The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-07-22
CANDIDATES BEGIN TOISSUE "FEELERS" Some Possibilities in Next
 Gubernatorial Race LEE LONGS POSITION Governor 0'Neal Is Rapidly Develop ing Reformed Court Procedure
 as an Issue Which May
 Prove Formidable
LEE LONGS POSITION

If as a result of the efforts of ex- Gov B. B. Conner the anti-railroad sen- timent continues for a period of two years to be the great. live issue before the people of Alabama, there is scarce ly doubt as to who will next occupy the chief executive seat of this state.
 However. should. as a result of the developm ents in the extraordinary ses- sion of the legislature. some other is- sue supercede the present in the minds of the people, there will be an op- portunity for some other than Mir. Co., mer.
 The situation in Alabama Is unique. MT Conner has not announced himself a candidate, although, in the opinion of the great majority of people, he Is running just as fast as he can, This is indicated In the fact that he Is making anti-railroad and anti-admins- istration speeches throughout the state and is publishing and distributing them broadcast. Half dozen other gentle men are watching the situation. Should Conner formally announce. very few of those who arc watching will enter Should he follow what is considered the trend of hls ambition. however, and make a fight for the Senate of the United states, it Is probable that as many as six candidates for the guber- material nomination will enter the pri- mary.
 kolb Issues "Feeler'
 Just ono of that coterie which is anxiously watching the maneuvers of MT. Conner has taken a step .wbich l Q ha tarn,ad "a That ar, "A is Reuben r. Kolb. Tn the opinion of political students. the card issued by 1 Captain Kolb through yesterdays Age- Herald. in which he outlined plat form. but made 1t plain that 1t did not include formal announcement for the gubernatorial nomination, was "feeler." It is taken for granted that if the "feeler" draws out many ex- pressions of indorsement the present commissioner of agriculture will enter the race; otherwise 1t is believed he will not.
 of the other tentative candidates 1t s thought that only one will make the race against Mir Conner should Mr. Conner himself run. That one Is J. Lee Long The present chairman of the state tax commission was floor leader of the so-called "Comer' legislature and was as active in the anti-railroad legislation as the relief. MT. Long was on the popular side of the prohibition amendment fight and MT. Conner was on the other.
 Mr. Long would advocate a retrench- mont in appropriations, while MT Conner would no doubt urge the indorsement of his administration which was character -f-l, slt f the interest of education. Should Wal ter D. Seed enter and divide with Conner the prohibition" vote, tho chance of the latter candidate would be lessened, 1t is possible. It is certain that MT. Seed has yielded his right of candidacy for the sake of prohibition" harmony for the last time.
 Governor O'Neal's Issue
 In the meantime, there are other de- velopments which will tend to make this political period epoehal. In his call for an extraordinary session. Governor O'Neal will Include reference to the necessity of "curbing the railroads. Should the Legislature follow his recom- mendations and make laws reducing pas senger and freight rates, the wind in the sail of Conner would subside. it Is thought.
 Governor O'Neal, however, Is fast mak- ing little issue all his own. He Is re- forming the courts of the state-or rather the procedure of the courts. which pro- cedure, he has characterized as being illogical and antiquated Should that is- sue continue to be popular as it Is today the governor will have an excuse for making a fight against Hobson. Clay ton and Abercrombie for the Senate Of course there is an inhibition against the present governors running for Sena- tor Johnstons $ seat But that inhibition, 1t Is generally agreed. would not be con sidered by the Senate should the gov ernor secure enough votes to warrant him in making n test of the statute.
 The unique situation promises to suf- fer other entanglements In the near fu- ture Alabama. like Georgla's. is in the throes of q political mania.