The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-02-02
WEIKLEY COMES
 DOWN FROM RACE O'Neal's Supporters Hold Con- ference Here Today. SOME POLITICAL GOSSIP Weakley Gives as Renson for With drawing Fact that He Is So
 BusiIy Engaged in Railroad
 Rate Cases.
SOME POLITICAL GOSSIP.
By BURR BLACKBURN.

The formal withdrawal of Judge s. D.. Weakley from the race for governor, after consultation with his friends, was the feature in political circles here yesterday. The announcement of Charles Hender- sons platform this morning will remove all doubt as to his candidacy, and po- itical leaders will watch his banner very closely for the next few days to deter mine whether he can march in the front rank with O'Neal and Mallory. That he will not stand for the repeal of the pro hibition laws is evident from his platform. His stand, however, is not as strong as was expected. MT. Henderson is in the city plannig his campaign.
 Whether MT. Henderson has the backing of Governor Conner is not known. While 1t has been openly stated and fneyer de- nied that Henderson is thea governor s choice to succeed him and carry out his plans, a close friend of the governors S said yesterday afternoon that he doubted whether Conner will vote for Henderson.
 O'NeaI's Friends to Confer.
 The big political attraction of today Is conference of the friends of Emmet O'Neal to be held at noon in the candi- dates headquarters on the third floor of the First National Bank building.
 At the call of his campaign manager, T. H. Molton the staunch supporter of the Florence leader from all parts of the state will come to confer with reference to the short campaign. The time is too brief for anything like general cam paign, and it is necessary that the wol be taken up by his friends. Campaign headquarters will also be opened in Bir- mingham this week by Mallory and Hen derson.
 Developments in county politics are in the air awaiting the action of the com mittee on Saturday. Unless there is con- question of new county pledge will not get on the ticket. but steps are being taken h that direction
 Frank Cahaan is the first to announce for senior criminal court judge, and is making an active campaign. He is meet ing with encouragement on every side. The Age-Herald prints the formal an nouncement of Judge J. c. Carmichael for circuit judge in opposition to
 A. A. Coleman. Judge Carmichael was chancellor of this division for a number of years, and Is one of the most popular lawyers at the local bar
 Weakley Issues Statement.
 Following is Judge Weakleys statement withdrawing from the race:
 '1n the later part of August, 1909, I publicly declared my purpose to become a candidate for governor in the demo- cratic primary to be held in 1910; but did not organize or institute campaign, expressly deferring that action until a later period. At that time I had reason to believe that the taking of testimony in the railroad rate litigation, with which I have been connected since March, 1907, would commence the middle of October, and that pursuant to. the precedents of 1902 declaration of the last democratic state convention, the primary election would occur in August of this year. Had these expectations been realized. I would have had time to perform my duties as one of
 
 railroad rate litigation, and further to have made an active campaign for gov ernor. The railroad companies did not commence the taking of testimony until January, and the date for the primary has been advanced by the state executive committee to May 2.
 q am, therefore, confronted with a condition which raises the question whether l shall quit the railroad rate litigation at a critical and special period to press personal primary which has been called at the early date above stat ed; for. it would be unjust to myself my friends and the princirles for which l would stand, to be a candidate unless I could personally organize and conduct an active and aggressive campaign. 'In February, 1909, when I declined an appointment to the office of chief jus tice of the supreme court of Alabama, rendered me by the governor. after refer ring to the railroad litigation, which the attorney general and the state special counsel were then preparing for argu- ment before the United States circuit court of appeals at New Orleans, I said: An employment in cases of this char acter and magnitude. involving import ant principles of law and large sums of money to the state and people, is it. self & semi-public trust, which 1 do not feel at liberty, for personal considera- tions or for motives of personal ambi- toin, to lay down at time when my services are most needed.
 T now reaffirm that declaration as my conception of the loyalty which every at torney and counselor owes to his clients, when his withdrawal from a case or cases would be embarrassing to them or might be detrimental to interests which he is representing.
 After mature deliberation, aided by the counsel of trusted personal and poit- ica1 friends. in whose judgment I have confidence, and who approve my action, hereby definitely announce that I will not enter the race for governor in the approaching primary and that the con dition to which I have referred leads me to alter and abandon the purpose I entertained last August and which would have pursued except for the req sons stated.
 "I wish to express to the many friends throughout the state, who at various times, by word and by letter, have ex- pressed to me 8 wish that l might be- come governor. and who have offered me their support. my sincere appreciation and gratitude"
 SAMUEL D. WEAKLEY."
 Birmingham, Ala, February 1, 19o9'