The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-08
Feeling of BuOyancy on Eve of Opening of New
 Legislature
CANDIDATES BUSY ON
 PLANS FOR BIG CAUCUS
Senator Frazer Raised Point That Call for Meeting Had to Be Signed By a Majority of the
 Members
BY HUGH W. ROBERTS

Montgomery, January 7.-tSpecial) pro tenn of the senate and speaker of the house are, on the eve of the eau GUS conflict, as confident as were the leaders of the amendment horde prior to the memorable November 29, 1909. And the most glowing predictions of Fred M. Jackson and the Rev. Brooks Lawrence concerning the outcome of the fight for and against constitutional prohibition are equalled today by the gentlemen who believe themselves also chosen to preside over the destinies or the legislature about to be.
 Senator Hugh Morrow Is confident of winning and he Is generally favored by the prognosticators as the success full applicant for president pro tenn of the senate. Senator Tom Frazer, how ever, stated today: T am almost cer- tain of victory. I have noticed the re- ports emanating from Birmingham to the effect that MT. Morrow would win. But am not worried about the out come of the fight"
 The other candidates for this hon. or Senator Sherrod of Lawrence and Senator Brown of St Clair, do not claim to have a majority of the sem ntors pledged, but they do affirm that If the battle between the leaders grows furious and without result their chances of slipping in as dark horses are good
 Candidates for Speaker
 J. Leo Long, candidate for speaker of the lower house. Is aS confident as he was when some considered the fight against the amendment in doubt. There is absolutely no chance for my competitor to win" stated le ''un- less the members of the new legislature are entitled to membership in a greater, Ananias club than that brought into i, Existence by Colonel Roosevelt" MT. Long has opened headquarters at the Exchange, and 1t is significant fact that those gentlemen who are closest to the new administration are working tooth and toe nail for his success. Judge E. B. Almon of Tuscumbia stil. claims to have majority of the mem bers of the Legislature pledged to him. His brother, Solicitor Dave Almon, is doing yeoman service in his behalf, and others in his camp are A. H. AL ston of Barbour. supernumerary judge of the state; w. W. Brandon, former auditor, and now probate judge of Tus- caloosA county; Frank Julian associate railroad commissioner elect Cy Brown, the new secretary of state, and oth- CTS.
 The dark horses in the race, Alex Pitts Of Dallas and w L. Parks of Andalusia are busily engaged in talking to the in- coming members of the legislature, and while they do not express confidence of ultimate victory, each believes that he has a chance to slip into power as a re- suit of certain contingencies.
 Lobbies Present Busy Scenes
 The Hobbies of the hotels tonight are filled to overfowing with legislators, prominent citizens from every section of the state, lobbyists, those with pet meas ures needing strength and support, poli- ticians out of office, and desiring to get in, and an innumerable party of hangers on, awaiting the shaking of the plum tree. Montgomery hasn't presented such a busy appearance since the gathering for the famous Montgomery conference, Septem- Der b, 1909. when the first nall was driven Into the coffin of constitutional prohibi- tion-if not prohibition of all descriptions and varieties.
 So confused is the situation as a result of the campaigns of candidates for the leadership of the two houses that 1t Is Impossible to get heads or tails of plans for legislation. No one at the present time discusses bills and measures. and no man ventures an assertion or predic- tion as to the result of the impending light against the drastic and on-enforce- able prohibition laws.
 Feeling of BuOyancy
 But in spite of the hustle and hurry ev- ident on every hand. the incoming admin istration has brought into existence spirit of Bohemianism that is permeating everything and percolating through every tody. There seems to be a bouyancy in the ringing out of the old and the ringing in of the new. Everybody is in fine spirit, and there is nothing apparent of the cramped, the drastic and the bitter. No man. 1t appears, has hatchet con- cealed under the coat of his jimsminger for his neighbor. for the railroads, for the corporations, for the administration or for those who opposed the administra- tion. One is impressed with an idea that the men of Alabama have gathered in Montgomery on this occasion to deal with affairs of the state for the good of the state and the people, to take no action without calm deliberation. to do and undo carefully without bias. and without an antagonistic spirit which Is, practically vengeance.
 Opposition h Busy
 Every member of the new legislature has learned directly that the ultra-prohi- bitionists are coming to town for the pur- pose of waging warfare against the re- peal, revision or modification of the laws which have infested Birmingham and all other centers of the state with blind tieers'' It is reported here that the en- tire office force of Brooks Lawrence will be present when the legislature convenes and will remain here during the entire session. The force comes with cry mo eompromise,'' and 1t is understood that
 
 lcoNTMUnD ON FACE sl