The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-03-28
$4,000 VOTERS WILL
LOSE THEIR VOTES
Registration in Georgia Will
Affect Campaign
CANDIDATES WAITING
1t Is Not known Exactly Who VIII
Run for Governor But Brown,
smith and c. NJ. Gambler
Are Possibilities
WAITING
CANDIDATES

more days.
The voter not registered within 10 days
will have no right of participation In any
of this years elections in which the state
is concerned, and another interesting COM
plication is that the same rule will, it
appears. have to be followed as to coun-
ty officers in cases where the county
primary and state primary are held at
the same time
1t would scarcely do to have one regis
tration list for the general state primary
and another for the county primary, both
falling on the same date. That would
produce much confusion. SO the outlook
Is that the closing of the registration on
April means its closing both for state
and county primaries where they both
fall on the same date, as will be the case
with the vast majority of counties.
There is good deal of speculation
as to how the new registration law is
going to work. In many quarters 1t is
being severely criticised, even by some
of those so-called ''reformers,' whose
party was responsible for the enactment
of the law.
The announced reason for its enactment
was to prevent fraudulent registration;
to prevent candidates from paying the
taxes at the last moment of large num-
Der of venal voters in order to get their
votes.
The already apparent effect of the law
is the practical disfranchisement, this
year at least, of some $1,000 voters. In
other words, without regard to the
natural increase in the registration, 1t is
quite evident now that there will be APP
proxmately $1,000 fewer voters registered
this year than for the elections of 1908
That this is going to create a cons1d-
cradle sentiment against the new law, de-
spite the determination of those respon-
sible for 1t that it must not even be modi-
fed, cannot be questioned.
There have been numerous rumors going
the rounds as to the effect of this years
registration on the state campaign.
Among these is the report that former
Governor Hoke Smith has only been
awaiting the close of the registration in
order to determine what shall be his
course; another is that Mr.. Smith pro-
poses to have made al canvass OF the
registration after its close. in so far as
can be DONE in order to be able better
to size up the situation.
But, as has been reported in these dis
patches, the probability is there will be
no formal announcements and no definite
developments until after the meeting of
the state executive committee which, it
is now generally believed will come the
first week in may.
The statement has been made ex cathe-
dra, from one high in the councils of the
reformers,' that they will beyond all
question put out a candidate this year.
The only remaining question is who
will it be?
1t is positively known that Governor
Smith has the matter under Amusement;
also that he has not definitely concluded
whether or not he will run He Is re-
10 fri hal he
might be forced into it.
But il he should conclude not to make
the race the most likely candidate rep
resenting Governor Smiths policies is
thought to be Hon. c. NJ. Gambler OF De-
Kalb, present member of the railroad
commission. to which he was appointed
by Governor Smith shortly before the ex-
piration of his term.
Mr. Gambler is not averse to making
the race, he has often discussed it with
friends But he would naturally be first
and foremost for Governor Smith. In
case of Governor Smiths declination to
run. however, Mr.. Gambler is decided
probability.
The leaders of that element are natur-
ally anxious to have Governor Smith as
their candidate, for several reasons. In
the first place he is a man of known
strength, and although beaten in 1903, he
pOll6u even d SCI Nolt IMAM hC Nio
in 1906
In the next place they want him to
come back at Governor Joe Brown and
demonstrate to him, IL possible, that his
election was purely a political accident.
This is probably why Governor Smith
has felt that he might be forced to rum
Attorney General John C. Hart has just
rendered an interesting opinion with re-
gard to the date of the closing of the
registration books. There has been an
impression in certain quarters that April
would be the last day for registration.
Judge Hart has relieved this impression
By the conclusion which he reaches in a
carefully prepared opinion, that the last
day for registration is April 5. and that
anyone who is registered at any time up
to midnight of that date will be qualified
to vote. provided, of course, he has paid
his taxes and is qualified in other es-
sental respects.
For the benefit and information of the
tax collectors who are also the regis
trars, Judge Hart proposes to have his
opinion printed and mailed to each of
them early next week, so that they may
have the benefit of 1t before the closing
of the registration books.
In some of the counties little interest
Is being shown in registration. largely
perhaps, because there is no campaign
Immediately in sight. Campbell county
reports, for instance, that only 1850 voters
have registered out of a possible 2200
1t is expected the registration in this
county will be 20 to % per cent off.
In other counties a more decided inter
est is shown. Some of the tax collectors
have appointed deputies, one for each
district. to go out and get the voters
names on the registration books. This
has been done in Henry and other coun-
ties, and these promise practically full