The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1917-08-08

ed by some of the American wireless
stations in the south, or by Ameri-
can or foreign ships on the Atlantic
coast. 1t is more probable that the
'1eak" was due to American care
lessness. We have yet to learn how
to keep a secret.
GubeRmat0riaI Race
I'm Old Virginia
THE race for the nomination for
y governor of Virginia was of
lively interest in the democratic pri-
maries yesterday. AS it was three
cornered contest. Taylor Ellyson
of Richmond, now rounding out his
second term as lieutenant governor;
John Garland Pollard of Richmond,
attorney general; and Westmoreland
Davis of Louden county, former pres
ident of the state Farmers union,
having been the aspirants-it may
be several days before the result is
ascertained.
Although Virginia, by a popular
vote in statewide election held sew
eral years ago became drastically dry,
the prohibition question is playing
some part in the present campaign.
Ellyson was at one time local OPP
zionist, but now that prohibition is
the law of the state he is a prohi-
bitionist, but not of the rabid type.
He is simply pledged to enforcement
of the statutes as they stand. Pol
lard advocates constitutional prohi-
bition, and the farmer candidate is
said to lean that way.
When the people of Virginia voted
to place the state in the dry column
many local optionists were optimistic
enough to think that there would be
reaction before great while and
that the "wets" would be in the
ascendancy again. But as the prohi-
bition majority was overwhelming at
the polls politicians of experience
look for nothing of the sort. Yet the
very fact that Ellyson is not as ex-
IRENE in his views as the other can
didates his election would be taken
the proposition of wet or dry four
years hence.
Lieutenant Governor Ellyson de-
serves we'll of the Virginia democ-
racy. He served for many years as
state chairman and as a member of
the national committee. He is Con-
federate veteran and had splendid
record as an artilleryman. He was a
lieutenant of his battery before he
was 20. He has missed few of the
reunions and was one of the most
active "vets" at the Birmingham af-
fair in 1916. He is man of marked
ability and would make an excellent
governor, but both he and Attorney
General Pollard are handicapped by
what seems to be an unwritten law
in the Old Dominion No man resi-
dent in Richmond was ever elected
governor. 1t is an unreasonable rule,
of course, and no one has ever been
able to explain it. Many popular
Richmond men have tried it only to
be defeated in the nominating con-
vention. Ellyson was candidate four
years ago, but, nothing daunted, he
is trying again. He has an extensive
acquaintance throughout the state.
His friends in this part of the coun-
| try would be glad to see him honored
with the governorship.
|lBirmimgharua will
Attract Soldiers
I'D 9TH Admission and Montgomery
w will have large concentration
camps former probably the larg-
est in the south There will be not
less than $4,000 soldiers at Camp Nc
Clellan, just outside of Admission. The
enlisted men will undergo intensive
drilling, but they will have ample
time for recreation. The military au-
thorities are liberal and the policy of
the war department will be to allow
the men leaves Of absence for several
hours every day.
For a week end holiday certain
proportion of the rank and file, prob