The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-10-08
MACON IN FIGHT F0R STATE CAPITOL
  Removal From Atlanta to Be Campaign Issue CANDIDATES ARE BUSY Ball Starts Rolling in Georgia's Cub ernat0rial Race With Two Men
 Now Already Stumping
 the State
CANDIDATES ARE BUSY


 fight over the removal of the state capi- tol from Atlanta to that city bids fair to become a prominent issue in the state campaign for governor.
 Macon, it is understood, is pushing it to the front in a quiet way, and will give it's strongest support to the candidate who stands out most prominently in be- half of the removal of the big building to that city.
 In evidence of this fact it is pointed out that Emmet Barnes of Macon, former supporter of Gov. Joseph M. Brown, has joined the Russell forces and has been named assistant manager of the Russell campaign. Mir. Barnes is chairman of the Macon boosters committee, which is working might and main for the removal of the capitol
 Although he has not made it a part of his platform, Judge Russell is said to have made the statement on several oc- casions in South Georgia that he is in favor of the removal of the capitol to Macon.
 Macon is considered strong for local option, so that with both of these issues fixed to suit that city in Judge Russell, the indications are that he will draw some strong support from Bibb county.
 Pope Browns Position
 J. Pope Brown, too, the prohibition can didate, Is said to stand squarely for the removal of the state capitol to Macon, al- though that is not so Interesting as in the case of Judge Russell It is quite natural that MT. Brown should lean that way, for he is posing as the South Geor- candidate Har rxrIxi inst x-ii1 r.. Pulaski county, some 40 miles below Ma con.
 The question, therefore, as to what at titude former Gov. Joseph M. Brown will take on the capitol removal issue, is al most as interesting as his attitude on prohibition. It is expected his statement Will be forthcoming within the next few days, and there are not few Georgians who are eagerly awaiting it. The ex-goVernorS friends assert that he will receive strong support throughout the country districts. A well known Geor- gia who recently made an extended trip through the counties of the Fourth con gressional district, brings the repost to Atlanta that there is considerable senti- ment in the country districts against the manner in which the cities of the state appear to be trying to run off with the local option proposition. He makes the prediction that the fight which has been brought on over the prohibition issue be- tween Judge Russell and Pope Brown will turn large proportion of the coun- try vote to Joe Brown 1t will be re- called that Joe Brown claimed that the country vote elected him over Ho1e Smith in 190S and presented an elaborate set of figures from the primary returns of that year, during the 1910 campaign, to bear out this assertion.
 Prohibition at Primary
 Ar.n sI,zta to the campaign is that an effort will be made to induce the state executive committee to have the prohibition and local option question passed on at the primary election, Independently ct tho candidates. In other words 1t is desired to have the people of the state eHprea, their views as to prohibition or restricted local option, as business and not as a political proposition.
 For several reasons, however it is not considered likely that the executive com mittee will entertain this proposition ia vorably and the chief of these reasons is political. It is well known that the pres- ent executive committee is composed al- most wholly of supporters of Gov. Holle Smith, and they are not likely to do any thing that would favor the campaign of former Governor Brown.
 The friends of Governor Brown, it Is said, would prefer to have the prohibition issuS dealt With in this way. Governor Brown himself is said always to have voted a prohibition ticket, though he fa- vors local self government. He has never believed, it is said, that the prohibition question should be mixed up with politics, and thinks the people should settle it 1t the polls independently of political can didates.
 This view of his attitude is gathered from statements made by certain of his friends, but whether it is an accurate in- dication of what he will have to say on the question when he issues his public statement, is not known.
 From indications at headquarters, the Russell campaign seems on decided boom. A large number of clerks are at work. and the state is being flooded with campaign literature covering every ques- ton that has arisen.
 Both Judge Russell and Pope Brown continue their campaign of stumping the state When the Joe Brown campaign will be actively opened, has not yet de- veloped. but some definite announcement is expected from that quarter within the pay vi fary lo