The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-12
Birningham's Mayor BooIned
 As States Next Governor OTHER NoTABLEs ON HAND
Mayor Takes a Stroll Around Town to See How We'll Gunter and Coper Are Enforcing the Prchibf-
 ton Laws
By HUGH W. ROBERTS


 Montgomery, January 1l.-(Special)- Gully Exum came to Montgomery this afternoon ard tonight Montgomery is Cullys.
 His entrance into the lobby of the Ex- change was followed by shouts of well come, and 1t soon became known that the mayor of Birmingham Is not only ac- quainted with everybody in the state, but Is everybody's friend.
 No sooner had the news spread over the city that MT. Exum was here than wise city editors rushed their reporters to in- terview him. Naturally he was surprised when the tide of newspaper men turned in his direction, but he talked to every man, and answered every question that was fired.
 The reporters sought the mayors views concerning prohibition. or rather his views as to what substitute for prohibition should be put into effect. MT. Exum stated that he favored few well regu- lated saloons, in spite of the fact that he was aware that the dispensary Is a great CT producer of revenue.
 And in Birmingham, he said. I've are needing the money at the present time"
 Along with Wilson Brown. who was in- troduced as the smartest politician in the state, or rather the only man entitled to an equal rank with Henry Gray, Abort Bush. the representative from Mobile county; Alderman McDowell, chairman of the finance committee of the City Coup- ell of Birmingham; Scudder Ryall, the mayors secretary. and others. MT. Exum took the reporters to dinner with him. After the meal the newspaper men de- clared that Gully" is the best fellow in the world, and the man best suited to sit in the governors chair following Colonel O'Neal.
 Strolls Around Town Later in the evening MT. Exum strolled around Montgomery for tho purpose of finding out just how Mayor Gunter Sher- fir Hood and Governor Conner are enforc- ing the prohibition laws in Montgomery. In the first resort visited, after every other person in the crowd had ordered beer whisky or highballs. Mr. Exum re- spectfully requested that he be served with coca-cola. The barkeep was ex- ceedingly surprised. and declared event. ually that coca-cola was the only soft drink which he did not sell Therefor. Mayor Exums throat remained in d state eof enforced dryness.
 MT. Exum stated that he came to Mont gomery only for the purpose of beine with the boys. and that though he is sx- ceedingly interested In the commission form of government bill which will be in- troduced by Walker Percy, 1t was not for | business that he had left his Birming- ham sanctum. Incidentally, 1t is learned tonight that Senator Screws. Senator AL | len, Representative Percy and others with commission government bills will have a consultation in the near future in order that one bill on which all are agreed shall be presented to the lesisla- | ture. James Weatherly, John Copeland. John Pugh, Judge Stiles and Henry Dean are other Birmingham men who reached Montgomery today.
 Other Arrivals
 Congressman Fred Blackmon, McLane Triton of Pell City and Frank V. Evans of | Jasper are other notables who announced | present today. MT. Evans is an applicant for position on the tax commission. and
 it Is understood that he will be appoint ed either to that body or to the convict board. Triton. who is secretary of the Bankers association. comes in the inter est of the bill whereby newspapers will be allowed to exchange advertising space l for railroad passes. MT. Triton statea that every member of the new railroad commission is in favor of the bill, and that there is absolutely no doubt but that l 1t will so through both houses of tho ! legislature without serious opposition.