The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-05-02
We'll Known Aldbdn1idns
In BIRMINGHAM Yesterday
By WALTER HARPER.

1t is o'clock Monday morning.
From Mobile bay to the borders Oh
Pattersons land all is quiet.
The majestic Tennessee is moving IN
dustriously toward the great Father OF
Waters and the peaceful Alabama is rae
ing languidly with the Tombigbee tow
ard the gulf The plains to the south
arc serene in their restful beauty. The
mountains to the north are peaceful.
The moon is dipping toward the west
while Halley's comet is arousing from
It's brown couch in the east. The birds
have not yet tuned their golden threats
for the morning roundelay.
All Alabama is peaceful and quiet
There is no hint of the frightful car
mage that will begin with the rising of
the sun. There is no whisper of the
impending battle that will be waged to-
day from Bay Minette to Hazelgreene.
The soft moonshine slanting from the
west reveals no watchful sentinel along
the ramparts of the state or about the
sleeping camps. The stars are innocent
of the blood so soon to be shed, the
hearts to be broken, the hopes to be
shattered.
On the peaceful hills or the sleeping
plains there is no outward sign of the
restless agony of sleepless candidates.
| The stars may be watching in silent
| pity.
| They who sleep in blissful Indifference
are the voters. The white flag of truce
has been raised for a few hours and
they are snatching a moment of rest.
They have been patient and long suf-
fering. So far they have fought on the
defensive. Today they are the agrees
sors.
The candidates have had their weeks
and months, some of them their years.
This is the voters day. the voters one
day. 1t is right and proper that he
should have the last lick, the last word
in the controversy.
In this contest the voter has spared his
strength. The candidate has exhausted
himself. He is barely able to groan in
his agony and suspense. But the battle
today will be none the less fierce and
decisive.
The voter Is merciless. He never raises
the white flag after the real battle be-
gins. 1t is a struggle to the bitter
finish.
But all is quiet in Alabama at o'clock
this morning.
What mater is it to the voter that half
a thousand men are sleepless. that as
many agonizing prayers are going up to
heaven from an equal number Of thorn
strewn couches?
These do not disturb the unruffied
peace of the state at this comfort-be-
slowing hour. Candidates may come and
go, but voters go on forever. They are
sovereign and immortal SO long as the
world stands and the republic survives
| When the battle is over they will return
to their couches and will sleep In peace
as they are sleeping now.
! There may be rnomentary sorrow. per
haps a few sympathetic tears over the
carnage Of the day. but tomorrow they
will forget and rejoice over the triumph
of sovereignty.
How does 1t feel to be candidate or
the evening before election? Well. that's
easy for me-" said w. T. Kennedy Of
Bessemer. candidate for state auditor.
You see am smiling. will continue
/ to smile tomorrow and will smile agar
tomorrow night. The smile may not b
so broad II am defeated, but there will
be ma tears. OF course I shall regre
an adverse verdict from the people. thu
jury that will sit on my case tomorrow
but II 1t is their will to send me bacl
to business for a while longer. I will ac
cept 1t with all the grace that 1 hav'
been able to display In tho many othe
defeats of various kinds I have met IL
my lifetime. All men must suffer de