The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-11-16
Brandon and McDowell
,om The Montgomery Advertiser.

pour De nominated unanimously and without opposition for governor and lieutenant gov ernor respectively. We should avail our selves of the unique opportunity now offered us in the admitted overwhelming popularity at this time of Judge Brandon, having a gub- ernatorial campaign in which there will be no bitterness, tumult and no dividing issues.
 Such campaign-a campaign with only one candidate for governor and lieutenant governor is not only possible, but it is alto- gether probable. For the time being we are in an era of political good feeling and we should extend that era, at least until assembling of the legislature which will be elected with Judge Brandon. We have had no one ticket cam paign within the democratic party in Ala bama since 1901, but other southern states have had such campaign this which leaves no rancor and no bitterness and which greatly facilitates the work of both the administration and the legislature, chosen in harmony and ac- cord John M. Slaton was nominated for gov ernor of Georgia in one-man campaign, and Governor Craig of South Carolina was so se- lected about the same time
 There is apparently no human possibility for the defeat of Judge Brandon-noN combination of circumstances which can divorce him from
 
 ernor. In every quarter of the state, from the Tennessee line to the gulf, from the Chatta- hoochee to the gulf, the nomination in the den- ocratic primary of Judge Brandon is conceded. Senator McDowell, as a candidate for lieu tenant governor, is only less popular. His candidacy is not only indorsed, but it is openly advocated by Judge Brandon, who says he will as governor, stand in need of the services of Senator Mcdowell in the senate when admins traton bills, particularly the proposed revision of the tax laws of the state under consid- eration.
 There is nothing spectacular or sudden about the popularity of Judge Brandon. He is no new or unknown man. The people who want him for governor know him and know him well. He is today the best-known public man in Alabama He knows personally and is known personally by more voters than any man who has been in public life in this state in, the past 20 years. He has, it might be said, spoken in every city, every town, every village and every cross roads in the state. Certainly the people neither deceived nor ignorant about him or his personality and they want him for governor, because of himself and his personal gifts and not because of any temporary and disturbing issues which have often divided our people.
 He is neither unknown nor untried. Yet, young and vigorous man, he has spent quar- ter of century in the public life of Alabama. He came out of the family of veteran Meth odist preacher, where plain living and high thinking was the rule. One of large family to educate and which was educated, Judge Brandon had only himself to depend upon for !, T4 his credit, not to his discredit, that he became a conductor on the old Tuscaloosa street dummy line to work his way through the law school of the University of Alabama. He considers it compliment rather than reproach, when old university men prominent in Alabama life today say: 1.-The first time I ever saw Bill Brandon he was on the back end of the Tus- caloosa dummy, working his way through col lege."
 He had hardly hung out his shingle as law yer, before he entered public life for which he had exceptional gifts. Elected member of the legislature from Tuscaloosa county in 1897 he has from that date until now sustained re- responsibilities as a public official representing the people.
 His legislative career was broken in 1898, when he was among the first to volunteer in the Spansh-American war; during the en- tire period of that he was major in the Second Alabama volunteers. He had hardly returned to civil life after honorable service in the army before he was made adjutant gen. eral position which he filled under Governors Sanford and Jelks. In the election of 1906, in a fair field and with no favor he won a state office, auditor, over strong competitors.
 Ls elected probate judge of Tuscaloosa county, a position which he has held continuously since. His most amazing performance in politics, how ever, resulted in defeat. Against tremend- ous odds he missed the governorshp of Ala bama in 1918 by an eyelash. Without an or ganzation, without money, without rich sup porters, and with no visible help except Ford car, he moved quickly and aggressvely through Alabama, making speeches wherever he had chance, and talking to the people in the fields, on the farms along the roads and on the street corners. There manifest year ago, the sentiment whether it logical or illogical matters not that because of that splendid race that just missed the prize, the governorship should go to Judge Brandon; that sentiment, now as we have said before, has become over- whelming.
 We have recounted the high points in the life of Judge Brandon, primarily because the record shows him An experienced public .Ie LoI