The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-03-04
O'NEAL MEN GROW
 MORE CONFIDENT Flattering Reports From All
 Parts of State
FOR THE MINOR OFFICES
Indications Are That Voters Will He Extremely Careful in Choice of
 Favorites All the Way Down the List
By BURR BLACKBURN

The political situation in Alabama Is lined up. A prominent citizen boiled a
 Frisco train coming in from Jasper the other day and found every man aboard ready to announce his vote, and they
 were all but two for O'Neal. This appears to be true all over the state. In q year when the people have gone through the greatest battle in the states history the trenches and the bat dement's remain. The defeated are now in ambush.
 Every man who is for Emmet o'Neai
 says so He believes him the logical out
 come of the amendment fight. The
 anenders are voting an amendment ticket
 straight through, but they talk very lit- tie about it.
 This is the report that comes to ONeal
 headquarters in letters by the hundred from every county in the state. It Is the report Of the candidates for other offices
 whe are making speeches and tours Of
 the state
 Two months remain in which the poli-
 tician, the orator and the sensational
 supporters of both gubernatorial candi-
 dates will have leach his little houre''
 in which to spout, but the voter will be
 merely an interested spectator. He is more interested right now in the
 choice of a United States senator, and the selection of the minor state officers. Since Max Hamburger. and a score of other candidates have been running about, shaking hands and soliciting support the voter is beginning to realize that he has stupendous task in checking that ticket on May 2.
 One seldom hears of the fight for lieu | tenant governor. though Walter Seed is now in Birmingham. It is generally con ceded that the governor elected will also get a president of the senate who is friendly to him.
 How fsr this will go in the selection of the other officers is doubtful Person ality the whereabouts of hs home, the rumber of his friends, his former connec- tions with Governor Conner. his stand on the amendment, will all have their ef- feet, though the number of contestants for some offices is also to be reckoned with.
 It has been pointed out that Alabama needs the best men at the head of every state department this time. The condition of the insurance laws, the attempt which will be made to change them, and other important matters call for the election of
 secretary of state who has plenty of backbone and hustle.
 The attorney general must be a lawyer
 of unusual ability. during a period when many drastic laws are being tried out when hundreds of new laws must be prop | erlv interpreted, and the states interests in railroad litigation properly upheld. The
 very shaky condition of the state treas urv and the means which must be taken to replenish it is reason for capable advisor as treasurer The railroad com
 mission is now clothed with many new and powerful rights which need the guidance of men of conservatism and
 cool judgment.
 The department of agriculture has reached the people, and through co-opera- ton with the United States government is in a position to give the farmer ma | terial aid, far beyond the possibilities oi any administration in the past, and with the vast expenditures, the springing up of hundreds of new schools. the ties which are binding the schools of the state closer I together, a competent, able snperintenoeh' | of education is a necessity. | These are little matters Of quiet judg- ment which. will cause wrinkles on the | brows on May ?. These officers have no | issues on which to fight. but their own | ability, and the average voter no matter | low well informed he may be, has job 1 on his hands to make the best selec- | tions.
 | The public may like ginger at times, hut if soon grows stale. Past record and | ability rather than present oratory is what will count.