The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-31

there has been found no material cause of complaint the cotton market excepted Atlanta merchants. for some reason, are anticipating in 1912 one Of the biggest trade years yet known. Railroad and other public service corporation activities are pointed to as a good barometrie sign, and with the lesson of big cotton crop staring them in the face, it is confidently believed the farmers of Georgia will get down to bedrock next year and plant with a determined view to financial return.
 Politically Speaking
 Politically speaking, the closing year has been an unusual one; in fact, an extraor- dinary one with Georgia. It witnessed two changes of governors with a third to follow almost upon the threshold of the new year. Governor Hoke Smith went Into office in June, succeeding Gov. J. M. Brown, whom he defeated by small majority in the primary of 1910. He had scarcely taken his seat as governor when he was elected to the United States Sen ate, though he held his seat in the execu- tive office nearly five months, reslgning in November. In accordance with the re- quirement of the state constitution, Presi- dent John M. Slaton of the state senate, then went into office as governor for period of 50 days, calling an election for Governor Smiths successor. That success sor, as is well known. is former Gov. Joseph M. Brown, who was nominated in the primary of December, and who will be formally elected governor in the state election called by Governor Slaton for January TO- Governor Brown will be formally inaugurated at a specially called session of the general assembly on Jan uary 24, at which time he will succeed Governor Slaton.
 In the same primary there was also nominated a commissioner of commerce and labor, new office created at the last session of the general assembly. It will be filled by H. M. Stanley of Dublin, a well known newspaper editor, who will go into office for a period of two years con- currently with Governor Brown. Although the general assembly created the office and provided for an election at this time 1t failed to make an appropriation to pay the salary of the new official. MT. Stanley however, states that he Is not worried and will leave it. to the legislature to come across with the cash at it's next ses- sion. In the mantime he proposes to get to work and make something of his de- partment
 Changes at Capitol
 As result of the election of 1910 there were several changes in the state capitol during the year 1911. T. S. Fielder of Ma
 
 nan in the office of attorney general. ". J. Speer was elected state treasurer, suc- ceeding J. Pope Brown, who declined to make the race again. and who was one of the defeated candidates in the recent race for the governorship following Gov ernor Smiths resignation. R. D. Davison of Greene county was elected to the pris- on commission over s. R. Hutchens or Polk, and was elected chairman of that TN IN I1.+ r.FE alcn on the prison commission by appointment of Gov. Hoke Smith, succeeding the late Gen. Clement A Evans. J. A. Perry or Gwinnett county was elected to the rall- road commission to succeed Commission CT 0. F. Stevens. There was also an op- pointment to this board, that of Paul B. Tremmell of Dalton, named by Governor Smith to succeed Chairman H. W. Hill, who was elevated by the governor to the supreme court bench, to fill the vacancy made by the resignation of Justice Horace F, Holden, retired to practice law The most recent change in the state capitol was the resignation Of Judge Arthur c. Powell of the court of appeals bench, re- filled by appointment of J. R. Pottle of tired to practice law. The vacancy was Blakely by Governor Slaton.
 The. foregoing constitute the principal changes which have taken place in the state capitol during the year. Others are in prospect following the elections of 1912. Next year is regular election year in Georgia, when governor and statehouse officers will be chosen. and it promises to be full of politics.
 The capitol lost only one of its officials by death during the closing year-Gen. Clement A Evans, long a member of the state prison commission, and who might have had other honors had he not chosen to remain in the work he had undertaken in connection with the prison department.