The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-01-10

wv liOlildo Ai1OJ lQd1OSS
to the legislature which convened
in quadrennial session here today,
was a masterful plea for a contin-
uous march Of the state of Alabama
towards the goal of progress. In
cidentally it was the governors last
message to the lawmakers and came
as a swan song to his administra-
ton. The governor, whose al
tration will go down in hist
one of the most successful
long and glorious history O
bama, will on next Monda
render the reins of governn 81
his successor, Judge Willie
Brandon of Tuscaloosa.
In offering suggestions a.
legislature, Governor Kilby d
in his message: II am. not
full that incoming iegis
usually look to incoming go
for advice and recommen
rather than to outgoing COVE
But Governor Kilby explainea
message that the Observable
recommendation were based lN
experience of four years
executives office, and tina M
were offered in the "earnes pe
and expectation that they y re-
ceive from you the same carer u
consideration that | have given
them, whether you accept or reject
them"
Merrill Elected Speaker
Judge Hugh ID. Merrill of Admission,
representative of Calhoun county.
was elected speaker of the house by
the democratic party in a memorable
caucus of the party Tuesday after
noon. Judge Merrill won the honor on
the second ballot by defeating j. Lee
Long of Greenville, after Charles T..
Werner of Tuscaloosa and r. J. Goodo,
Jr., of Glastonbury had withdrawn
their names and Mr.. Werner had re-
quested his friends to vote for Judge
Merrill.
Judge Merrill received SO votes on
the second ballot, while Mr.. Long re-
ceived Al, Judge Merrill gained rs
votes as a result of the withdrawal Of
Mr.. Werner and MIR. Goode. white
Mr., Long gained only 6. Mr.. Long
took the votes given to Mr.. Goode
on the first ballot and obtained Of
7 lne ~ NOltS WI were Cast AOI NJ :
Werner.
Long Claimed Election
! To many the election of Judge Mer-
/ ril was a surprise. MIR. Long and
| his friends from the beginning had
! insisted that he had more than a
! majority committed to him. and thai
! he would receive the honor ON the
! first ballot. The publication of ie,-
/ ter from Governor Elect Brandon,
| expressing his persona! preferences
| for Mr.. Werner, though declining 70
| enter himself into the contest, hal
| caused elany persons to demonstrate
an interest in Mr.. Werner. From the
moment the members of the legisla-
! ture began to gather in Montgomery
! the general impression had been
that the contest had been between
MIR, Long and Mr. Werner. However.
thy PERSONAL following of Judge Mer-
ry mad been Well organized and
! " scented a solid front from the be-
, ginning.
No one knew Monday evening who
would be in the lead though there
! had been an undercurrent indicating
| that d great majority of the mem
! bers of the house had determined
that MIR Long should he elected.
/ The result OF the vote ino 2ted that
/ frtenus of Judge Merrill asa All,
/ Werner reached and understanding
during the early hours of Tuesday
I whereby the one who received the
fewer votes would withdraw after
/ the first ballot and would support
( The other.
Werner Backs Merrill
! Whether such an agreement ex-
listed or not the thing happened.
Judge Merrill beat Mr.. Werner only
! two votes on the first ballot, but
4 MIR. Werner, being the third in the
race, Immediately arose and an
nounced that he had always made il
practice 10 maintain harmony when
within his power and that Tor the
good of ali he felt that he should
request that his name be given no
further consideration and that his
/ friends cast their ballot for Judge
! Merrill forces because it foretold an
Immediate victory for their candi
date.
! The defeat of Mr. Long was the
/ second he had suffered in his effort
ITO obtain the coveted honor. Mr..
Long was candidate in 1911 and
Continued ON Page Sixteen.)