The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-04-14
JUDGESH|P RACE INTERESTS BARBOUR Coveted Position on Appel ate Bench Between Brown
 Perry Thomas

Eufaula, April 13.-(SpeciaD- voters of Barbour county are watching with deep interest for the final returns that will decide the race between E. P. Thomas of Eufaula, judge of the court of ap- | peals, and Mir. Brown of Cullman. The l early returns indicated that he would l nave a large majority, but the returns | from north Alabama cut these down un- l til 1t looks as if either may win the cov-
 eted position on the appellate bench. Barbour gave Judge Thomas a big ma jority as nearly every south Alabama county Practically every county in the | state heard from thus far also gave him | a majority.
 Following his flights here, Aviator A. C. Beach of Chicago, who came here under the auspices of the business men of the city, broke some parts of his biplane. | The banks of the city and county were closed Monday on account of the anni- versary of the birth of Jefferson.
 
 the Presbyterian church, and chairman of the special committee on local home mis- sion of the east Alabama presbytery expects to file a very interesting report at the meeting of the presbytery to be held tomorrow at Montgomery. Rev. Mr. Blackwell and his committee have car ried on very active campaign in the interest of home mission since the pres bytery entered upon this new work last year.
 About 10 made up the delegation that llett ths morning to attend the Shrine meeting at Montgomery, many of them to be candidates for initiation into AL cazar temple. All of the delegation are members of the Eufaua commandery of Knights Templar.
 >~~~~>~~~~~~~~~~~~ telegraph companies of the United States was so firmly associated with the largest Of the telephone companies as to leave no choice to those who contemplated using telegraph telephone facilities then there was, in the view of the depart ment, monopolistic control.
 What of the Future? Hereafter the telegraph company must conduct it's business without any asso- citation with the telephone company un- less 1t be prepared to admit into such as- socation every other telephone com pany. Hereafter the telephone company must permit those who utilize it's fa- cflities to designate which one of the the Western Union and the Postal tele- messages. This appears to be about all that has been accomplished by the sever ing of the bond, which has connected these two quasi-public utilities
 Whether this be the first step toward the taking over by the government ot the Western Union and the Poltal tele- graph companies-for if it takes one it must take both-is a matter of some doubt Prevalent opinion in the busi- ness world is that the time is distant when the government will command the telegraph companies to sell their plants to it.
 In his good-by talk to those with whom he had been associated as president of the Western Union, President Vail spoke in all sincerity words of monition to the stockholders of the telegraph com pany. He assured them that if Congress at last legislates the telegraph company out of the ownership of private capital It is inconceivable that the purchase price will be arbitrarily fixed by the government. That might amount to par tial confiscation, and the courts would be relied upon to prevent injustice of that kind. if it were contemplated.
 But what would be adequate compen- sation? President Vail is confident that it would be in dollars and cents a much larger sum than is that represented by the present market values of the shares Of the telegraph companies
 The warning undoubtedly was given to prevent timid stockholders from part Ing with their holdings at the present market price. How sincere and how free from resentment the separation of the telegraph company from the telep- none company is, is illustrated by Pres ident Vaifs statement that there is no thought on the part of the telephone management to establish a great tee. phone plaft by means of which compe- luton With the telegraph company can be secured. There are two reasons for this One is that the business world would not be likely to tolerate retaliatory measure of that kind or. in other words It would not be easy to find the neces- sary capital with which to pay for it's expansion. And the other reason is that rom scientific point of view the propo- sition is impracticable.
 Yet there will be a certain kind of nor mai and generous competition. Although fresldent Gail and those who have been associated with him as interlocking direc- tors of the two corporations have now retired in good faith from the Western uhloh, nevertheless this separation will not put an end to all the purposes which | President Vail has had in mind The neid or science, of experiment and of 1 invention will still be occupied by him and his associates in the management of | the telephone company. There are al- | ready hints of what science is now ac- oompiishing under the inspiration of President Vail. It is speedily to furnish apparatus which will make it possible | greatly to increase rapid transmission. | perhaps by as much as four times. This | ol course will tend to reduce the cost, | and 1t is some illustration of the perfect | sympathy which has been established | through joint control of the two systems | that this scientific work has been ac- | complished by the Western Unions tech | meal department. which has been work ing In association with the like depart ment of the Bell company.
 Monopoly and Regulation
 Since President Vail- was recalled from ms retirement upon his Vermont farm to | the executive leadership of the Bell com pany he has never hesitated to speak | in favor of regulation and o,,par,,i.;o,, h.,