The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-03-29

mas centered in the senatorial and su- bernatorial races. The senatorial race for months occupied the center Of .ne stage, and still occupies conspicuous place in the foreground. but it was diff cult for 1t to hold the great interest which at first attached to it owing to the fact that 1t soon became evident that this race had lost every element of a contest.
 Underwood's Great Majority
 There is every kind of speculation afioat as to Oscar w. Underwood's prob able majority. His victory was con- ce ded months ago-when he first an nounced, for that matter-but later de- ve lopments have revealed the fact that his vistory will be little short of Q landslide. the greatest, probably. that will have been won by a candidate for the United States Senate from Alabama, with opposition, in the entire history of the state.
 Estimates place Underwood's majori- ty over Copt. R. P. Hobson. his oppo- nent at from s5,000 to 10000. With the exception of A few counties In Cap tain Hobsons district. Underwood will carry nearly every county In Alabama. Captain Hobsons strength is confined to certain places. Under woods strength Is state wide
 Many of Captain Hobsons warmest are now convinced that their candidate Is hopelessly defeated Still, in their opinion, they have not alto gether espoused a losing cause, since the Merrimac hero Is sure to run for the Senate four years hence
 Rushton- White Race
 Much interest is attached to the cam paign for the short senatorial term. The three aspirants for the office are con ducting vigorous campaigns, and all three, according to reports, are san guine of success.
 Ii Is pretty generally conceded. how ever. that the race Is between Ray Rush. ton of Montgomery and Capt. Frank s. White of Birmingham, with odds slightly favoring the former candidate. State Senator Watt T. Brown of Ragland, the third candidate, is known to be strong in certain sections in north Alabama but it is not believed he has any great following. However he Is pushing his Campaign with splendid vigor and seems confident of his chances.
 The concensus of opinion in regard to the campaign for short term senator is that either Ray Rushton or Capt. White will obtain the prize. Both men are prom inently known all over the state, and both men have supporters in all sections of Alabama.
 In south Alabama Ray Rushton Is cer- tain to get mojority of the votes cast. In some counties he will doube the com bined vote of his two opponents. His home county will give him more than 90 per cent of the votes boiled.
 Captain Whites strength is largely con- fined to north Alabama, notwthsta nding he has some following in the southern part of the state. But it Is generally conceded that Captain White has not even remote chance of winning the nomi- nation if he Is dependent upon south Ala bama. Captain White has been cam paigning in the southern part of the state for the past two weeks.
 Mir. Rushton's friends are more than sanguine of his success, claiming that he stands an excellent chance of carving goodly number of counties in north Alabama. Mir. Rushton has confined his labors to the northern part of the state since he announced his candidacy and reports from the counties he has visited declare that he has unusual strength. In the opinion of the writer, Ray Rush. ton will be nominated on the first pri- mary.
 Conner, Henderson and Kolb
 In the gubernatorial race. B. B. Conner still seems to be the leading candidate with Charles Henderson close at his heeis Capt. Reuben F. Kolb. according to re- ports, is permanently fixed in third place, with Walter D. Seed bringing up the rear.
 DcNeiopHicnls OlJne past feW weeks in the governors race have been the re- markable gains of MT. Henderson and the falling off of considerable Conner strength. It is not believed that Mir Conner is as strong at the present time as he was two weeks ago. It is believed that he has lost much strength during the past week.
 Causes assigned for his loss of strength arc believed to have been due to the re- cent developments fin the Theodore Lacy case and the caustic arraignment of him by the governor of Alaoama in his speech fere last Monday night.
 Indications are that MT. Conner will get plurality of the votes cast in the first primary. with Charles Henderson in second place In the run-off between these two candidates, should they be sue cessful, 1t is believed that Mir Hender- son will stand an excellent chance of winning the nomination.
 Captain Kolb is as optimistic regard ing his chances as when he first an- rounced, and his friends are claiming second honors for him. Many claim that he will run first. but 1t seems rather hard 10 substantiate either claim