The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-08-19
One of Most Peaceable Cam
paigns in States His
tory Nearing End.
THREE CANDIDATES IN
RACE FOR GOVERNOR
Slaton's Friends Confident Of Carry
ing 140 Counties-Hot Contest for
State Railroad Commissioner.
Jones Opposes Fielder for
Attorney General

Atlanta, August 1s-(Special) )-Georgia
Is approaching the conclusion of one of
the most quiet and most peaceable polit-
ical campaigns in the history of the state.
There has been no clarion CALI from
the stump, and the rip roarer' has kept
himself pretty well in the background.
Naturally commanding attention has
been the race for governor, in which un-
til a date within three weeks of the
primary there were but two candidates,
John NJ. Slaton OF Fulton and Joe Hill
Hall of Bibb.
Mr.. Hall made a number OF speeches
here and there over the state, and is still
at it, winding up the campaign with an
automobile tour of number of counties
around Bibb.
Mr.. Slaton did not make a single po-
ltical speech during the entire campaign,
and even after the entrance of Hooper
Alexander of DeKalb, who based his cam
didacy on Governor Browns veto of the
Tippins bill, Mr.. Slaton made no change
in his plans.
Mr.. Alexander has done some speaking
and will continue to speak through Tues
/ day Reports from his meetings are of
rather Indifferent crowds. and the stirring
+ of enthusiasm has not been apparent at
any point. His largest meeting. was that
held in the Lyric theatre in Atlanta.
Altogether the campaign has been one
lacking in, interest and excitement at
every point, and the people of the state
seem glad that ii has been so. At no time
has it been of such nature as to inter-
fere with business, and the state will
have not set any particular number of
Nadp in
gardless of results.
Mr.. Slaton's friends are predicting that
he will carry 40 counties, and they as
sert that he will take the state by one
of the largest majorites ever given a
Georgia governor.
Mr.. Halls friends express confidence.
hut they are -uetLlnud sbout It. They
have not yet any particular number OF
counties as claimed for their candidate.
Mr.. Alexander and his friends are, ap-
parently. merely making bluff at claim
| ing They name no counties as certain
| outside of Mr.. Alexanders home county of
Dekalb. But residents of DeKalb are
ldisputing his title to that. Mr.. Alex
lander has frankly admitted his prospec-
tive defeat, but report has it that he is
not so much concerned about this as he
is in laying the wires for two years hence
when. it is said, he expected again to go
into the fight on the prohibition ticket
OtneT hdCeS AttIdCt AtttHtlOn
There has been a growing interest in
some of the other races before the people
outside of that for governor. There are
hot contests for all three of the positions
on the state railroad commission, and the
candidates are busy getting out letters and
meeting voters wherever it is possible
for them to do so. Some of them are
also talking to the public through the
newspapers, and several salty cards have
appeared, more particularly in the contest
between Commissioner Paul b. Tramme
of Dalton and Judge J. j. Flynt of Grf-
fin In this race there is a remnant of
the Hoke Smith-Joe Brown ISSUE though
that is rapidly disappearing from Geor-
gia politics, and some predict within an
other year it will be gone altogether.
There are more aspirants for the posi-
tion of Commissioner Joseph f. Gray of
Savannah, than any other member of 1t.
As many as three are eager to succeed
him-John II. James, retired banker of
Atlanta Charles J. Shipp. newspaper
man of Cordele, and John II. McGehee a
lawyer of Talbotton. Mr.. Gray is fighting
yaiantly for his place, and his friends
arta predicting that he will hold it.
Az little of the Smith Brown faction
Adfsm is apparent in the race involving the
position on the commission of Judge
George Hillyer. Judge Hillyer was first
appointed by Governor Smith and after
ward elected. S. G. McLendon was also
appointed TO the commission by Governor
Smith, and afterward fired from 1t by
him. Mr.. McLendon has been put into the
race against Judge Hillyer by Thomas E.
Watson of Thomson, who declares that
McLendon was '1ynched' by the legisla-
ture at the behest of Governor Smith.
w. Trox Bankston, a newspaper man of
West Point, is also In the fight for Judge
1fillyer's place, and Judge Hillyer is
fighting back just as hard as he knows
how.
Commissioner of Agriculture
Next in point of general interest, per-
haps, is the race for commissioner of ag-
4 riculture. The incumbent Commissioner
J. j. Conner, is not in the race because
nc promised Governor Brown If appointed
he would not be a candidate. So in this
case 1t is a fight altogether OF outsiders.
]. d. Price of Oconee, former state SEN
ator, asserts that he is the only "prac-
teal farmer In the race, and as the law
requires practical farmer. he ought to
nave IT, j. ]. Brown. at present assist
ant 10 the commissioner of agriculture, is
making a valiant fight for the office,
packed strongly by Thomas f. Watson,
MS close personal and political friend
A. Q. Blalock of Fayette member of the
state senate, has had open campaign head
quarters in the KimbaIl the mast two
months, and is covering the state with lit
erature. The campaign was recently en-
livened by little newspaper dispute be-
tween Balock and Brown over the respec-
tive merits of their candidates..
For attorney general. Thomas S. Fielder
the incumbent, is opposed by w. r. .Tones
OF Meriwether. we'll known lawyer and
prominent member of the legislature. Mr.
Fielder is pretty well known over the state
and it is going to take all sorts of a la rd
fight to dislodge him Judge Jones'
friends, however, feel confident that he
will come pretty close to it, IL he does
not quite do It,
The races for pension commissioner he
tween w. II. Lanier of Savannah and
Judge John w. Lindsey, the Incumbent.
and for state school superintendent he
tween E. II. Beck of Brooks and state
School Superintendent NJ. l.. Britain are
two about as quiet, orderly and peaceable
lpolitieal campaigns as were ever con-
ducfed in any state. Little has been
1feard from them through the press or
anywhere else.
Prison Commissioner
There is but little more life In the fight
for prison commissioner. in which A. N.
oroyenstein of Effngham and DR.. s. w.
(Csntinned % Page seven)