The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-11-24
Who Will Get Plums Is Now
All Absorbing Topic
at the Capital
WHERE is LIGHTNING
LIABLE TO STRIKE?
Pre- Convention Wilson Ranks Were
Undoubtedly Strong But Gossip
Indicates They Arc Being
Greatly Augmented

Montgomery. November 23.-( Special.)-
Distribution of federal offices among
Alabanians is a question that continues
to be discussed with undated interest
in official circles at the state capitol
Who will woodrow Wilson appoint when
he assumes office as the President of the
United states? Will he appoint his pre-
convention friends, his post-conyention
friends, Presbyterians, or Princeton men?
These are some of the questions that
are being asked And inasmuch as candi-
dates for office are springing up from
every quarter in the state, representing
each of these classes. the solution of the
perplexing problem is one that none has
had the temerity to answer.
Those who are not seeking office MAIN
tain that Wilson's pre-convention friends
stand the better chance of securing APP
pointments. although it is generally adj
mitted that merit will enter more largely
Into the question than any other consid-
Grafton when President Wilson begins the
distribution of federal offices in Alabama.
But his pre-convention friends will prob
ably receive the first consideration, and,
est plums.
Pref Convention Friends Increasing
1t is safe to say that more men in Ala
banna have joined the pre-convention
ranks since the nomination than that
class originally contained. Although VIII
son was plainly the second choice for the
nomination. there were few In the state
prior to the Montgomery convention who
openly espoused Wilson'S cause Still,
there was strong undercurrent at work
for Wilson. Forces were being collected,
and these s'silents forces were so vigor-
ous in their work for. the New Jersey
governor that a delegation was secured
to the Baltimore convention who were
willing to vote for Wilson just as soon as
they were released from their pledges to
Underwood. Nearly three-fourths of the
delegates from Alabama We're for Wilson
for second choice. and it is known that
in the selection of this delegation some
of the most prominent men in the state
exerfed a very fine hand.
How great a part Wilson'S pre-conven-
ton friends in Alabama had in bringing
about his nomination will never be
known, though 1t is generally conceded
that under certain circumstances their
services might have been Invaluable Had
their been a stampede, for instance, with
Alabaina on the first call of the states,
and had the Alabama delegation been for
any other candidate for second choice,
there is no way of telling what might
have happened. But three-fourths of the
delegates from Alabama were for Wilson
for second choice, and neither Clark, nor
Harmon, nor any other candidate could
have controlled their vote after they
were released from their pledge to Under
wood.
Wilson Cognizant of Situation
That Wilson is cognizant of the crucial
position which the Alabama delegation
occupied In the Baltimore convention is
believed by every we'll known political
leader in the state, and there is little
probability that Wilson will forget. 1t is
also improbable that Wilson will forget
those silent forces that labored to Sc
cure a majority delegation for him from
Alabama.
But those "silent'' forces are still at
work. though most of them are now
working for the achievement of other pur-
poses. laudable, of course, but neverthe-
less to be expected. There are few who
had a hand in the selection of the Ala
bama delegates to the Baltimore conven-
tion who are not aspirants for office. and
probably most of them will land, though
whether or NOT they will realize the ex-
tent of their ambition is not known.
+ But it is believed that Wilson will do