The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-18
Senatorial Situation, Guber-
Material Race and Contest
for Supreme Court Figure
STATE RALLIES TO
UNDERWOOD'S CAUSE
Marked Development in Gubernatorial
Race Furnished Recently-Supreme
Court Judgeship Contest Brings
About Complex Situation
BY J.. s. BETTY

BY J.. s. BETTY
Montgomery, January 17.-(Special)
There have been many important de-
velopments in Alabama politics during
the past two weeks Principal among
these are the changes which have come
about in reference to the senatorial
situation, the governors race, and the
contest for supreme court justices. As
contributing factors towards these new
conditions various causes may be as
signed. Even destiny may have played
n part-but the action of the state dem
ocratic executive committee is largely
responsible.
The senatorial campaign during the
past two weeks has been marked by
rapid growth of Underwood sentiment
In other respects the situation is the
same as it was at the beginning. Oscar
Underwood is in Washington attending
to his congressional duties. Capt r. p
Hobson is campaigning in Alabama
This condition has obtained largely
since the campaign began.
Mr.. Underwood accomplished much
by his brief visit to Alabama during
the congressional Christmas recess His
strong and vigorous denial of his op-
ponents charges, coupled with his
ability to prove them false, won for him
many friends in all parts of the state
1t had the effect of winning to his side
many of Hobson's supporters, men who
regard fair play and honesty as most
essential requisites in a campaign for
the highest office in the gift of the
people.
Men took the democratic leaders
message home with them and pondered
over it before their firesides, in calm,
sober Thought vi be e,if IL,
its true light, and the result has not
been unexpected. Sentiment in favor of
Mr.. Underwood has steadily increased
| The entire state has rallied to his
cause, and his success was never con-
sidered more certain than at the pres
ent time.
GubernatOrial Campaign
" The gubernatorial race has furnished
the most marked Developments of the
past two weeks. The action of the state
democratic executive committee, in or
dering double primary for all offices
is largely responsible for these changes
Before a double primary was ordered for
mer Gov. b. b. Conner was regarded. as
certain winner. He is now the favor
ite prohibition candidate
With five candidates in the race for gov
| ernor three of whom are local optionists
and TWO prohibitionists, Mr.. Conner would
very likely have won the nomination IN
a lluraHty primary He will most likely
be the foremost candidate in the primary
on April s, but he will certainly not have
| a majority of the votes. indications point
TO one of the local option ca"didates as
his nearest opponent and in the run-off
| in the second primary the race will prob
ably be exceedingly close.
There is much difference of opinion as
to whom will be, Mr.. Comer's closest op-
ponent. Followers of Charles Henderyn
and Capt Reuben F. Kolb arc both claim
ing that distinction for their particular
candidate. They even aver that Mr..
Conner Will be the second man in the race.
However, there seems to be considerable
ground for belief that Mr.. Henderson Will
wiz second place in the first primary. and
opinion prevails in the local option camp
that Mr.. Henderson, in the event he does
win seconi place, will have better than
fighting chance for the nomination II
cannot be denied that new life has been
injected into Mr.. Henderson's campaign,
and that his cause has been considerably
strengthened during the past two weeks.
Supreme Court Justices
The situation with reference to the su-
preme court is probably more complex
| than it has been in number of years.
| Four of the present judges of the court,
| cne of whom is the chief justice, Will en-
| ter the April primary. Two of them will
| ASK 10 De IlOIDlIdttu 10 iii OUT uutNDiltu
terms and two will seek the nomination
| for long terms.
| With respect to the short terms, this
condition was brought about by the re-
| tirement of Chief Justice James Il. Dow
| dell, who had two years longer to serve
on the bench. The governor elevated
Judge John C. Anderson as the ranking
| justice on the court, to the chief justice
ship, and appointed Col. w. L. Pitts Of
| Uniontown to succeed Judge Andersen,
whose term, like Judge Dowdells, does
cnt expire until January, 1917.
Inasmuch as these two appointments
were made within six months of a gen.
Judge Pitts will be compelled to run
in the election for the short terms.
Indications are that Judge Anderson
Will not have any opposition, while a
candidate has already announced
against Judge Pitts. He is Judge Lu-
Glen D. Gardner of Troy, chancellor of
the southeastern division, and a law
yer and a jurist of exceedingly high
ability.
The other justices of the court who
will enter the April primary are Judge
Edward deGraffenried of Greensboro
and Judge James J. Mayfield of Tus-
caIoosa, both of whom will be candi-
dates for long terms. They will be
opposed by Judge william II. Thomas
Of Mont gomery, Romaine Boyd, city at
torney of Birmingham, and r. T. Simp-
son of Florence, the son of the late
associate justice of that name. Proba-
bly, other candidates will announce for
the supreme court.
Other Races for State Offices
There have been few new develop
ments in respect to the other races for
state offices. The announcement of
State Senator Thomas A. Curry of
Clanton for lieutenant governor. in OPP
position to State Senator Thomas +.
Kilby of Admission and the announce
ment Of Auditor C. Brooks Smith for
the office of treasurer are among the
principal developments In the races for
minor state offices.
1t is generally agreed that Mr.. Kilby
Is far in advance OF Mr.. Curry for
lieutenant governor and the nomina-
tton of the Annistonian is predicted