The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-01


 meet political Washington is discussing with much interest the various senatorial fights thropshout the country mas been a long time since there nave been so many seats in the highest Legislative body in the world clothed in such un- certainty. Beginning at Maine, coming down through Massachusetts, Rhode ls- land and Connecticut to New York, then or to New Jersey. Ohio, Iowa and other states away off to the Pacific coast in California, there are hard senatorical bat ties to be fought and won, in which the result is so uncertain
 In at least two of the states new pri- mary laws are on trial. New Jersey and California both had adopted the plan of nominating candidates for the Senate in party primaries and in both states the politicians are striving to upset the results of those primaries. Tn New Jersey the democrats captured the legislature, much to their surprise. Having no idea that the man who carried the primary would have any chance of election. Compaga- lively few of the voters took the trouble to express preference and the smallness of the vote is being used as an argument against the winner.
 Tn California, however, the situation is different. There the republicans were certain of carrying the legislature and the primary fight was contested most vigorously and full vote was cast.
 A. c. Spalding, the famous old-time baseball star and successful business man. <.I C. @rff .1f fb< laey- lsiative districts. He ran as regular republican, his opponent being John D.. Works of Los Angeles, who ran on the Rooseyelt-L Lincoln ticket That faction elected the balance Of its ticket and now seeks to defeat MT Spalding before the legislature, though a big majority of the republicans in that body were instructed by their districts to vote for. Spalding.
 Californians here are confident that Spalding will be elected senator.
 Besides these two most interest is felt in the fights in Massachusetts where Gov ernor Foss is trying his best to beat Henry Cabot Lodge; Rhode Island, where there is chance for a deadlock over the succession to Aldrich, with chance that that able gentleman may after all be compelled to come back, and New York, where there Is curiosity to see just  for the Senate.
 It is rare thing that a man Is ap- noInted to one of the highest offices in the land without a single request having been made for his appointment. That honor has been done to Supreme Court Justice Joseph R. Lamar of Georgia.
 Judge Lamar owes his elevation to the fact that President Taft used to go down "a the winter to play solf.
 The President met Judge Lamar dur ing one of his visits to Augusta, which Is the home of the newly appointed jus tice and was so much impressed by the mans personality that he made many inquiries regarding his judicial abilities. These inquiries brought such high praise that when he left Augusta the President carried Judge Lamar's name in the hack of his head as good man to have in mind when some court vacancy should occur.
 Some little time ago the President sent for Senator Bacon of Georgia mad asked him what he thought of Judge Lamar as a possible appointee for one of the five judges of the new commerce court.
 "The only comment l would make, replied Senator Bacon. "is that instead Of the commerce court, 1t should be the su- f5reme court. No man is too big to serve on a circuit court, 1t is true, but there are only a few men big enough to take a place on the supreme bench.
 That is said to have been the first time the President thought of Judge Lamar in connection with the supreme court ap- pointments. {.
 During his talk with Senator Bacon, President Taft is said to have brought up the question of Judge Lamars age old anOIQ1 and at the same time young enough.
 'I should say that he must be about vour own age MT. President" replied the Georgia senator.
 The President then picked up copy of ..Who's Who in America" that lay on his desk, and found that he and Judge Lamar were born within a month of each other Whereupon the President Is said to have made smiling remark to the ef- feet that he couldn't criticise the judges age-that in fact 53 was just good age /
 Senators Bourne and Chamberlain rep1 resent the same state (Oregon) in the Senate They are of opposite political faith, yet they are inseparable as com- panions Though they differ on some matters of party policy, they are one and the same on Senator Bournes plan Of popular government, and their conviction of the ultimate success of the policy mites the two senators in a close bond of friendship The close friendship oe- tween Senator Bacon and the late Sena~ tor Clay was the cause of much favor able comment, but those senators besides representing the same state, were Of the same party, and party politics were alike to them.
 If begins to look as if Hon. South Trim. ble of Kentucky will be clerk of the next House MT. Trimble, who wal spe aker of the Kentucky legislature dur ing the celebrated Goebel trouble, was 2 member of the Fifty-seventh. Fifty. eighth and Fifty-ninth Congresses, ant was Chairman Lloyd's chief lieutenant with headquarters in Chicago. in the las two congressional campaigns A grea many of the democrats think his election to the clerkship of the next House VII be a fitting tribute to the valuable ser vices he rendered his party.
 | !. The good old family name of smit will figure more in the roll calls 0 | the next Congress than for many years | At present writing there are fou smiths on the House roll: Sylyeste
 smith of California, Walter l. Smit 1 of Iowa, Sam w. Smith of Michigan and William R. Smith of Texas. Thi | c,,artet of Smiths will be in the mex | House.s thanks to admiring constitu | ents. and two new Smiths will be add
 cd to the list after March 4: Charle l B. Smith of Buffalo, who won by on
 vote, and J. M. c. Smith of Char | lotte, Mich.
 There are already three Smiths In tn
 Senate. William Alden of Michigan
 Ellison D. of South Carolina. and Joh
 Walter Smith of Maryland. It Is als
 of interest to remark that former Sen 1 ator James Smith of New Jersey