The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-26
.RUMORED LIEUT.. GOV.
IS ANXIOUS TO CALL
A SPECIAL SESSION
Reported Were O'Neal to
Remain Away Twenty
Days Seed Would AS
sumo Reins
BY L. S. RETTY

Montgomery, August 25.--(SpeciaD-That
Lieut.. Gov Walter d. Seed would call
the legislature into special session were
be given an opportunity. and that he
would consider that he had an excellent
opportunity were Governor o Neal to re-
main out of the state longer than the
constitutional limit of 20 days, in which
event, under the law, he would be en-
titled to assume the reins of government
is matter of such current belief in Of
ficial circles that there Is already some
speculation as to the character of legis-
lation which Mr.. Seed would endeavor to
have enacted
Governor oNeal has been absent from
the state scarcely 72 hours, and he may
remain away from Alabama II days long
er before there is any imminent danger of
special legislative session. But should
he exceed the time limit by one day. or
possibly a few hours, there are few who
believe that Mr.. Seed would not imme-
diately have himself proclaimed govern
or, and still fewer who do not believe
that the first official act of the acting
governor would be to call for an extra
session of the state lawmakers.
Rumor to this effect was current in Of
fetal circles today, and while there is
scarcely any possibility of Governor
O'Neal remaining out of the state longer
than 20 days, or even longer than two
weeks, for that matter the gossip was
so general as to cause some talk about
what Mr. Seed might wish to do were he
governor even for day.
Seed Legislative Propaganda
Friends of Mr. Seed assert that were
he governor, even for so short a period
as day. he would undoubtedly call the
legislature into session and recommend
the abolition of the present local option
laws; an investigation of the Lacy de-
talcation; consideration of the states
finances, and the enactment of law to
carry out the provisions of the seven
teenth amendment with reference to fill
ing senatorial vacancies.
1t is said that these are the principal
questions on which Mr.. Seed would ask
the legislative consideration if he were
placed in a position where he could exert
executive authority. There may be other
matters which he would ask to be taken
up, but certainly none of them are so
important as those above referred to.
Those who spoke of Mr. Seeds inten-
tions in the event he found himself by
accident in the governors chair declare
that Mr.. Seed had himself confided the
whom the report was spread.
Governor Back in Two Weeks
Governor O'Neal is at present attending
the governors conference at Colorado
Springs. and it is understood that follow
ing the conference he viii take weeks
vacation before returning home When
he left Montgomery he declared that he
would return in about two weeks and in
formation to this effect was given out
"a the executive offices today.
None of the governors friends believe
there is the remotest possibility of his
remaining out Of the state as long as 20
days none who believe that he will even
approach the margin of the constitutional
limit.
According to these administration
friends, Governor O'Neal is thoroughly
cognizant of the fact that the state might
be confronted by peculiar situation if
Mr. Seed should secure control of the
reins of government for a few days. or
for shorter period, and they assert that
there Is not one chance in a thousand OF
the Tuscaloosa citizen occupying the GU
bernatorial chair by reason of Governor
O'Neal's absence from the state.