The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-05-05
TWO MONTHS WILL !. BRING ON CONTEST Fight Before Georgia Leg islature Interesting TO ELECT SENATOR Hoke Smiths Chances Will Deter mine While Line-Up and
 May Cause Peculiar
 Situation

| kJithAbtOh Atlanta, May .-(Special)-Less tnar two months now remain before the asseii' bling of the legislature. and the interim will. no doubt. be replete with pohtic"l and legislative interest.
 This is a new legislature, having been elected last october, and considerable ih- terest will, therefore. center in It's or gauization.
 Generally recognized to be Hoke snltn legislature in point of political sentiment there is still some decided question as to whether the Hoke Smith forces VIII sue ceed in organizing it.
 If seems to be the general impression that John NJ Slaton of Atlanta, senator from the Thirty-fifth. will be elected pres ident of the senate. succeeding himselr in that position which he has held TOT the last two years Mr. Slaton has never been of the Hoke Smith political school while his opponent, Senator J. E. Shep- pard of Sumter, is a strong smith man. Politicians express confidence in MT. Slaton's success, for he was popular with both factions in the last senate.
 Over in the house John N. Holder or Jackson, also of the 'other school or political thought" wants to succeed hlin- self as speaker. His Hoke Smith oppon- ent is w. H. Burwell of Hancock, who was a leader of the Smith forces in last years senate. Judge H. w. Hop kins of Thomas is also possible can didate for speaker, so far as is known he has never been aligned with the Smith element
 The situation in the house is, there- fore considerably more doubtful, though Holders friends express almost as much confidence as do those of Slaton, in his success.
 It looks as if John T. Boifeullet would be reelected clerk of the house and Charles s. Northen secretary of the sen ate: neither of them has material op- position and neither Is a Hoke Smith man.
 Possibly however, many of the minor offices in house and senate will go to Smith supporters.
 In the next place comes the election of a United States senator, and strange ly enough, though the time is drawing near, this contest keeps about as quiet as a one-sided campaign for justice of the peace.
 Senator Joseph M. Terrell, until re- gently, was too i'll to be active, but he has practically recovered his health and is again at his desk in Washington. He has arranged to secure political head quarters in Atlanta several weeks be- fore the legislature convenes, and, 1t is said will be busily on the job early in June.
 The senatorial candidates on the Hoke Smith side of the political fence are keeping unusually quiet: whether it is merely a dignified silence or part of a pre-concerted plan remains to develop. It all bears out, however the belief general ly expressed over the state that Gov ernor-elect Hoke Smith is really the can didate, but will not be formally known as such until after the question of cleo tion of a senator is taken up by the gen. eral assembly when his name will be put in nomination.
 His principal difficulty will come from the fact that many members, it is stated, favorable to him politically, feel that he should remain in the governors office during the term for which he was elected the office of president of the sen ate immediately becomes a most inn portant one. This official will go into the governors office for a period of 60 days and exercise its functions until a new governor is chosen and inaugurated.
 Not only that, but he is likely to be a candidate for the office himself. He is also likely to have to run against Com- missioner of Agriculture T. G. Hudson R Russell Of fine state court of appeals.
 The political situation is thus full of the most interesting possibilities during the next four months.
 From a legislative standpoint also the session will be important and interesting. This legislature must make up and pass general appropriations and tax acts for the next two years.
 If Congress increases the membership of it's lower house as a result of the recent census 1t will also be up to the legislature to redistrict the state, making provision for a twelfth congressman.
 Prohibition legislation is going to com mand some attention, as there is little doubt effort will be made to strengthen the law with a view to providing for it's better enforcement and also to stop, fl possible, the sale of beer.
 The question of the sale or lease of the executive mansion property on Peachtree street will be an interesting one, and there is promised some excitement also as the result of the usual efforts to raise more revenue through new or increased specific taxes.
 Quite number of old favorites will put in their appearance, such as compulsory education bureau of labor and the like, and with these, In view of crush of other business, it will. no doubt, be a