The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-11

bic primary system
The latter won and the fight is on.
The friends of Mr.. Conner believe that
he will receive a majority in the first
primary. His opponents contend that he
viii not. II he does not and the anti
Conner strength can be centered upon
the candidate who shows second
strength in the first primary. in the
second it is self-evident that there will
be an opportunity to defeat Mr.. CO.
mer
Bars Are Raised
With the exception of the adoption
Of the majority plan for the primary,
the most significant action of the state
committee was in raising the bars
against the republicans.
The provisions are so broad and so
drastic that no man who bolted the
ticket in the general election of 1912,
If he is a man of honor. will seek
TO enter the primary, April 6.
For it is provided that the man who
votes by that act authorizes the man.
ayers of the election to sign his name
to an affidavit to the end that he
supported all the nominees from
Woodrow Wilson down to constab bic" in
the election of 1912. 1t is furthermore
provided that the managers of cleo
t1ons must challenge all whom they
have reason to believe cannot measure
up to the requirements. And it is made
the duty of citizens also to challenge.
1t is safe to state that. whereas, in
some instances the provisions will not
be enforced in the primary of April 6.
fewer republicans will participate than
IN any other election of recent years.
State Campaign Acute
ARtt.
long quiescent-will be in order this
week. With Oscar w. Underwood back
in Washington and assurance of his
success in the race for the Senate gem
orally recognized the gubernatorial
struggle will have its inning.
MI Conner is scheduled to make an
address tomorrow morning in Gadsden
He has declined to speak in advance
concerning his topic 1t is safe to pre-
sumo, however, that he will discuss the
action of the committee and the part
played by the governor and his po-
litical allies. Charles Henderson has
five stenographers writing letters to
the voters and he will put his speak
ers to work Immediately. His lieuten-
ants are very confident that he will
be in the run-off with Mr. Conner and
that his record as president of the
railroad commission and as business
man will insure. his success Can't. r
f. koib claims that he will lead the
ticket in the first election and that his
majority Will be so pronounced that
Mr. Conner viii. not try his streagth in
the second. John II. Wallace. Jr. is
preparing to resume his speaking
campaign He is very confident He
promises to name his manager within
the next few days.
Walter D. Seed has been preparing
new speech and he will deliver that
h.. F,,t.
TO go more thoroughly into the record
of Mr.. Conner and, incidentally, to point
out more fully the reasons why he
himself should be chosen.
Race for Courts
There is now much speculation in D.
gard to the struggles for the seats to
be filled on the benches of the su-
preme and appellate courts. Should
Judge John Anderson be promoted to
the position of chief justice, vice Chief
Justice Dowdell, resigned. he may not
have opposition, but instead of two
vacancies on the bench of the supreme
court, there will be three. In the event
that Judge John Pelham of the court
Of appeals is appointed to fill the va
caney on the bench of the supreme
court-should a vacancy occur by the
appointment of Judge Anderson-in-
stead of one there would be two vaean-
cies on the bench of the court of ap-
peals.
For the supreme court there are five
candidates, Judge Mayfield and Judge
deGraffenreid. incumbents; r. T. Simp-
son of Florence, Romaine Boyd of Bir-
mingham and W. II, Thomas of Mont
gomery There are but two candidates
for the court of appeals Judge Perry
Thomas. incumbent and Col J. B.
Brown of Cullman
Governor in Issue
An Interesting feature of the sitsla-
tion is that the governor of the state
is destined to become more or less an
issue Mr. Conner. it is certain, will
refer to the governors activity in di-
recting the fight for the majority plan
in the committee meeting. And in the
election of judges of higher courts sew
eral of the candidates are appointees of
the governor.
Speculation is rife as to whether or
not the governor will carry out his
promise to take the stump against
Mr.. Conner. Sometime ago the chief ex-
ecutfve threatened to do so. 1t is point
ed out that if the criticism of his enc
mics becomes bitter enough he will go
upon the hustings in his own defense.
Candidates for minor state office arc
unusually. active at this time. 1t is
difficult to point out the leaders in the
several contests. and when the news is
told it is safe to say that some sur
z..fe- ttrs1I H.