The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-21
SAN ANTONIO WILL
 VOTE ON COMMISSION State Election Creates Great Interest TO HOLD GALA WEEK
Commemorate Battle of San JacintO When Mexican Power Was Broken. Negroe's "Hard Luck. story
 Helps Him Out

San Antonio. Texas, January 2o.- Special )-The voting population of this city in particular and of southwest
 Texas in general is taking keener in
 terest in the coming election than ever before In the history of the state. Feb
 ruary the city of San Antonio will vote on a proposition to change the aldermanic form of government to that of commission. As in everything else
 of public nature, there are two sides
 to this question, one championing com
 mission form, the other standing for the old aldermanic order of things. The campaign for this February election is on in earnest and there is rush to depending upon the voter holding re- ceipt for poll tax paid for the current year, the registration in this partic-
 ular almost doubling any previous year
 Another election scheduled for this year is one providing for an amendment to the constitution that will give state wide prohibition. This election is the incentive for poll tax payment all over the state. The so-called dry element is urging every one to be prepared 10 vote The "wets" are equally earnest in their efforts to see that every man has a right to cast his ballot. Just what the result of this election will be cannot be conjectured with any cer- tainty until after the people have voted. As Is usual in such cases both sides claim a majority. It is conceded that the eastern half of this state has the stronger working dry" force, while it I. l. s-- Dlf
 ingly wet" Interest in the two ap- preaching elections grows more intense daily and all classes are active. Yes
 terday the ministers of this city held a meeting and provided for the distri- button of cards in the various churches
 Sunday calling attention to the im- portance of paying poll tax. This, of
 course, is accepted as an effort of the
 "drys." Upon the other hand, the
 "wets" are quite active and it is be- lieved that the coming election on the constitutional amendment will show the
 greatest vote in the history of Texas.
 Those in touch with conditions declare that this effort on the part of the men to vote Is only in line with the general
 development spirit that is in here in such a pronounced way.
 The annual spring carnival and bat
 tie of flowers the week of April 21, commemorating the battle of San Jacinto, when Texas pioneers broke Mexican power for all time, promises
 to be the greatest gala week in the his
 tory of this city and southwest Texas. This annual pageant is quite as great in every particular as the Yelled Prophets of St. Louis or the famous Mardi Gras of .,ew Orleans. The Bat tie of Flowers, which is always the great feature of this carnival, takes place each year In front of the historic Alamo, thus commemorating the heroic deeds of those who died to the last man
 in the battle that took place there
 March 26, 1S36 fes a8+s Preparations for ...is coming demon stration are on a greater scale this year than ever before. All branches of bus mess are confronting to make this the greatest carnival in the history of Texas. Thousands of dollars have been turned into the hands of the committee and a veritable stream of money con tinues to pour in insuring there will be no lack of cash to finance the broad ened plans already made. Heretofore, from 50,000 to 100000 visitors from all parts of the state have spent carnival week in San Antonio. This year indi- cations are to the effect that this num- Der will be very much increased, reser- vations at various hotels indicating this.
 Robert Child, a Louisiana negro, made the most unique plea for liberty yesterday morning ever heard by the police judge. This plea and the fact that Child had $2 saved him from a
 turn on the stone pile. When the charge of vegrancy against the negro
 was called, he stated his case as fol- lows:
 T come all de way from Houston ober ter Santone to git work l walk ed most ob de way. Jes a few miles outen de town I falls in wid some fel- lows, and de say, come on, Santone people is just fallin ober themselves
 givin' jobs away Bout dat time a train hove in sight and whistles, and l | gifts off de track and lows 1t ter go by. | Them fellows grabbed onto 1t, but It went by too fast fer me. l come on to Santone by myself. Fust thing l know, | police stops me and I says to him: | T beg your pardon, Mistah Police. give
 me a chance to pass through your city, He says nixy. and he brings me up | tor de station. and here I is. Luck is plump agin me. When ole luck hits | agin you you might as well fall on yer
 back and say. look here, Luck, here ] l is, what's yer gwine ter do wid me?' 1 Railroad Will Re Sued
 | Austin, Tex, January 2O.-The state | railroad commission today directed the