The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-01-01
CANDIDATES AWAIT
 PRIMARY RULESBY
 STATE COMMITTEE
W. F. Garth of Huntsville and Bibb Graves Mentioned as Possible GubernatoriaI
 Candidates
By FRED H. GoRMLEY Montgomery Bureau The AEe-H Herald, 221-2 First National Bank Building

Montgomery, December 31.--(Spe- political campaign was started again this week due to the approach of the date for the special meeting of the state democratic committee, which has been called for January 1S. It is considered certain that prospective candidates for state offices will make their announcements shortly after the committee has laid down the rules for the democratic primary which will be held the second Tuesday in August. 1922.
 Newspaper dispatches during the week indicated that a Huntsville man might be candidate for governor and might make hts announcement during the meeting of the committee. No name was mentioned in connection with the report, but those who saw it promptly wrote in their minds the name of W. F. Garth. It has never been doubted that Mir. Garth would not refuse the democratic nomtna- tion for governor and when he be- came the chairman of the tax league in Montgomery last spring 1t was generally reported at the time that he was looking toward the campaign for governor. MT. Garth is quite well known in the state. He was a candi- date for state senator from Madison county in 1918, but was defeated by W. E. Butler of New Hope.
 Graves Is silent
 Talk has continued about the prob able candidacy of Bibb Graves of Montgomery for governor, but Col onel Graves has not said a word which would indicate what were his intentions The story has gone the rounds that Colonel Graves will be a candidate for governor on a law en- Torcement platform and that persons well known in the private campaign for law enforcement, including Rev. Bob Jones of Montgomery, would make addresses in the state in sup port of the program. The attitude or the Anti. Saloon league is unknown at this time, but it is quite probable that its leaders would insist upon sticking to law enforcement pro- gram which could be interpreted un- der present day laws rather than on a program which proposed the en- actment of laws requiring closer observance of the Sabbath day, etc,
 Discussions of other candidates at this time are quite remarkable when one considers the advantage already obtained by Judge William w. Bran don of Tuscaloosa, who has been candidate for governor since the last campaign. A great majority of the newspapers of Alabama are openly supporting Judge Brandon. His or ganization is perfected and Is reaoy 10 function Throughout the state friends of Judge Brandon are work ing and one cannot go Into a com munity without finding active Bran don volunteers Persons unacQuatnt- ed with the political situation in Alabama might thinK the statements regarding Judge Brandon'S advan- iages to be overdrawn but any one who has gone Into any community and made inquiries Is convinced that such conditions do not exist. This Organization of Brandon volunteers ,nas been perfected without the use or money and itt h fact well known that Judge Braagdon has not expend- ed any money In the campaign. In fact. he could not spend it, as he has not officially announced and he is required by the corrupt practice act to make arrangements at the start or his campaign for the proper account ing of all receipts and disbursements.
 If no opposition develops to Judge Brandon, it Is unlikely that Senator Charles s. Mcdowell or Eufaula Will be opposed for lieutenant governor. Of course, if there are two tickets fo governor there will be two tickets for lieutenant governor. In the meantime, Senator Mcdowell Is mak- ing a campaign the like of which is unknown for this period of political campaign He started the moment he announced and he has continued it. Wherever he has gone he has sought votes and his campaign is in such shape that it is almost certain he will not be opposed unless another ticket Is placed in the campaign for governor.
 One thing is remarkable about the campaign at this time. A year ago the people generally were call ing for the abolition of the state law enforcement department on the ground that 1t was an unnecessary spy system which was interfering with rather than aiding in the en- forcement of the laws. In recent months this agitation has gradually disappeared It has stopped with the change in the policy Of the depart ment. Instead of sending agents into the counties now to make raids anu gather evidence without the help Of the sheriff and other county officers,