- ment for the new counties amendment to the constitution. Headed by J. A Estes, a past master in the art of getting next, some 15 or 20 fellows from Bessemer and other parts of the state are button-holing every man with toga and telling him how much 1t means to give aid and com fort to 8 county to bear the name of the late United States Senator E. w. Pettus, one of the most beloved men the state has ever had.
 What It Will Take.
 The new county of Pettus, fond off, spring of Representative Ragsdale of Jef- ferson, who Is very Ill and weak, pro- poses to sit down with Bessemer it's cen ter and seat, and take a little from Bbb, a little from Tuscaloosa and a little from Shelby. Walker will not be touched, and as Tuscaloosa. they say. has 12OO square miles, 1t can afford to lose some. The estimated property values of the new county would be s3OoOO.oo0. with popula- ton of eO,00O or so. Every sort of argu- ment Is used and number of men not heretofore interested are now taking a hand in the movement.
 Reese and Crafford.
 Senator Henry F. Reese of Dallas and Representative Jack Cranford of Walker are flirting with the new county idea. "f am not certain what will do about it. said the senator, but 1t Is a fact that the idea appeals to me Many of our counties are too big. And then, the map sent out the last time this race was made was deceptive, not Intentionally, and many did not understand it." Mir. Gran ford put 1t this way: What I say must not be taken as an indication of how will vote, but I am very much inclined, to favor small counties. There is no bet ter state In Its general prosperity than Georgia, and the counties over there are very small.''
 Parker Is Busy.
 John L. Parker, druggist, of Birning- ham, with a bee in his hat that is buzz ing to beat the band-the hathand-looks with confidence to a selection of himself for lieutenant governor. He spent yester- day in the city with other druggists draw ing pure food and drug bill, and meas ure to provide for regulation In the sale of poisons and narcotics, and talked a little politics on the side. He is coming back Friday for business. that Is political business, and at that time he will let it be known in formal way that he Is after the votes that will put him at the head of the 1911 senate. He found here much interest in his ambitions.
 Other Political Interests.
 The fact that Col. Emmett ONeal is ex- pected to be a few days in the city and the beginning of button-holing of the members of the legislature by Leon Me- Cord. head of the anti-constitutional pro- hibition movement, leads many to think that something Is going to come out in a few days on the local option side of the fight. It Is anticipated here that O'Neal may run for governor. J. B. Ellis of Sel- ma, head man of the H. S. D. Mallory campaign for governor, Is busy with all the voters and wears a smile that indi- cates that he Is making friends for his cause. Hector D. Lane, who would be commissioner of agriculture, and Reuben F. Kolb, with like ambition are mixing some.
 Weakley Keeps Busy
 Former Chief Justice S. D. Weakley is working with a will on the statutory pro- hibition laws that are to be fought out He believes the bill presented yesterday will reach the clubs and close up every saloon in the state Every feature of it has been tested In the United States su- preme court or state courts, and he Is of the opinion that there Is not loophole to get out for any violator Every place where men congregate to drink will be de- clared & nuisance and made amenable to the laws, no matter how rich the fre- Quenters are nor how much money they have. In his opinion the feature to annul charter is so potent that there is not a place where liquors are sold that cannot be broken up under the laws that he and his friends are preparing.
 Looking for Fight.
 The application for s50,00O more to fight the rate litigation suits in the federal courts is indicative to many that the of- f1cers in charge think the cases will be a long time drawn out This will make a total fund of $50,0o0 which will be avail able for this cause alone. The cases are now in the federal courts, the roads, by such orders, testing the rates
 Help the Old Vets.
 MT Bulger is after helping the old vets. His bill to exempt them from license and to increase the exemption amount for securing pensions from s4OO to 5000, Is in behalf of the boys of the sixties.
 Anti-Fee System.
 The anti-fee system amendment, pre- scented by MT. Glover In the house. has met approval of the judiciary committee, but 1t is thought best to present it in the shape of a resolution. and Messrs. Jere King and Glover were appointed to redraft 1t in that way. Both gentleman express the belief that 1t will pass both houses as 1t gives relief to those counties desiring it, and let's others do as they please.
 The temperance committee of the house spent some time on the general prohi- bition bill presented yesterday but did not reach a conclusion, putting the meas ure over to tomorrow to hear further from the author, Speaker Carmichael.
 This committee voted to report favor ably bills to prevent printing names of victims of criminal assault exempting liquor case witnesses from prosecution and prevent exposure of nude pictures in public places.
 The second of the general prohibition bills will be introduced in the house to- morrow.
 Jere King Is going about tonight with the Greater Birmingham bill in his pocket It will be introduced in both houses to- morrow and a public hearing will likely be set for next Tuesday before the two cnrnrnitfees in toiut session A dfat,rhipo