The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-22
GRAHAM URGED AS
OAKLEY SUCCESSOR
Prattville Man Said to Be
Well Qualified
OTHER NAMES HEARD
Believed, However, That Governor
O'Neal Will Not Fill the Vacant
Place Until Investigation
Is Concluded
OTHER NAMES HEARD
BY l.. S. BETTY

Montgomery, March 21.-(Special.)- D
Friends of Malcolm A. Graham of Pratt
Vile are endeavoring to persuade Gov
ernor ONeal to appoint him to the posi-
tion of president of the state board of
convict inspectors, to succeed James G..
Oakley. s
Mr.. Graham's candidacy for the posi-
tion of head of the convict department
has gained considerable prominence dur
ing the past two days, and 1t is pre-
dicted in certain quarters that he will
secure the position.
The claims of Mr.. Graham are being
advanced by Daniel Pratt, Judge C. E.
Thomas, Judge r. L. Faucet and other
influential citizens of Prattville, as we'll
as by a number of leading men of Mont
gomery.
Mr. Graham is at present secretary and
treasurer of the Prattville cotton mills
and vice president of the Autauga Bank
eral times mayor of Prattville, has served
on the board of revenue of the county
for several terms, and is trustee of sew
eral educational institutions of the state.
The friends of Mr.. Graham maintain
that he would make a most excellent man
for the position of president of the board
of convict inspectors and they are san
guine of their efforts in his behalf.
Mr.. Graham would make an excellent
Official said Judge c. e. Thomas, in
discussing the candidacy of Mr.. Graham.
He has had much experience as a bus-
ness man, he has been prominent in Of
fetal and political circles of Autauga
county and his section of the state, and
he is in every way qualified for the posi-
ton of the convict board
Other Candidates Mentioned
In addition to Mr.. Graham, a number
of other candidates have been mentioned
for the office. These include II. y.
Brooke, examiner of public accounts; W.
c. Agee, president of the excise commits
sion of Jefferson county; j. Craig Smith
of Montgomery and others.
Governor O'Neal has not Indicated,
however, when he will select the success
sor to Mr.. Oakley, though it is known
that he is giving the matter considerable
thought Tt is probable that he will not
name the president of the board until the
present investigation of the department
has been concluded. So far as can be
learned, the investigation will continue
for several days longer, probably into
next week.
Make Investigation Thorough
make the investigation as thorough as
possible. Already the probers have gone
to some extent into the former adminis-
tration, and it is expected that before the
examination of the convict department
has been concluded Governor ONeal will
have in his possession whatever facts he
desires relative to the management of
convict department affairs during the
past six or eight years.
Tn, fl,a f1,a ic ha
lieved to be looking over the field for a
new head of the department, considerins
thoroughly the claims of each of the sew
eral candidates who have been recon-
mended tot him, and collecting certain
facts relative TO the individual qualihca
tions of the applicants.
The appointment may be made during
the next few days, though unless al pre-
dictions fail the governor will not name
the successor to James G.. Oakley until
the present investigation has been con-
ciuded.