The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-12-21
No One Seems Eager to Be
in the Contest ''Wear-
ing Governors
Collar"
LOOKS LIKE FIVE
WILL STAY IN RACE
TO THE BITTER END
All Eyes Directed Toward Meeting
of State Committee Which Will
Be Held in Montgomery
January Z
by HUGH w. ROBERTS


The selection of a gubernatorial can
didate is, to judge from reports which
emanate from Montgomery, a most try
ing proposition for the governor
Up to the present moment he has not
succeeded It is said that he endeavored
to persuade w. p G. Harding of Bir-
mingham to become a candidate. 1t is
safe to predict that Mr.. Harding will de-
cline the honor.
In view of the fact that the man Sc
lected by the governor will be considered
as one wearing the collar of the COVER
nor, and will go down into a terrible
defeat from which the angels could not
preserve him, it begins to appear that
there will be no additional candidate. In
the meanwhile Charles Henderson, John
II. Wallace, Jr., Reuben +. Kolb, B. b.
Conner and Walter ID. Seed are pursuing
the even tenor of their respective ways,
each confident that he has received
call, and each imbued with an ardent de-
sire to serve the people,
Present Entries Unsatisfactory
The series of preliminary conferences
recently held in Montgomery. the object
candidates for governor and lieutenant
governor, whose views would satisfy the
governor and his warm political and per
sonal friends, has given the more or less
quiescent situation a tinge-as of garlic.
1t is reported that with the present en-
tries, those of the conferences were not
at all pleased. The rumored effort of
b. b. Conner to maintain a coquettish at
titude towards the 'antis" on the one
hand and the ultras on the other was
peculiarly unsatisfactory Little pleasure
could be found in the unequivocal pro-
hibition tendencies of Mr.. Seed. 1t is UNI
derstood that Mr.. Henderson was not
favored ON grounds more personal than
political. Captain Kolb, it is reported,
was sidetracked because he has not sworn
to veto prohibition bill should the legis-
lature be so unwfse as to enact one. Just
why Mr.. Wallace, who is making his fight
as an avowed local optionist with a plat
form most emphatically at variance with
the delicate political inclination of Rev.
Brooks Lawrence and others of the
snowy fleece, is unknown unless the
current rumor is true that Mr.. Wallace
interposed the most serious-violent-ob-
jections.
New Faces Not Expected
AS a matter of fact, there is every
reason to believe that there will be no
candidate come marching forth as the
product of that series of conferences.
There is scarcely man in Alabama who
would be willing to announce himself as
the one announced, even should his star
be upholstered by the clarion voice of
the chief executive.
AS matter of fact, the field Is oc-
cupied. The indications are that there
will be no additional candidates for gov
ernor. Thomas e. Kilby, for lieutenant
governor, and William F. Feagin, for
superintendent of education. will not be
opposed There is a probability of Brooke
Smith, state auditor, becoming a candi-
date for state treasurer He will an
nounce himself a candidate, as a mat
ter of fact, unless the state committee,
at It's meeting January I, provides for
double primary and makes the pleasure
of running for office too expensive for
those who have not long fed at the trough
of the rich. If any man retires he will
be one of the guebrnatorial candidates. 1t
Is said that Mr.. Conner will stay to the
end Mr. Henderson will be In the run
ming to the finish. Captain Kolb plainly
displays his irritation when rumor is
spread that he has given retirement a
thought, and no denial is more eloquent
than when Mr.. Wallace raises his voice
to estop the mouth of the slanderer.
Double Senatorial Primary
The political eye is directed towards the
state committee. The state committee
meets January Z. The primary date will
be set for April Cor thereabout. 1t Is
probable that a plurality plan will be
adopted The report that no provision
will be made for a state convention next
spring is strenuously denied
The most interesting gossip concerning
the meeting of the committee Is that ar
rangement will be made for holding a
double senatorial primary, the one for the
short term and the other for the long
term. For the latter, Oscar W.. Under
wood and r. p. Hobson will be opposed.
For the former, 1t is thought that op-
position will be developed to Senator"
Frank p Glass, who will. 1t lis expected
defend his credentials gwen by the favor
of the governor through appointment. be-
fore the voters of the state. In case he
does and opposition develops. 1t is certain
that this side issue will become one preg-
nant with soul interest, one sufficiently
ailuring to detract attention from the
struggle for the long term
It is believed that should the foregoing
possibility become a fact the governor
would take the stump in advocacy of
the election of his appointee. This would
tend additional zest.