The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-03-09
"BONE-DRy" COURT
 BASIS OF PLAN ID
 NAME SANFORD? Application of Montgomery Prohibitionist Comes Soon After Reported Meeting WAS LEGAL ADVISER TO GOVERNOR PrOhibitionists Unite on Him as Only Dry Man Henderson Would Name.
 Other Applicants for Appel
 late Court Vacancy
By LEON c. BRADLEY

Are the prohibitionists planning to make the court of appeals bone dry?''
 Is there any connection between the application of William H. Sanford for the vacancy on the court of appeals caused by the death of Judge Pelham, and the conference of certain dry leaders in Birmingham yesterday?
 It was reported on authoritative infor- nation yesterday that certain friends of Judge J. B. Brown, prominent prohibit tionist and presiding judge of the court of appeals, held conference with lead ing dry advocates with the intention of getting William H. Stanford to apply for the appointment. It was contended that should Mr. Sanford apply the governor would not do otherwise than appoint him, and thus the "bone-dry' advocates would have two of the three judges and control of the court. Judge Brown, it Is cur rently reported, isgdesirous of reorganiz- ing the court and could only hope to do so should prohibitionist be named to fill the vacancy, Judge c. R. Bricken, local optionist, being in favor of the present status.
 PRESSURE WAS STRONG
 AppdTeHl COnuTI1ldIlOH Ol lneS6 T6pOTI came last night when it was learned from Montgomery that the application of MT. Stamford for the vacancy had been filed with the governor. It was known that strong pressure, emanating from Birming. ham men, following the meeting here earlier in the day. was directed toward the effort to get MT. Sanford into the contest.
 Local optionists here contended last night that great weight must have been brought to bear to induce MT. Stanford to submit his name, since he is reported to have a most lucrative law practice, which includes the representation as chief coun- sel of certain New York life insurance companies Compared with his legal re- tainers it is stated that the salary of the judgeship is only fractional.
 DRY MEN FOR SANFORD
 Prohibition leaders were practically unit for MT. Sanford, it being contended that he was the only member of the dry forces who would be named by Governor Henderson. It was pointed out that the governor had not shown any special en- thusiasm over prohibitionists in the mat ter of making appointments, but that the place could doubtless be landed for MT. Stanford. He was one of the leaders for Governor Henderson in the campaign; was the legal adviser of the governor during the last session of the legislature, but due to the ruling of the courts his fee for these services could not be paid It was reported, during the time when Chief Justice Anderson of the Alabama supreme court was an applicant for the federal judgeship of the southern district. that in the event he had been named MT. Sanford was to be appointed to the highest place on the state tribunal.
 MT. Sanford, it will be recalled, was one of the men whose name was signed to the attack on Senator Underwood for his stand on the District of Columbia pro- hibition bill. Later he issued statement saying he had never seen the statement to which his signature had been affixed. This Is the attack, it will be recalled, which was credited with bringing about the defeat of Borden H. Burr for the position of democratic national commit teeman from Alabama.