The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-10-30

petus that has been given all lines of activity. The chief instruction furnish ed has been to force upon the state fair visitors knowledge of the great possi- bilities of each individual section, and the second lesson that has been learned, and learned well, is that the utmost con- fidence Is to be placed in the productiv- ity of the commonwealth. Business men who have been inclined to look conde- scendingly upon activities other than. their own are joining In the cry "back to the farm" The attractiveness of the exhibits has invariably served the pur- pose of bringing back the lure of the country-to the field of King Cotton, and to the waving yellow ears. The aroma from wealth of vegetables has encouraged the wealthier citizens to se- cure lands near the cities In which they live in order that they might secure their own produce. The cacklem of the barn yard fowl which has echoed from every poultry department. has "clucked" to the busy-bodies who have been wrapped up in things commercial and industrial. The prospect, all down the line, has been pleasant, from the crude grunt of the swine to the soft moo" of the cattle.
 In the opinion of Commissioner of Az rieulture J. A. Wilkinson the results are inevitable. Mir. Wilkinson is himself farmer. but this has not biased him in his judgment. MT. Wilkinson has taken in' nearly every fair in the state. and he says that the writing is on the wall.
 Walkers Appointment
 Tn this connection, the appointment of Editor Walker of Athens as immigration commissioner of Alabama Is hailed with delight. Governor Conner in making the appointment. stated that the time for the Q nm nf fnfr hoc a. ous as now. In his statement, moreover. he said that conditions were such that the work of Commissioner Walker could be more productive now, than at any time. He urged that the heartiest CO., operation be given the appcintee.
 Three hours after MT. Walkers ap- pontment, the Business Mems league beat every other commercial organiza- tion of Alabama in the sending of con- gratulations But by the next day ex- pressions of a commendatory nature went up in every part of the state, and the cooperation which was besought by the chief executive was almost at the same time promised
 Commissioner Walker will spend most of his time in travel, during which he will keep in close touch with im- migration in the United States. His chief endeavor will be to direct i'm migrants to the south and especitlly to Alabama. It Is conceded that the state, at the present time, is more in need of foreigners to work the farms than of anyting else. Editor Walker will at tempt to persuade such visitors that the south Is the place and that Alabama Is the especial part of the south which right now is most desirable.
 Political Status
 Political matters, despite the election of November 8, are at somewhat of a standstill, in so far as great interest Is concerned. In the Seventh district affairs are remaining more or less warm, while NJ. W Howard Is mak- ing somewhat active oppositoin to John L. Burnett.
 In this Seventh district fight there is a great interest outside the state of Alabama. This is especially true of the east and west and remarkably true of those states in which republican insurgency has taken a hold. Every now and then officials at the capital are asked by eastern newspapers for an expression of opinion as to wheth- CT or not MT. Howard, should he be elected would go with the Insurgents" or stand by the regulars" Frequent desires are expressed for an opinion on the race. the republican press, es- pecially, very much desiring a repre- sentative in Congress from this state They are grasping at the straw of fered In the Seventh district as the nearest approach they will have to a representative.
 Chief Interest
 All this, however. bales into insignifi-