The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-05-19
HOKE SMITH OUT OF
RACE FOR GOVERNOR
Brown and Russell Will be
Possible Opponents
WRIGHT IS ALSO OUT
Comptroller General Says That He Will
Not he n Candidate and Judge
Russell Has Not Yet Made
Decision

Atlanta. May Especial )-Slowly but
surely the state political situation is be-
ginning to crystalline
| Former Governor Hoke Smith has elm
mated himself as has also Comptroller
General W. A. Wright.
Captain Wright stated when asked
about the matter today, that under no
circumstances would he get into the race
for governor. He has thought it all over,
he said, and he does not feel that he could
take upon himself the exactions of such
a race.
There have been some efforts by his
friends to get Mr.. Smith to reconsider;
but Mr. Smith will hardly do that. Mr..
Smith is a man who thinks well before
he acts, and when he does act that settles
it, His statement, therefore, may be ac-
cepted as final.
This leaves the situation at present one
between Governor Joseph M. Brown and
Judge r. B. Russell, with the former still
silent as to his intentions, and the latter
away in Canada after having given 1t out
that he would probably make the race on
the local option platform.
There Is a general impression that
Judge Russell has gone away to let the
little suggestion he has thrown out soak
in" And if, when he returns it has
soaked sufficiently and properly, he
may then make his formal announcement.
At least that is the way a good many
of the politicians are looking at it.
Suppose also that Governor Brown
should decide to run on the local option
platform, or something very near to it.
What sort of position would that leave
Judge Russell in?
Suppose even that Governor Brown
should take the position that he would
leave the whole matter to the legislature,
approving whatever bill it might pass,
whether it be one to strengthen the pro-
hibition law, or to bring back local OPP
ton. What then?
Would the prohibitionsts put out can
didate and bring on a straight out and
out fight between local option on the one
hand and strict prohibition on the other?
Some have suggested the possibility of
such an outcome. Whether the prohibit
tionists put out candidate or not, there
is no question that they will be found
aligned with that candidate who most
strongly stands for their principles.
Commissioner of Agriculture I. G. Hud-
son wanted to run for governor, but
Judge Russell beat him to it, so it can
hardly be considered that there will be
any chance for Hudson, II Russell re-
mains in the race.
There is still the talk of a candidate
representing the Hoke Smith principles,
and the gossip turns right now as to
whether prohibition might be included as
ono among them.
If such a candidate were to appear and
announce for prohibition and Judge Rus
sell should run on the local option plat
FORM while Governor Brown took the
middle course, as indicated-that is, leav-
ing the situation to the legislature, this
would give the. state a decidedly interest
ing three-cornered race.
This is one of the directions that specu-
lation is now taking. The sky is COM
fore Mr. Smith decided not to enter the
race.
The clearing up" may depend very
much on what Governor Brown has to
say when he makes his announcement.
And what that will be, no man knoweth.
And then there is a possibility, after
all, of just a one-man race, with only
Governor Brown in the running. The
governor has made a great many friends
since he went into office, his administra-
ton has been careful and conserva-
tive, yet withal a positive one, and his
friends say he is stronger than ever.
So it may turn out one-man race, or
there may be three in it. Which will
probably be definitely known early in
June after the state committee has met
and laid the foundation for a campaign.