The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-03-09
TRAGEDY MOVERS OVER POLITICS OF
 STATE RECENTLY
Bankhead's Death Calls At tentiOn to Recent Series of Tragedies In States
 Affairs
By FRED IT. GORMLEY
 Montgomery Bureau The Aue- Herald 12l.2 Eirst Naflnnal Bank RulIdinl

Montgobery, March S.--(Special) - In
 the century of Alabamas statehood
 pathos probably has never been so prom
 ihent in politics as it has since the death of Senator John II. Bankhead Its pres ence was felt in the capitol many days before Alabama's senior senator died. and it has continued practically through
 every situation created since that time. , Senator Bankhead's death at this time brought depression to the entire state. For years he had insisted that the na- tional government owed one direct re- sponsibility to the people of the country the construction of a system of high ways which would take the entire na- tion "out of the mud' It was not in- l frequent that he burned the midnight oil in his efforts to bring this about-and ! he succeeded. The government made provisions whereby it will match every idollar appropriated by each state for road worK.
 Then the fight turned to Alabama. Sem ator Bankhead was recognized as rhe
 man who put a complete system of high ways within the grasp of the state. It was up to the state to do it's part-and | it did. As Senator Bankhead lay on his
 
 Alabama voters went to the polls and pledged themselves to back an issue of 1 $25 100000 in bonds in order that Senator Bankhead's dream might come true. vote of seven to one in favor of better highways was taken as much as a per sonal compliment to Senator Banfihead as an expression of sincere desire TOT advancement in the state. If person ever passed out rejoicing, friend of Sen ator Bankhead believe it was he-his ! life work for his state had been done. Then came the filling of the vacancy in the senate. Governor Kilby announced his appointment of former Gov. B. B. Conner Friday evening, and at the very moment the appointment was being her 1 aided over the state Senator Conner s 1 life companion was breathing her last at the Conner home in Birmingham. She had been stricken a few hours before and did without knowing that Alabama s-had bestowed upon her husband the greatest honor that can be conferred by 1 a commonwealth, the trust of rep.e- senting it's varied interests in the worH s greatest law-making body
 In determining who should go to the Senate, Governor Kilby was without the assistance of his lifelong and confiden-
 tial friend, WA Darden, who has been ], secretary to the governor since his inau- guration and had been with him through out his business life before. MT. Darder has been in local infirmary for a month, and there have been times wher | physicians said he had no more thar an even chance of surviving and not ar i even chance of returning to his duties
 in the executive department. During the latter days of the past week, MT. Dar- | den has been pronounced out of tmme- diate danger and will be able to leave Montgomery for a long period of res during the next few days.
 1 Immediately after the retirement o | Congressman J. Thomas Hefiin from th'
 congressional race to become candi date for the Senate, William F. Cosb secretary of state, announced his candi dacy for congressman from the fifth dis trict His plans were interrupted Satur' day by the death of the mother Of Oti; 1 A.. Adams, chief clerk of the secretary i of states department, who was sister 1 of Judge Samuel L. Brewer of Tuskegee | one of the best-known citizens of tat district which Mir. Cobb will seek to rep i resent in Congress. Mrs. Adams had beer 1 in a local infirmary long time, and i | had been known for several weeks thai
 she could not recover.
 l Death and disappointment seem to hav' followed almost every move which has
 been made in Alabama politics during | the mast week.