The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-04-16
BESSEMER VOTERS WILL HAVE LIVELY
 TIME FOR MONTH Campaign For City Offices Is In Full Blast-Primary To Be Held on May II POSTMASTERSHIP AN
 ABSORBING TOPIC Six AvOwed Candidates-Hope Not Yet Abandoned For New County. Something of Batson When
 Green in Politics
Nv JACK BETHEA

Bessemer, April 15.-(Special) )-This city takes its politics In broken doses. Hardly had the ennervating struggle for the United States Senate been com pleted when with the run-off campaign for state offices staring them in the face. the city democratic executive com- mittee decided that May II was the proper date for the city primary. Until the primary of April was over there was little doing in municipal politics, but now with the absorbing question of the senatorship settled, the city pot has begun to boil and several pretty races are in prospect Candidates are becoming active and lively time is indicated for the Bessemer voter, There are something like 50 candi- dates in the approaching primary. feature of the situation at present Is that not only are those running Tor the big offices hard at work but candl- dates for minor places in the c1ty's service are unusually active.
 Interest on Three Races Interest at present seems centered on three races: City clerk and treasurer, city attorney, and president of the city council. George Ross, present head ot the council. is asking recollection and has three opponents While it is con ceded that Ross has the edge he Will have warm competitor in Eugene Honeycutt, at present an alderman IT i Ross can hold his vote, he Is an al- most sure winner. His friends claim he I can, contending that the presence or | three other candidates in the field re- dounds to his benefit. His opponents maintain that sufficient strength will l be drawn away from him to ensure vic- l tory for another. The consensus of opfn- ion is that Ross will win, although the result may be close.
 1 In the other two races it is a toss-up George Bumgardner and Herbert Eth ridge are the candidates for city at- | torney Both are well known young at | torneys and both are popular. Ethrldge | is the present city attorney and is ask 1 ing reelection This fact with his care 1 ful administration of affairs gives him a slight edge on his opponent, although much may happen before the primary. The race between J. B. Houston and Bruce Ragsdale for city clerk and treasurer will be the closest on the 1 ticket Houston has served two terms
 as city clerk and has high reputa- ton for efficiency. He has given entire
 satisfaction and has won many friends 1 in his official position. lie is popular
 and with the prestige of the office
 Ragsdale will find it hard to displace him. Both are confident of victory.
 Other Candidates Have Leads Candidates in other races have good leads l. A. Lewis looks to be sure winner for mayor. MT. Lewis has served a term and a half as mayor and IS a strong factor in Bessemer politics. Ills most famous race was when ne de-
 feated Lacey Edmundson for mayor by two votes in 1910. MT. Lewis op- lponents are William Nolan, eN-hre chief: Claude F. Moore and John E Randle With the vote split and Lewis holding his friends intact there does not seem to be a chance to beat him.
 The chief of police. Roger Mccabe the incumbent, apparently has the edge over T. B. Wallace. who has also served
 as chief MT. Wallace was defeated by
 McCabe in the last primary and it Is
 being freely predicted that the chlel
 will repeat
 The aldermanic situation is consid-
 erably mixed up. All the present alder men are asking reelection with the ex'
 ception of Eugene Honeycutt, who Is
 candidate for president of the cltS
 council How many of them will b'
 able to get over is problematical. polit
 cal prophests are exceedingly cautious
 as to this race and few will venture
 predictions
 I.. Captain Crooks Successor
 Aside from city politics there Is an , other interesting matter agitatlng th'
 Bessemer voters at present It Is th'
 naming of a successor to Captain Crooi as postmaster. At present there are si'
 avowed candidates and several other' | in a receptive mood.
 Lacey Edmundson, Dan Houston, Ale'
 Little T. A Hines, Dr. E. F. Lacey ant w. A. Kirkpatrick are all applicant
 for the fat job. Alex Little is believed | to be the most widely favored and 1 , is not at all impossible that he will re . ceive the plum.
 Other candidates admit that MT. Lit l tie is the man they have to beat. It | pretty generally understood that Ldttl