The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-08-20
ROOM FOR ALL TO
ST AND IN GOOD old
DEMOCRATIC SHIP
Real Political Scramble Will Be
Confined to Few Repub-
lican Counties
PROHIBITION ISSUE is
NOT TO BE CONSIDERED
Democratic Party VIII Thresh opt us
own Differences After Republicans
HAVE Been safely Put In
the background
BY BURR BLACKBURN

The political scramble in Alabama to-
dav Is to wrest three or four counties
from republican hands and to roll up
big democratic majority all over the state
in the November election. That is the
whole thing, and though some people
who are looking for free advertising may
attempt to squeeze in prohibition as an
issue. the lines have been drawn by the
party leaders, and democracy is going to
the polls with but one object.
There are a few counties in Alabama,
shelby, winston, Chiffon, Lawrence and
st. clair, In which the republicans some
times hold the balance of power. Every
once in a while republican appears III
the state senate, or republican SHOWS
up on a judges bench. These are the
people against whom Jesse Stallings and
his campaign committee are leading the
united democracy of the state
Mr. Stalings is plotting ship loaded
with all the nominees of the party. who
are standing on a platform every plank
of which was written by the convention
of the people of Alabama, and he has
Teen instructed to carry everyone or them
safe to land.
He expects them to stand steady, that
the course may be sure. Ii one dislikes
the plank he is standing on, he has the
pilots permission to change with some
one else. provided he doesn't shake the
boat One man, at the very beginning,
was so anxious to make himself seen that
he fell off with great splash pu, ne
was soon pulled aboard dripping and beg
ging. please don't put it in the paper,
Chairman Stallings says, in erect, mat
his duty Is to elect the nominees or the
party, and he intends to bend his enorts
to nothing else IF anyone should De
taken off the ticket. that question is 1or
the executive committee" he says. CHAIR
man TYLER Goodwin has ruled that no
mans personal beliefs could keep him on
the ticket. and there is absolutely nothing
else to be said.
The truth of the business is that up at
Blount when such men as Oscar Unoer-
wood Emmett O'NeaL Joseph F. Jonn-
ston, and Reuben F. holp "ere ias sn
down the old Jeffersonian democratic doc
trine of local government somepody
began to picture q great chasm ana came
very near falling into his own chasm ou'
for the friendly hands of those standing
near. IL.
Democracy in Alabama Is now united
as II has never been before, witness the
nuhlic declaration of Col. H. S. d. Nal
orv that he would support the ticket ana
make speeches in it's interest. The diner
ence of opinion on the subject OF pfonlpi-
ton is to be settled in friendly manner
after the republicans have once more peen
annihilated.
And the fact is that both sides are
feeling optimistic on that score. BROOKS
Lawrence said yesterday that months ago
the Anti-Saloon league had tested the
nominees for the legislature ana 1ounu
that prohibition had a good working ma
jority in both houses =! know, ne salu,
that they were pledged by their people
when nominated to stand by the state
vida law and they Will do IT,
He stated that there would be no con-
ference of prohibitionists SO far as ne
knew. and that the prohibitionists intend
to support the democratic ticket. we
are content to fight the matter out at the
legislature" he added. I'VE Will con-
tinue our campaign of education, and give
each legislator so many petitions from
his constituents that he will stand by
his pledge"
In like manner TvIer Goodwin, a lead
er among the local optionists. expressed
confidence, after personally checking the
nominees that local option will carry
In both houses. The truth Is that 1t Is
nip and tuck in the senate
Because the republicans would ike
to see a split in our ranks, SAID Jesse
Staliings yesterday, lis no reason that
time should be wasted talking about it.
They know that we are not only going to
demolish them in the valleys. but we
are going to run these out of every cor
ner in the state. and prove that Alabama
is democratic from the smallest precinct
to the capital"
Mr.. Stallings appeared for the first time
Yesterday in his headquarters on the third
floor of the Brown Marx building, and
in a short time had the office humming
with work. He will leave this morning
for a conference with the nominees in
shelby county, which has been republi-
can for Is years, but which. according to
Mr.. Stallings, is to be democratic after
November.
In Chiffon the republican nominees are:
J. O. Middleton for Congress from the
Fourth district, L. H. Reynolds for pro-
bate Judge, C. d. Forshee for sheriff,
Marion Forshee for circuit clerk. w. H.
Shaw and Mr.. Waldrop for county COM
missioners. Mr.. Alexander of Prattville
is the republican candidate for senate
in the senatorial district comprised by
Autauga, Shelby and Chiffon.
The democratic ticket Is headed by
Fred L. Backmon of Admission for Con-
gress from the Fourth district. E. B.
Deason for probate judge, Bowen Jones
for sheriff. H. M. Simpson for circuit
clerk r A.. Curry for senator, @. D.