The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-11-23
Underwood's Departure This
Week Will Cause Lull in
the Absorbing Interest
FIGHT is FOR" AND
"AGAINST" CONFER
Henderson Following Maintains Pike
County Man Will Finally Cen
tralize All the Anti
Conner Strength
BY HUGH w. ROBERTS.

BY HUGH w. ROBERTS.
Oscar w. Underwood will return to
Washington Wednesday
Thereafter the senatorial campaign
which has occupied the footlights to the
exclusion of all other campaigns, will
wane.
/ The struggle for gubernatorial honors
will then become uppermost in the minds
of the people. The candidates for gov
ernor will be able to attract attention as
to their speaking engagements and hold
attention when they discuss the issues of
the fight.
At the present time the situation is cha
| otic.
The following of B. B. Conner boasts
that it has captured the state. The fol-
lowing of Charles Henderson, however,
contends that the anti-Comer strength is
| in the majority, and that there are more
| men in Alabama who desire calm, bust
ness-like administration than another four
years of turbulence. Walter d. Seed,
| John II. Wallace Jr.. and Reuben +.
Kolb are actively prosecuting their cam
| paigns.
| Thomas e. Kilby, candidate for lieuten-
ant governor, is still without opposition.
That he will be elected without opposition
is conclusive. There are two reasons.
| The first is that he is popular and busi-
Eess man. The second is that in view of
his long lead, he couldn't be beaten.
The Real Situation
As Mr.. Conner has stated, the fight is
for and against Conner.
For that reason 1t is a safe prediction
that in the long run the opposition to
Conner will center itself on one man.
Charles Hendersons following claims
that it's captain will be the man to wage
| the battle against the Conner following.
This Following is positive that Henderson
| will be left alone in the field to wage the
battle. If this claim is verified in fact,
there is reason to believe that he will be
nominated.
"The dark horse" In the campaign is
/ Mr.. Seed. Mr.. Seed is a prohibitionist
running as a prohibitionst. He is and
has been working without attracting at
tention day in and day out for many
weeks He will get many votes. He may
surprise as he surprised when the pres
ent governor was nominated
| 1t is the consensus Of opinion that every
vote which Seed will get would, were he
eliminated, be cast for Conner There is
no doubt therefore, but that he is the
present thorn in the side of the former
governor. That his fight might produce
the defeat of the former governor is ad-
mitted.
Reviewing Comer's Record
month have been outwardly interested
only in the struggle for the senate, in
wardly they have thought a great deal of
| the gubernatorial situation. The period
| has not been one for action, but one for
| reflection.
And in this month they have reviewed
| the administration of former Governor
Conner. The question has been, DO we
want another such Administrations"
| They have remembered the condition
of the treasury when Conner found it, and
the condition when his term had expired.
| They have thought of increased taxation,
creation of offices, employment of special
attorneys repeated sessions of the legis-
lature, the prohibition struggles, the ef-
fort to thrust the prohibition amendment
down the throats of the people, the driv-
ing away of capital, and the distress of
| business.
The prohibitionists have thought of Co.
mers prohibition record, his election as
alocal optionist. his conversion to pro-
| hibition, his passage of the bill providin,,
for the submission of the prohibition
amendment, his declaration that prohibi-
! tion is not an issue in the current cam
paign, and his satisfying letter to the
editor of the Mobile Register.
Fight Just Beginning
| So the condition is chaotic.
! 1t is rather rash at the present time to
forecast the success of Mr.. Conner in view
of the anti-Comer strength and the in
roads which Seed is making and has made
into the pro-Comer strength
The campaign has scarcely been devel-
oped. There will be an immediate re-
sumption of hostilities in all the guber-
material camps, and the struggle will be
continued bitterly to the end.
But the significant fact is that the real
| fight has not begun.
| The people will become interested
again. and get into fighting shape them
selves. There is no question but that the
states fate is in the balance, and no
| question but that in view of the certainty
| or Underwood's success, the people wifi
/ eventually become Interested cbiaA,, IN