The Columbus commercial. (Columbus, Miss.) 1893-1922, 1914-03-05
Two Candidates Have Already
Announced for the Gov
ernOrship.
RACE TO Be LIVELY ONE
Most Interesting Situation Devel.
oping Over Contest for Lieu
tenant-Governor.

Line-ups for the next guberna.
torial campaign in Mississippi
are beginning to become appar.
ent. Just now there is in Mis-.
sissippi that peculiar situation
that always precedes a battle OF
this kind. where doubt, hesita-
tion and indecision prevails. All
tentative candidates are watching
every movement closely.
So far there are only two can
didates definitely announced for
tn e governorship-Lieut. Gov.
Theo. G. Bilbo and John Talley.
For lieutenant governor Senator
Lee Russell, of Oxford, is an
avowed candidate. And right
here there is a most interesting
situation. 1t is the general opin-
ion that Senator G. A. Hobbs,
who was tried at Vicksburg re-
Gently on bribery charges, and
acquitted, wants to climb on the
Bilbo wagon, and Bilbo is not re-
ceiving the proposition with any
enthusiasm. 1t is the gossip
that the acknowledgements
enemies are hopeful that Senator
Hobbs will become so insistent
that Bilbo will take him on.
They believe it would be a dead
weight" on the Bilbo ticket.
Senator Hobbs, no later than a
week ago, stated that he was un-
decided whether he would make
the race for the second place on
the ticket, but did not deny that
he was thinking mighty seriously
of announcing. In fact. he ex-
pressed the opinion that he had a
mighty good show" for the job.
Reports have it that Bilbo
wants Senator Russell as his run
ming mate. Senator Russell says
he is going to run on straight.
independent basis, and not to be
tied to anybJdy's coat. tails. Here
it is limited that efforts are being
made to have Hobbs run for in
surance commissioner. But as
Senator CasteeI's friends say he
wants that job another complica-
tion arises.
1t is generally conceded, how
ever, that so far as made up the
Bilbo slate is Bilbo for governor,
Russell for lieutenant-governor
s. Joe Owen for secretary of
state, Senator Casteel for in
surance commissioner and H. Z.
Blakeslee for comissioner of ag-
riculture, a place he now fills.
However, there are those who
profess to know that the guber-
material bee has not quit buzzing
under the bonnet of Mr.. Blakes.
lee. The latter will not say any.
thing about that bee. He is
maintaining silent, watchfu
attitude, but it is believed he vii
offer for governor if he feels ht
has a fair chance to land in tn,
executive chair. State Superin
tendent of Education J. N. Pow
ers is maintaining an attitud,
similar to that of Mr.. Blakeslee
while Mr.. Stennis. of Lauder
dale, whose friends say that h,
, would make strong candidate
to oppose Bilbo, is saving WOO,
and saying nothing.
, Then there is Speaker H. NJ
Quin, who would, it is admitted
make a strong candidate for gov
, ernor. Speaker Quin take
/, kindly to the urgent request o
friends to get in the race an,
announcement from him at an.
time would not create any sur
prise.
AS regards other offices. it
too early to do much in the wa
of speculation. Speaker Nor
wood doubtless will be in tn
race for lieutenant-governor H
: is quietly getting his bearing:
and seemsipleased with promise
OF support.
The most interesting situatio