The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-09-11
NEXT SENATE HAS
PEOPLE GUESSING
Governor and Lieutenant Gov
ernor Are at Odds
QUESTION OF. STRENGTH
Race for President PROTEIN of Sem
ate Probably VIII Have Three Con-
testants and VIII Line Up
Forces for Fray
QUESTION OF STRENGTH

MFHN
Montgomery, September 10.-(Spe-
cial.)-As the time for more pro-
longed boiling of state politics APP
proaches the matter of chief interest
for the cauldron stirrers centers in the
probable construction of the next state
senate which Is to be determined i'm
mediately upon convention of the solons
on January 10, next. The nigh ira
vesty of an out-and-out local option
governor having as his right bower an
avowed "state- wider" in the person of
Lieut.. Gov Walter D. Seed is the uni
versal cause of all the doubt which
has obtained possession of the 1egis-
1ative minds. For, in this contrast lie
the germs sof uneasiness as to con-
struction of the senate committee,
which are the potent influences which
make for the success or death of any
legislative endeavor.
Question of Strength
The whole question Is merely one of
strength Whether the anti-liquor
members of the. senate will be in suf-
fcient force to confer committee APP
pofntive power upon the lieutenant
governor, who presides over the des-
TIMES of the senate. or whether the
local optionists will be in sufficient
strength to shift that responsibility
upon the president pro tenn, is a mat
ter which, at the present time, seems
to be little in doubt. Conservative
members of the upper body who have
been approached relative to this di-
vision give out that the local option
lists have a shade the better of the ar
gument, but by a majority so small
as to render speculation almost fool
hardy. But even accepting as fact
the understanding that the "antis" are
in the minority with respect to num-
bers the doubt recurs as to what con-
struction the senate will place upon
the provisions for the appointment of
the upper house committees.
Since the last constitutional conven-
tion met there have been two sessions
of the legislature. in one of which
this appointive power was usurped by
the lieutenant governor and in the
other the honor was voted to the pres
ident pro tenn. This year the struggle
will again be brought to the light, and
the strongest will prevail.
Probable Candidates
Three members of the senate have
80 far openly avowed their intentions
of making the race for president pro
tenn. Tom S. Frazier of Union Springs
was one of the first ones in the race
and is said to have garnered a strength
that will land him the nomination. He
belongs to the conservative body,
fought vigorously against the constitu-
tional amendment, though as vigor-
ously for Col. H. S. D. Mallory for
governor. 1t is said by his friends that
he has already secured 20 pledges for
the nomination, a number that would
give him the honor by handsome ma
1ority. There are 35 members of the
senate.
w. T. Browne of Ragland is in the
race for the office and is making a
splendid fight to win the berth. He
Dis a statewide prohibitionst. Charles
M. Sherrod of CORTLAND is the third
candidate in the race, having as his
platform that upon which, Emmett
ONeal rode to victory in the recent
gubernatorial primary.
It is rumored in Montgomery that
a dark horse will be run in and that
the shades which he will produce will
greatly enliven the complexion of the
present status. 1t is known that a
number of the state leaders are the
moving spirit in this attempt.
Effect of Race
One of the first effects of the race for
president pro tenn will be the final lining
up of sides for the January fray which
bids fair to be about the liyeliest scram-
BILE ever precipitated in Alabama politics.
"A queer condition at the very outset con-
fronts the out and out local optionists.
OF the IS senators who are to take their
seats In January, somewhat over half
of them, 1t is said, were advocates of the
candidacy of Colonel Mallory, despite the
fact that the majority of the senators
are local optionists, and despite the fact
that Colonel Mallory was leader in the
fight to give the state constitutional
amendment which would have had the
effect of forever preventing the return
Of whisky to Alabama. Their views on
whisky are expected to result In the pas
sage of most conservative liquor laws,
the present status of which seems to be
fashioned thus wise:
For Mobile and Montgomery counties,
whisky at once, and probably for Bir-
mingham. Local option in the other
Counties
OF course this programme may be
changed. Certainly an endeavor will be
made in the house to have freer reins
given throughout the state, but the upper
body polite is to WELD the major in
fuence IN this respect. and the senate
committees will have considerable word
regarding any radical changes.
Where Committee Figure
According to all precedent, when bill
Is adversed by the senate committee, a
majority of two-thirds is required before
the measure can be taken from the cal
endar and voted upon. radical meas
ure, as a consequence, would be killed
by the body whether the bill favored
whisky or the state-widefs. Conceding
that the local optionists have a bare ma
FORTY in the upper house, they would
hardly be able to gather a two-thirds
strength at any time, if the measure at
AVN Az C0EC TND'