The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-09-15
WHATLEY WINNING
 WAY |N'THE WEST
Former Birmingham Boy Nominated for District
 Attorney

The announcement of the nomination of Barney l.. Whatley, a former law
 partner of Judge Hugo L. Black, as dis trict attorney of the judicial circuit Of
 Lake, Eagle and Summit counties, Colo rado, was received in the city few | days ago and brought much satisfaction
 to his numerous friends and professional
 associates in the city.
 The rapid rise to political prominence of the brilliant young attorney is re- | markable from the fact that he was sent
 west by his physician as q sufferer from l the great white plague and when he left Birmingham many thought that his days were numbered. But with an in-
 domitable spirit and strong will he com bated the dread disease and in the higher
 attitudes of his adopted home overcame his physical disability and has risen to
 prominence in his chosen profession in less than two years.
 But when one recalls his earlier career 1t is not 10 be wondered that he forged rapidly to the front, for overcoming diff culties has been his portion for the best part of his life The failure of the fam fly fortunes left him with an uncom- pleted education and at the age of IT he l entered the battle of life. Not only did he win out. but while earning his daily
 bread in the mercantile line, he burned the midnight oil until he had mastered the lore of the law and was admitted a member of the bar, and from the start
 gave evidence of his unusual ability. MT. Whatley was born in Clay county ] near Ashland in 1885. He attended the public schools at that point until he reached the age of F. A change in the
 fortunes of his family compelled him to leave school. and at the age of 1T he
 entered the services of the Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad company in a clerical capacity. Later he went with the Prowel Hardware company. In 1908 he entered the office of Judge Hugo L. Black as a law student and in the short space of one year stood the state bar examination and was admitted to mem bership to the Birmingham bar. MT. Whatley and Judge Black formed law partnership and practiced with much sue
 cess until 1910 when his health failed him
 and he went west.
 Locating in Denver, ne prdctlceu ms profession for a year; in August, 1911,
 he moved to Breckinridge. a mining town about 15o miles from Denver Elected by the Breckinridge Chamber of Com merce to represent that body In pending litigation against the Colorado and Great Southern Railway company, a branch of the Southern Pacific, to compel the oper- ation of their line from Denver to Breck- 1 inridge which had been discontinued by
 the railroad, the case was fought bit | terIy and every influence and power was brought to bear to defeat the reopening
 of the road. But Mir. Whatley never
 gave up and although the company ob- tained a change of venue and several
 continuances from other causes, he reached final hearing and gained a complete victory over the railroad com pany and the line was reopened
 | In August, 1911, one year after MT. Whatey had moved to Breckinridge, he announced for district attorney of the judicial circuit composed of three coun- | ties. Lake Eagle and Summit. There were l two opposing candidates. both of whom | had been living in Colorado for a long | term of years On September 10, 1912 l Whatley was nominated by the demo- cratic party by big majority. and his
 election Is now certainty.