The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-09-10
SOUTH ALABAMA HASCAND|DATESTO.
 SUCCEED SIMPSON Interest Centers on O'Neal's Appointment to Vacancy
 on Supreme Bench MANY APPLICANTS FROM ALL OVER STATE John B. Knox Probably Strongest Candidate From North Alabama.
 Understood H. C. Selheimer
 May Become Candidate

Montgomery, September 9.-(Spe- cial)-With the return of Governor ONeal from Maine, in which state he delivered a number of speeches in the interest of the democratic campaign, interest In his appointment to the va cancy on the supreme bench has sud- denly revived, with the result that this important office Is now engaging the attention of lawyers in all sections of Alabama.
 Altogether there are a dozen or more lawyers in the state who have received strong inducements for the vacancy. The names of a score or more have been mentioned, though no recommen- datipns in regard to their candidacy have been filed in the governors of fee.
 Probably the largest number of in dorsements have come to the governor from south Alabama, Mobile being well in the forefront in the number of rec concentrations which have been filed in the executive offices. The strongest candidate from Mobile is probably c. J. Torrey, who has inducements not only from large number of the bar of that W counties. Another strong lawyer of that city who is well indorsed for the position on the supreme bench is N. E. Stallworth, in whose behalf large batch of recommendations and in- dorsements have also been received Andalusia has put forth candi- date in the person of Judge w. II. Parks, who is the chairman of the ju- dietary committee of the house of rep resentatives Friends of Judge Parks have visited the governor in his be- half and it is expected that strong pressure will be brought to bear upon the executive from the bar of Coving- ton county to have Judge Parks ap- pointed to the vacancy.
 Other strong candidates from South Alabama are Thomas M. E'spy of Doth an, Judge Mike Sollie of ozark and Daniel Partridge and Watkins Vaughan of Selma. All of these candidates have received inducements for the position from members of the bar of their re- spective territory
 John B. Knox Candidate
 Probably the strongest candidate for the position from north Alabama is John B. Knox of Anniston. With the retirement of Judge John II. Miller or Birmingham from the role of possible candidates for the office opinion is that
  ment from the bar of north Alabama. IL Is understood that delegation will visit the governor during the present week in behlaf of MT Knox, and 1t is certain that weighty pressure will be brought to bear upor the governor to induce him to give the place to that we'll known lawyer
 Since Judge Miller announced that he was not a candidate for the office there has been some talk to the erect that an. effort will be made to have IT. C. Selheimer of Birmingham named on the supreme court bench. Another prominent lawyer of Birmingham who has been suggested is Judge c. c. Ne Smith, though there is a strong proba- bility that q large number of the Bir- mingham bar will favor the appoint ment of MT. Knox.
 Eufaula has presented a candidate in the person of Perry Thomas, Tn whose behalf a Barbour county dele gation called on Governor O'Neal on Monday Mir Thomas is said to have a strong backing for the office through out his section of the state
 Appointment in Near Future
 It is expected that Governor ONeal will make the appointment within the very near future. The opinion that for a while prevailed that Governor ONeal would not fill the vacancy has been dissipated by a statement which the governor made upon his return from Maine, which was to the effect that he intended filling the office just as soon as he found an available man.
 As to his probable recommendations to the legislature regarding the aboli- ton of two judges of the supreme court. Governor ONeal declared that he preferred not to express an oplnloh at this time. Further than to say that he will fill the vacancy on the bench, the governor declines to discuss any future action which he may take
 Several well known lawyers in the state have suggested to the governor thats it might be well to decline to make an appointment to fill the va cancy on the supreme court bench, stat ing that in so doing there would be less opposition to the court of appeals, par ticularly if the number of supreme court judges were cut down to five.
 The governor believes that 1t is pre- mature to discuss this particular ques- ton, nor has he indicated that he Ia vors such a plan. He is cognizant or the fact that vacancy exists on the bench of the supreme court, and he has announced that he will fill this vacancy at the earliest possible time.