The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-03-18
PROH|DITION|STS LEFT MONTGOMERY
 WITH SEALED LIPS
No Word Uttered About Sign of Withdrawal of WeakIey or Musgr0ve.
 Underwood Strong


 Local prohibitionists who attended the state conference at Montgomery Tuesday were non-committal as to the results of the conference on their return home yes terday morning.
 It was learned, however. that the sev- erty or more men present failed to agree upon the man to oppose Senator Under wood in the senatorial race in the May primary election.
 There are two candidates opposing Sem ator Underwood-Judge Samuel D. Weak ley of Birmingham and l.. B. Musgrove of Jasper, both ardent prohibitionists. Both have been active workers in the cause of prohibition for several years. and Judge Weakley has drawn up most of the prohibition measures passed by the legislature of Alabama and two or three other states.
 In announcing his candidacy, almost year ago, Judge Weakley stated that no one had asked him toarun, that he had consulted no one about the matter, and that he was in the race to the finish. He Stated that he felt that his work for the cause of prohibition entitled hIsn to the support of prohibitionists and he intend ed giving them the chance to show their appreciation of his work.
 It is stated by prominent prohibi- tionists that the leaders want Mr. Mus grove to make the race and that they want him to have clear field against Senator Underwood
 Superintendent Brooks Lawrence of the Anti-Saloon League. in letter addressed to number of prohibitionists two or tEree weeks ago, stated that the nomina- tion of either of the two opponents of Senator Underwood, in the event both re- naained in the race, was improbable, and
 strongly urged that one or the other with lpaw.
 NEITHER BUDGES Conferences held prior to March 10 the
 final day for qualifying for the primary election, failed to induce either Judge Weakley or MT Musgrove to withdraw, and the Montgomery conference to which TWO of the faithful from each county was invited resulted.
 What transpired behind the closed doors at the Gay-Teague hotel, where the con ference was held. is mere conjecture It is stated authentically, however, that a committee of which State Senator B. T. Phillips of Opelika is chairman, was ap- pointed to survey the field and select the candidate that appears to have the great er strength. Having felt the pulse of the prohibition voters and satisfied them selves which of the two has the better chance of landing the senatorial plum theS are authorized to announce his name and all good prohibitionists are respect fully and earnestly asked to vote for him. That is the earnest and respectful invitation to so vote will go out through 1 the state over the signatures of State Senator B. T. Phillips and his cocoon. nIitteemen. and under the authority oi the conference of seventy or more. 1 This committee, it is conceded by pro. i hibitionists, has a hard job ahead of it | They are charged with the duty of ascer | taining the sentiment of the prohibition l voters of the state, and then of gently(? 1 informing the public that he is the on, l that has a chance to defeat Senator Un l derwood. and that all good and true ant 1 tried and faithful (and such other ad l jectives as may be appropriate and ap l plicable) must go to the polls and vot | for him.
 | The Phillipps committee must do theii work in hurry. The information is tha the committee will make their report il ! few days. Interviewing all the pro 1 hibitionists in Alabama is a big job, ant l making them express their preference | may be bigger job, me committee is ad
 yised. but they have been told their duty | In the meantime, reports received i, I iD-ii ihoA'iif icti VI d SiOWiHS tJHQeTWOOt l sentiment all over the state. Democrat from the Tennessee valley, who wer, | in Birmingham in the last two or thre rdays, say tiRtthere is very little opposi ton to SenaNr Underwood in that part 0 the state, with the exception of one O two places. and that he will carry ever,
 county in the eighth district by a sub
 SHORT TERM RACE The situation in the short term senate l rial race is not so easil analysed. Com Ting on so recently and unexpectedly, ther,
 has not been time enough in which to ge a line on the strength of the respectiv candidates. It is known that each of tn five men has certain elecent of strength but the extent of this is the puzzlin question at present
 I All of the candidates for the unexpire. term of Senator Bankhead are no, actively in the field. With the exceptio,
 of former Senator Frank S. White eac
 of them has his headquarters in Mont
 gomery. and is directing his campaig
 from that city.