The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-04-17
CO[. MALLORY HAS
 GAINED STRENGTH
However, Has no Chance to
 Overcome O'Neal's Lead
FIGHT IS WAXING WARM
Palmer and Buckner Record-In- .z terestIng Politics in Fifth and
 Seventh Districts
BY HERvEY W. LAIRD

Montgomery, April 6.-(Special. .)-While part of the best posted and most observ ant state leaders that Col. Emmet ONeal Is surely safely in the lead for the dem ocratic nomination for governor at the May primary, 1t is a fact that there has been more encouraging talk of Col. H. s. D. Mallory this week than for sew eral past He is gaining ground,' is an expression often reported. "but it is hardly probable that he can gain any thing like enough to elect him.
 In the meantime the fight waxes warm in all sections. An O'Neal man resented discredit of his word in north Alabama, and another speaker on that side offered, according to the press reports, to whip man In south Alabama, who inter- rupted him in his address. A Mallory speaker of wide note is handing out. some hot talk and Is raising the ire of the men he is after. Taking it as whole. the campaign is as intense now as one might wish for and be reasonable.
 Palmer and Buckner Record
 Much Is being made of whether or not Colonel ONeal voted for Palmer and Buckner in 1896, or for MT Bryan but the average man does not seem to be worried along that line. Some of the best men in the state, many of whom are now supporting Colonel Mallory. refused to support the Nebraska man and are not taking it as any bad blur on their rec ords However, like that of being a populist, the time has been too long to give much weight to what was done then, as most everybody who went either way has come back into the party and been forgiven.
 It is a fact, too, that politics is hurt Ing business and giving commerce a black eye and about every man met ex- presses the wish that 1t soon be over. Montgomery. for instance, has had a dose, or will have by the time the year Is over. First there was the race for county officers, so intense as to break the people up into factions Now comes the state primary itself drawing the lines closely and then will be the city primary, which promises to be the most exciting yet, as there are great many local ques- tions of interest to thrash out. One of these days, when Montgomery has day off from politics, it Is going to try It's hand at increasing it's better welfare.
 Exciting in the Fifth
 The race for Congress in the Fifth is growing exciting, developing inter- est as time draws near for the voting. Judge A. J. Driver of Lafayette Is fighting for the place held by Con- gressman J. Tn omas Heflin, who also lives at Lafayette: Heflin is making a swing about the circle, speaking in county seats. He is adopting tie Method plan of asking all who arc with him to stand up. and he says, practically all of those who go out t,. h h i'm, standing D.
 This fight is in many respects re- markable. Both men are popular at home, and, up to while ago, were life long personal and political friends. Recently there was a break between them. since which time they have pulled apart. Heflln has been in Con- eress since 1904. being elected to tha vacancy caused by the death ot Charles W. Thompson of Tusk kegee Judge Driver is probate judge Of his county and a member of the state democratic committee.