The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-20
Gray, Long. Henderson


 Gray, Long, Henderson
 In this regard it Is believed that Conner Is grooming Henderson as the ideal man to continue the fight. which, with great expense and behind great attorneys, he waged against the Louisville and Nash vile. There is general admission, fur- thermore. that MT. Gray would be for- midabe before the people. He has a larger personal following than practi- caly any other man of the state, this being due to his extensive circle oe friends and the fact that he has always been loyal to his friends. MT. Long would pon heavy vote, too, for in addition 10 his fight against the railroads in the Conner legislature. he has many friends who remember him kindly for leading the successful battle against the pro- posed prohibition amendment to the con- stitution in the good year 1909. Were a cry for retrenchment with suf- ficient force go abroad to institute that idea the issue. then Judge A. o. Lane of Birmingham. or William D. Jelks of Barbour would have excellent chance to win. Of these two there was consid- erable gossip in Montgomery.
 Should prohibition and local option be made the issue-and that such will not he seems certain--then Col. II. s. D. Mallory would probably ask again for the support of the "ultras," although there is no doubt but that even among the "ultras" he lost strength as a re- suit of the report that he was one of the several who manipulated that slate and instituted that gag rule which fur nished the raison d'etre for the lack of harmony which for six full hours pro- vailed fin the convention.
 The Nauseous Draught
 Although it is without question true fI,af of ba gInf af hO gomery convention sat without ease on the stomach of practically every dele gate, it would have been we'll nigh im- possible to defeat 1t.
 There are reasons. In the first place S large number gave 1t support because they feared that any open rupture would spread an impression that Alabama was divided in reference to Underwood; in the second place, there were q few pro- hihitonists and a few -prohibitionists who voted for the slate simply because as It's members were Mallory and O'Neal; In the third place, there were entire del- egations who supported the slate selfish ly-that is because as it's members were men from the home counties or districts of the delegations.
 But the delegates. though they swal- lowed did not relish the nauseous draught. This is exemplifed in the fact that though every county but one of the
  A. Rogers of Sumter towards the shank of tho afternoon offered a resolution that delegates to the national convention. in the future. be chosen in a primary con- ducted not by bosses but by the peo- pie
 Campbell Made Mistake
 It s generally admitted that l.. K. Campbell made a mistake in not taking the bull by the horns" In view of what developed 1t is not denied that Mir Camp bell should have called his executive committee together, and after canvassing the field thoroughly offered. in his ca pacty as Underwood's g leader in Alabama. delegation to the convention each mem her of which was as Underwood man to the core, an original and enthusiastic Underwood man. man ready 10 go to work when the nations delegates reached Baltimore. MT. Campbell himself. be- lieves that that course would have been better, despite the fact that beyond all question Alabamas "iS half votes" will be cast for Underwood until the demo- crats have nominated a candidate. In forming the slate, probably because l the framers knew that everybody was | for Underwood the requisite of each man considered was that he must have a repu- l tation either as d prohibitionist or an | prohibitonist, or middle l grounder."
 | And to carry out the programme adopt cd, every committee was named in ad- vance. and every report of commlttee written in advance.
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 | THE IAX-FOs WAY