The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-06-09
Path 10 GoDernorship Is Open
 10 Kilby Is Washington New
Brandon Followers Votes But
 Observers at Capital Think He Overlooking Aertness and ss> -a vs- Strategy of the Dry Leaders

Washington, June S.-tSpecial) Prominent people of Alabama. visit ing Washington, differ as to the fate of the proposed prohibition amend- rnent to the constitution, but general ly agree that the path to the governor ship is open wide to the approach of Thomas E. Kilby.
 While some who spNak will not vote for MT Kilby. the admission is general that he will win. They base the prediction on the fact that the An niston candidate, alone espousing the amendment side of the argument, is opposed by three who oppose the amendment; and the material reason that alone of all the candidates, MT. Kilby has demonstrated ability as man of business
 While MT Kilby, to limited extent, has played the game of politics, his opponents are regarded essentially as politicians-men who have made of- ficeholding their principal avocation in life.
 BOOSTS FOR KILBY
 According to the gossip of Alabama politicians who have been in Wash ington this week, three new agencies are contributing to Kilby's future sue. cess. The first of these three is The Age Herald which recently indorsed his candidacy. The second is the manage ment of his state campaign by W. D. Nesbitt, himself business man capa- ble of alligning and rejuvenating former aggressive business following. The third is the management of his county campaign by o. S. Finch, one of the popular and influential men of the county.
 The lead of The Age e-Herald is ex- pected to be followed by the Mobile Register, and other influential Ala bama journals capable of presenting Mir. Kilby as the business candidate of, people insistent on the business reformation of the state. Mr. Nesbitt is one of the best known men of Ala bama. and one who is identified with the "business" of the state. He is ex- pected to give great strength to the Kilby campaign Jefferson county, the one really. great county of the state is left to the management of MT Finch, who is identified with the poIit- ical interests of the younger element of Jefferson's patriotism and Jeffer- sons Americanism.
 SECOND CHOICE VOTES
 The following of William w. Bran- don, we'll known to the political ele- ment of the state, has not abandoned hope. The correspondent of The Age- Herald this week was in conversation with a member of the Alabama legis- lature, who is again a candidate and who would not talk for publication. He is strong for Brandon. He stated it as a fact that Brandon is. depending on the second choice" votes to over lcome the Kilby tide of first choice' votes which he regarded as overwhelm- ing.
 It was a peculiar argument. that which he advanced. It was an argu- ment that the man on the fence" is sometimes capable of winning. This is what in effect he said:
 "The fight is between MT Kilby and MT. Wallace, representative of diver gent horns of the dilemma. I stand on MT. Wa1lace's platform, but be- cause MT. Wallace cannot win, I am for Brandon. Thousands of other men stand likewise. Thus it is that I am Sa1o In saying that the man on the fence in this one instance, occupies | the ground of greatest strategic ad- 
 EXPLAINS SITUATION
 He explained in detail
 Tt is cinch that the followers of 1 Wallace will not vote for Kilby. It is [ also cinch that the followers of | Kilby will not vote for Wallace Thus | it happens that the second choice votes 1 of the followers of both will be boiled | for Brandon.
 Brandon. from the standpoint of | following, has a greater strength than either Kilby or Wallace. He will get 35,000 first choice votes. Wallace will get as many and Kilby | will get as many. Add to Brandon's S5.000 second choice votes to the num- Der of 70,000 and Brandon's election is certain"
 The correspondent of The Age-H | ald asked this gentleman. one of the | best posted of south Alabama, if Judge |