The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-11-19
PARCELLING OUT THE OFFICES
~-rcm the Montgomery Advertiser. "HE Advertiser had thought

~rem the Montgomery Advertiser.
 "HE Advertiser had thought the
 seekers after large offices in Ala
 \ bama had, after their experience in learned that the people of the state would not stand for a secret agreement in which the offices are to be parcelled out, The Birmingham Age-Herald. however, publishes Sunday, on it's front page. a cir eumstantial story of the proposal by Con gressman Richmond P. Hobson to former Governor Conner, that he not get in Hob sens way in the race for senator, that Conner run for governor and that Lieut.. Gov. Walter D. Seed be removed from the lgubernatorial race and put into Congress from the Sixth district. This was pretty little scheme, but after all the people of Alabama will have to be consulted.
 It was repeatedly charged in the cam- paign of 1909. confirmed by previous and subsequent circumstances, that the unfor- trnate prohibition amendment to the con stitution was foisted and forced on the people as an issue in which certain prom inent gentlemen could ride into office and that in its preparation one or two gentle men were assigned to make unopposed races to large offices on the amendment issue. But the amendment went to smash and all hopes that were wrapped up in it went to wreck
 The Age-Herald says:
 "Congressman IIobsou suggested to ex- Governor Conner that instead of opposing him for the Senate, he should make the race for governor. and that Lieutenant Governor Seed. instead of opposing Gov ernor Conner. should make the race to succeed Hobson in Congress from the | Sixth district"
 The proposer of the plan undoubtedly believed that if he effected the scheme those who went into it could pull it through. for, of course. the people, in whose interest all these great fights are made, for principle and not for ambition, would never know anything about the offices being parcelled out The well in formed in Alabama politics have always believed that Congressman Hobsons pre- mature announcement made for the Sen ate more than two years in advance of the election. was determination to horn Conner off the track" and that the former governor did not relish being horned in any such way.
 The Age-Herald says in this eonnec- tion that Governor Conner said "I am not in the habit of apportioning the of fees of the state, Captain IIobson. If run for any office it will be for the basis O. principle. Of course, this remark re- calls men, events and persons. which char acterized that sensational extra session of the legislature of 1909 when the state amendment fight, in witch one or more large offices were at stake. But undoubt- eoly the former governor made that reply. Hohson's attitude towards the senatorship never has suited him.
 Captain aIIobson admits the secret con ference and he admits. the proposal of an alliance for commoH march on the of fees. and he admits making the sugges- ton MT. Hugh W. Roberts, the political writer of The Age-Herald, wired Captain Hobson at Charlton. la, asking him for statement in reference to this import ant. though secret, efforts for a common QHQti Stshuihes III acPiS tdlitdiD 11ODSOn said, T made suggestions to Governor Conner in person and through my private secretary to Governor Seed that the pro- gressive, prohibition democrats should en- ter the coming contest with united front and that personal ambition should be sub ordinated to that end: and that it seemed to me the logical adjustment for Conner to run for governor and for Seed to run for Congress, while continued my campaign for the Senate. Both parties agreed on the principle of unity and of subordinating ambitions, but neither seemed to welcome the proposed method of adjustment"
 Here frankly is the situation: every one agreed that there should be unity and that there should be a subordination of personal ambitiorE but the ambition to be