The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-01-18
STATE POLITICAL
 WATERS MUDO|ED Who Will Be Finals the Gov-
 ernor's Contest? RACE FOR SECOND PLACE Will Henderson or Spragins Run for Governor and Will Weakley and
 Seed Be in Race to
 the End?
RACE FOR SECOND PLACE

The points at issue now are whether
 Charles Henderson, president of the rail
 road commission, and Robert E. Spra-
 gins, senator from Madison county, will
 enter the race for the governorship; and
 whether or not Judge Samuel D. Weak
 ley, on account of his heavy law prac-
 tice, and Walter D. Seed, on account
 of the prospects with which he is con-
 fronted, will come down.
 The guessers on these matters are up
 in the air. Some contend that Tender
 son and Spragins will get in and that
 weakley and Seed will remain fixtures
 in the contest Others believe that
 neither Henderson nor Spragins will en-
 ter and that both Weakley and Seed
 will come down. In either case the opin-
 ion is. pretty general that the race will
 be between Mallory of Selma and O'Neal
 of Florence.
 That strong political contingency, which,
 under the guise of morality, endeavored
 to patch up and add to the constitution
 of Alabama, is leaving no argument un-
 employed which might induce Henderson
 or spragins, or both of them, to take
 part in the fine fracas. It is their pur-
 pose to divide the vote among the three.
 which, unless there are other entrants,
 Colonel O'Neal is pretty certain to poll.
 In case this division is brought about
 Colonel Mallory's chances to win. in case
 his strength is not also divided, will be
 bettered materially.
 At the present time. however, Colonel
 Mallory and Colonel O'Neal are in the
 race to the finish Judge Weahey's
 friends contend that he will remain stead.
 fast in the boat Walter Seed has stated
 emphatically that he will continue his
 campaign of vote-getting even if the pri-
 mary date is set for December. As to
 whether Henderson or Spragins enters.
 there is division of opinion. Senator
 Spragins, as far as known. has not en-
 couraged the effort to get him into the
 fight Friends of Henderson, too, it Is
 known, have advised him to retain the
 presidency of the railroad commission
 and run for governor in 1914 And the
 belief is general in the camp of the de-
 lenders of the constitution that Colonel
 O'Neal will be the only standard-bearer
 in the continuation of the fight which
 the Rev. Brooks Lawrence and his lieu
 tenants precipitated last fall.
 Race for Second Place. There is political gossip on the tongue of practically every man, but no devel- opments have as yet occurred. It was l learned yesterday that Colonel O'Neal will wage his fight from Birmingham as a centering point, ana that he will open headquarters here. He has not as yet, however, named his campaign man ager, but the person considered has man aged other campaigns in Alabama poll ties, all of which were successful. Colo nel ONeal will put himself into the hands of a campaign committee and those to serve are among the best known men of the state, some of them being very prominent in the business world of Bir- mingham.
 The opinion is general that there will be no other candidates for lieutenant governor than those who have already announced themselves in the fight Sem ator Perry Thomas of Barbour, leader of the minority of the Conner administra- ton and able anti-amendment captain, has proclaimed himself a candidate. pr. John L. Parker of Birmingham Is the other aspirant. He has been in public | life in Birmingham for a long term of years, having served the city In various | capacities, once as president of the coun- l cif, an office inferior in rank only to that l of mayor His candidacy will strong | ly appeal, it Is probable. to tho business men of the state. Senator Thomas IS
 especially strong in south Alabama and | his brilliant oratory in the senaae ana I on the stump has attracted friends in l other sections of the state. Dr. Par ker is well known all over Alabama He | was born in Sumter, has relatives In | Tuscaloosa, formerly lived in Mobile and l Calhoun, and has resided in Birming- | ham for long number of years
 | Since the initiation of the fight againss | the lately proposed amendment to the | constitution politics has had its string ot red letter days. For that reason there i will be an enormous gathering in Mont gomery Monday, the date of the meet 1 ing of the state committed Trains will | be loaded in every section of Alabama 1 and It is probable that the attendance l will be larger and more interested than I at any other period in the states nis- I tory.
 Question of the Date. The committee will set the date for the | primary Those who defeated the amend l nent want an early date. Those wno
  l date. The majority of tho members or the committee intend to vote, it is said, for an August date. However. If the people express themselves strong enough the date will probably be early. It IS often bad politics, as has been proved to override the wishes or the people. The majority will not desire, It IS thought. to make a mistake which might | defeat its favorite candidate.
 l live question even at the present tme At any rate, politics is proving very The adherents of Mallory contend that | he is the strongest candidate in the neid. | The adherents of CNeal, when 91ssa l tioned in that regard, point to the 27,179 majority by which the amendment was | done to everlasting death. They take | this to mean that chanse-a real
 change-n the administration Of the ar l fairs of the state is what IS wanted ana | what Is sorely needed.