The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-05-25
MUSGROVE AND HIS FRIENDS ARE AMONG MOST SURPRISED BY
 WEAKLEY'S ACTION
The Capital Is So Puzzled By the New Senatorial De- velopment That It Has Not Yet Caught Its
 Breath
By FRED H. GoRMLEY

speaking;-this is about the only utter
 ance made in Alabama during the past "A
 hours. For be it said to all men of
 Alabama that somebody's dope has been I upset and dark horse has entered the political race Whoever thought Judge
 Samuel D. weakley of Birmingham would enter the race for United States senator against Senator Oscar W. Underwood did not have enough confidence in his own mind to let another in on his secret But Judge Weakley is in and in to stay
 consult his own declaration made in his formal announcement Friday afternoon
 Judge Weakley will run for United
 States senator regardless, of the number loc candidates in the contest, according
 to the interpretation placed on his first dcclaiatoi He stated that he would or ganize his campaign after the final ad- journmert of the legislature and would
 remain in the race until the end When
 candidates enter they generally intend to stay, but Judge Weakley evidently
 thought it best to make his>position so plain that no other could doubt his in-
 tention, and, incidentally, that any other
 person now flirting with the contest
 might think two times before making a final decision.
 l The announcement has stirred the state:
 loth prohibitionists and anti-prohibition-
 lsts are astonished and are wondering | where are the dopesters of yesteryear who l generally kIew what was being revoIved | about the minds of public men, Judge | Weaklev's name had not been mentioned | Senelally; iE fact, few persons knew he l was giving consideration to this matter. Nobody was more surprised than Col l..
 $. Musgrove of Jasper. who had already ! stated that he would be candidate against Senator Underwood "Surprised''
 is not a good word here-"astonished" is better.
 Colonel Musgrove didn't know what to | think. He said so frankly when someone | called him at Jasper and informed him | of tie big political event. He said this
 put new light on everything and that ! he could say nothing until he came to | Birrninaharn, and he admitted then and 1 there that he would take the first train to Birmingham in an effort to find out something more about who's who--and why in the senatorial contest. Inso- l far as is known here, he did take that | first train for Birmingham and he did | it only because Jasper had not estab- lished an airplane landing station. If reports are trte, Colonel Musgrove's sigh was: My kingdom for an airplane*'' The last report on preliminary plans for | the campaign for United States senator was tha- Senator Underwood would face only one ca ndidate and that candidate would be. Colonel Musgrove. This report was circulated in political circles about ! two weeks ago. In this connection it | must be stated that few-more than two-conferences have been held in, Ala
 bama recently by persons opposed to the | election of Senator Underwood, and tha. in addition, certain persons have kept their ears to the ground While the assertions about the result of these conferences must be given reports, it must be understood that whatever state | ments are made herein come from a per- son who should know whereof he speaks. Colonel Musgrove came to Birmingham two or more weeks ago and spent a few days. During this visit he called upon certain persons to inquire whether or not they desired to make the race. After he returned home, it was stated that Borden Burr, one of the persons mentioned, had informed friends that he would not make te race. And it was also stated that Senator Frank s. White would not be a candidate, though it cannot be said that Senator White made the statement him self As queer as it may seem now, Judge Weakley, insofar as anyone knows, was rot questioned. Colonel Musgrove re- turned home with the assuraflce that the militar. opponents of Senator Underwood oxrected him to carry their banner and Birmingham newspapers this week stated that MT. Musgroves formal announcement and platform would be made public this week
 Instead of MT Musgrove, the first an- nolnct ment comes from Judge Weakley.
 It is because of these facts that Ala
 barna is puzzled and unable to understand
 yhnf hoc ho xxyho hara ic Q
 understanding among prohibitionists that
 Judge Weakley is to make the race in-
 stead of Colonel Musgrove or whether
 Judge Weakley, desiring to be United
 States senator, decided to be the early
 bird in search of the worm-
 If Judge Weakley decided to ignore
 plans and purposes of the prohibition or
 ganization and to enter the race not knowing whether or not he would receive
 the support of all organized prohibition
 ists, there is a recent precedent for such.
 Here must be told little political story hitherto unpublished about incidents in the campaign last year which resulted in ar overwhelming victory for the prohibit tionists.
 It was desired to beat Judge F. Loyd Tate, candidate for reelection as attor- ney general, who had been appointed by Governor Henderson. Much trouble was found in agreeing upon the proper per- SOIl lO fldhe the race. w nlle there was much parleying and conferring J. c. Smith of Birmingham without consult ing anybody except personal friends, an nounced his candidacy and pledged his support to the prohibition amendment. He was the early bird and he caught the worm. He Is now attorney general of Alabama. He was the only candidate on the amendment side, but his name had not been mentioned up to the time he an- nounced.
 Judge Weakley has been prominent in the councils of the prohibitionists of Ala hama since the fight began in earnest early in the twentieth century. He has drawn every prohibition and liquor law enforcement bill since 1907. And in fact | calling for comment is that never has one | been declared unconstitutional by the su- preme court His latest victory came | Thursday, day before he announced. | when the supreme court said his drastic | bone-dry law met every requirement. of | the states constitution.
 His announcement for senator has | caused such stir that little comment can be made on the cause and effect. | Nothing can be done except to wait pa- tjently and watch developments.
 The first utterance of Colonel Musgrove the announcement may be in- teresting.