The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-02-03

no man is authorized to make such state
ment positively.
The four opposition candidates appear
as serene and positive of victory as ever
they did, and SO long as they manage to
keep up appearances and wear a cheerful
countenance there is no great prospect of
dissolution of their forces nor of their
retirement from the very tiresome contest
for the senatorship. for the good of the
country and the cause of unadulterated
democracy" as one of them puts 1t.
1t will be admitted by the worst enc
mics of Governor Vardaman that he
has put up a magnificent fight. The
brains and the money of the state have
been arrayed against him from the very
inception of the struggle, but it is
doubtful IL he has really lost a single
vote that went to him on the first night
of the caucus. While he may not have
gained anything, he has at least held
his own against fearful odds. He has a
number of very devoted friends and
hackers who are not members of the
legislature. who have been here
throughout the entire session, on their
own expense, and they have spent their
money as freely as IL it was going on
their personal account
The former governor is tireless
worker. He gathers his friends and his
faithful 70 about him two three
times per day and discusses the situa-
ton with them fully. urging them to
stand to the rack, and they are stand
ing like the rock of Gibraltar. During
the past few days both sides have be-
gun little "mud-slinging," but 1t does
not seem to be having any effect. The
incident of the battleship fund is being
used for all 1t is worth against the ex-
governor but the effect on his sup
porters, all of whom have heard it be-
fore, may be likened unto the fall of
the gentlest OF dews on a ducks back.
On the other hand the Vardaman
forces are charging that Mr.. Percy, the
leader of the opposition forces, that is
the opposition candidate who has been
polling the heaviest vote. is a corpor-
alton lawyer, the agent of trusts and
combines. That is answered with the re-
minder that such great enterprises al
ways employ the best legal talent they
can find.
1t is charged against Mr.. Alexander
that he Is a prohibitionist and the at
torney for trusts also. In view of the
fact that the state is very decidedly
prohibition such a charge does not
weaken Mr. Alexander's chances in the
slightest degree.
1t does not seem to make any differ
| race. his friends swallow it without so
much as grimace and go on voting
just the same. Fortunately for the can
didates they are all men OF the high est
standing, socially and every other way,
and there is nothing dlsgraceful that
can be brought against the record of
any of them.
| Senator's Harper's Views
Senator Harper of Grenada county does
not know what fear means. but he takes
a very sensible View of the strenuous SEN
ator1al situation, stating that his people
did not send him down here to fight but
to vote. and that is all they can reason
| ably expect of him.
Senator Harper IL not a very ponderous
member, SO far as avoirdupois is con-
cerned, but his bump of caution is vel
| developed. While he Is very enthusiasts
tic Vardaman man, and is willing to go tc
most any reasonable and honorable length
to secure his election as United Statel
senator, he declares that when it comes K
settling the contest by force of arms
Mr.. Vardaman will lose one vote, as thu
senator from the district composed Of
Grenada and Yallobusha will have to b
counted as among those absent and no
voting.
Senator Gibbs of Yazoo Is another mem
Der of this legislature who under ordinar.
circumstances is not to be bulldozed o.
frightened into doing that which he doe
not want to do, but who has taken pre-
cautfonary measures on caucus matter
} by pairing with a vardamanite, who Il
also peaceably inclined, on any kind o
gun play as a method of settling the sen
atorship and breaking up the deadlock.
However, the exciting incidents of Mon
day do not seem to have intensified feel
To- Il - - - NH~~~~ \