The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-20
DO CIRCUMSTANCES STILL MAKE COMER AlEAD|NG FACTOR? All Will Depend on Adjust ment of Railroad Rate
 Controversy
  IS UP TO O'NEAL TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM Understood Conner Is Still Anxious to Run for Senate-Attitude of COngressmen Hobson
 and Abercrombie
By HUGH W. ROBERTS

The decision of Governor O'Neal that the circumstances of the state are not in such a deplorable condition that to rem edy that condition an extraordinary ses- sion of the legislature is necessary, has played an important part in shaping des- tiny for at least two prospective candi- dates.
 Ex-Governor Conner, as is remembered. declared some time ago that if Governor O'Neal would call an extraordinary ses- sion of the legislature and enact rate bill strong enough to hold the Louis vile and Nashville railroad. there would be no necessity for his making another race for the position of governor
 Inasmuch as there seems to be no doubt but that there will be no Extraordinary session. the indications are again exceed ingly strong that ex-Governor Conner will again enter the lists. On the other hand, on account of the governors decision in reference to the rumored extraordinary session, Dr. John w. Abercrombie, congressman from the state at large elect, will not be com pelled to make the race for the senate against Joseph F. Johnston, for pr. Aber-
 
 he would carry out his threat to run if the legislature should redistrict the state, and thereby rendered the congress- man at large without territory for his beneficent operations.
 O'Neal Solving Problem
 Other than these developments, pol- tics in Alabama has been unusually quiet. The indications are that ex-Governor Conner will try for the gubernatorial nomination unless before the date for that trial arrives, Governor O'Neal has curbed the. railroads" IL is practically certain that Dr. Abercrombie will not run for the senate.
 There is a possibility that before the date of the next state campaign, there will be no railroad issue. Governor ONeal has promised ''to attend to the railroads" in his own peculiar manner. He has gone so far, matter of fact, as to state to his friends that he will either establish the fact that Alabama is the boss in Alabama or will take the stump with Conner.
 Should there be no railroad issue. ex- Governor Corners sails would be devoid of air, for on no other issue, it is taken for granted, could be arouse sufficient enthusiasm to push him into the office. This would not be displeasing to ex- Governor Conner however, for 1t is gen orally understood that he will not make the race for governor unless he is able to persuade himself that the people really need him.
 His friends aver that he is very anxious to enter the fight for the senate. He has expressed himself as being of the opin- ion that Congressman Hobson, in mak- ing his announcement so early made a mistake, it being the general belief that the congressman so acted for the pur- pose of forestalling just such an able opponent as Conner would doubtless prove to be.
 Conner Brought Back
 Circums tances have brought Conner back"
 in the first place, the Louisville and Nashville railroad advanced it's rates, and the people realized, it seemed, for the first time, that Conner had retired from office
 Then the democrats in convention as- sembled in Montgomery passed a resolu- tion instructing Governor ONeal to "curb the railroads" Ind to do so even if it were necessary to call the legislature together m extraordinary session.
 Then Governor O'Neal delayed
 Next he dismissed the attorneys from the service of the state who had fought out the railroad issue from it's very in- cipiency.
 Then he offered a vacancy on the su- prerne court 10 an attorney who has served the Louisville and Nashville and Southern railroads for many years
 Then he announced that he would not call an extraordinary session.
 No one has criticized Governor O'Neal for either of these acts and all of them might have been correct and proper But the list serves to give a reason why Conner is today the most potent factor in Alabama politics.
 Seed Is Strong
 After Conner 1t is probable that Walter D. Seed. lieutenant governor Is the strongest of the several prospective can didates.
 MT Seed has been campaigning for six teen years knows everybody and has no enemies The prohibitionists would have little regret in voting for him, and when he came down in the last campaign in favor of Col. Mallory. he won many friends who have since been led to be- iieve that he sacrificed himself for his principle of prohibition.
 Tom Kilby of Anniston, state senator; A. H. Carmichael of Tuscumbia, former speaker of the house, and B. H. Cooper of Birmingham are mentioned as candi- dates for lieutenant governor.
 Should ex-Governor Conner seek the gu- bernatorial nomination, it would surprise few people in Birmingham were Henry B. Gray of this city to seek again the nomination for lieutenant governor.