The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-09-20
WHO WILL BE IN GOVERNORS RACE?! Prohibition May Again Be
 an Issue NAMES SUGGESTED
Seed, Conner and Hobson o<mOne Side and Lane, Exum and Bowie on the Other Are Those
 Mentioned

The final effort of those who nave sworn perpetual animosity to the legal ized traffic in liquor will occur Tn the next gubernatorial election That this ;s tu,e is an open secret, admitted by any one of the leaders in the cause of prohibition. It is pointed out by them that if they can succeed in eieciing pi iohibition governor it will he evidence that the tide has turned again, and that the state is not only ready A eliminate the saloon and the doctriS ci local op- ton. but ready, also, to vote. into the corstitution an amendment pro3Aiing for prohibition forever.
 They declare. however, thai ivto nomi- nate candidate al this early date would be ridiculous. At the same time they are perfectly willing to admit that B. E. Conner can come back in a manner to- amaze Jim Jeffres and others who have scored ignominious failures fin the effort to retrieve lost honors. There is no doubt, at the present time, but that the prohbitonists will support ex-Gov- ernor Conner for another term as chief executive if that gentleman will only express willingness to enter another campaign.
 It is generally admitted by politicians that B. B. Conner will be a man to reckon with in case he does run. In case he does not, then there seems to be division of opinion as 10 whether the prohibit tiohists' chance of success will be bet tered with Walter D. Seed as their can didate or Richmond Pearson Hobson. How ever, in case the prohibitionists, as they are said to be planning to do, de- terlnine to send Hobson to the Senate
 .r ct-... .t1.. T.>l,t ,.fx then it is probable that they will give Mr. Seed their undivided attention. There is every evidence to convince the others that MT Seed will make the race. It is known that he regrets having stepped aside in, favor of Colonel Mallory and harmony in the last campaign. not that he was unwilling to make the sacrifice, but because be believes that he could have made just as good a race as the Selma statesman. The lieutenant gover- TOT. 1t is generally understood. is already doing preliminary work in his campaign for the governorship, and his success in the last campaign indicates that he will either be elected will go down in de- feat only after a most sensational ef- fort
 The fact that the prohibition element Is already busiIy engaged has set the local optonists to discussing the best man of many available to succeed Governor ONeal and to carry out to ultimate ma terialzaiion his policy. Three men have received statewide discussion a the prob- able candidate of the local optonists. and each is a resident sof Birmingham. One Is Judge A. o. Lane. who has scored splendid success as a commis- sioner of Birmingham. and who is close k aligned with the present administra- ton Another is Culpepper Exum, former mayor of Birmingham and present com missioner. Should MT. Exum enter the race he will have the advantage of pos sessing liberal views and at the same time be in no manner an administration man, which latter will serve him to good purpose. it is said in case the current administration does not maintain it's pres ent favor with the people at large. The third Birmingham man discussed is Sid ney J. Bowie. Following the fight against the prohibition amendment in 1909 in which fight MT Bowie made many bril- liant speeches. he was urged to make the race for. the nomination for governor against Colonel O'Neal and Colonel Mall ary As Mir Bowie. in the recent cam paien for and against the legalized sale of liquor in Jefferson county. favored the dlspensary as against prohibition and tho saloon, it is pointed out that he would serve admirably as the compromise can didate for the very liberal and the ultra prohibitionists
 Neither of the three gentlemen has said an.thing concerning his plans. But m political circles they are being discussed, and 1t Is said that at least two of them have reached. not the determination to express themselves at this early hour. but an agreement to make the welkin n 1914