The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-12-28
COMMISSION FIGHT
 PROMISES THRILLS
Ex-Governor Kilby Is Likely Candidate For
 Senate <a
GOVERNORS RACE ASSUMES SHAPE
Taylor Certain To Run Against Cloe For Commissioner
 Of Police

cians are ready to swing into the year 1925 and what they believe will quickly develop into the most hectic political period Birmingham and Alabama have witnessed in decade.
 Birmingham voters will elect new city> commission, to be composed of three members. The reduction from five to three was ordered by the last legislature.
 Voters of the state will not elect a governor and state house officers untli ear1y in 1926, but the campaign will begin to bristle with the opening of the new year.
 The campaign for the United States senate for the seat now occupied Dy Senator Oscar w. Underwood also Will show signs of activity early Tn lSzo' according to the wiseacres.
 Close friends of former Gov. Thomas E. Kilby of Anniston, say 1t Is prac \ ticaI certainty that he will enter the senate race. Hugo Black, widely known Birmingham lawyer, has told his lnti- mates he has the race under careful consideration. Senator Underwood mas reached no decision, but has told ms staunch supporters he will confer with them in the summer of 1925 and decide whether he shall retire or seek to suc- eeed himself.
 Expect Announcement
 Mir. Kilby was in Birmingham last week and, though his visit was on busi- ness, he conferred with several political leaders. According to these leaders, his formal announcement may be ex- nected some time during the coming year.
 The campaign for governor of Ala bama already is actively under way, with Archie Carmichael, legislative and educational leader for years, and Atty , Gen Harwell G. Davis in the open and with indications that additional an nouncements will come before the win ter is over.
 MT. Carmichael's friends in every sec tion of the state began preliminary work in his behalf immediately after his brother definitely announced two weeks ago that he would be candi- date. Attorney General Davis has been running for months and has stated he will seek the office on an "ex-service man's'' platform.
 Others Mentioned
 Lieut. Gov. Charles G.. Mcdowell, Ribb Graves, F. D. McArthur, and score or more of other leading Alabam- ians have been mentioned, but none have vet publicly announced their plans. McDowell's friends have been working for him for months and it is no secret that he will get in the race. Graves also has been doing preliminary cam paigning for some time.
 A. G. Patterson, chairman of the pub lie service commission, has been widely mentioned, but his friends now say ne will not be candidate.
 John P. Mccoy, assistant Jefferson county solicitor, will run for attorney general, and John c. Morrow, associate county attorney, will run for state senator from this county. A hot race for sheriff is now in the making, with Chief Deputy Hill and Chris Hartsfleld, former sheriff, looked upon as certain entrants.
 A flock of candidates for the city commission will be in the field before snring. in the opinion of close observ- CTS. At least four, and possibly all five of the present commissioners will be candidates. That means that some ot them will, have to run against each other.
 Post To Pay $S.OOO
 If D. E. McLendon, commission pres idept. seeks reelection, William l.. Harrison, commissioner of public prop critics and utilities, will run against him. William l.. White, young busi- ness man, Dr. R. F. Lovelady, chair man of the county democratic executive committee, and Ellis Brown, former commissioner, are being talked as other likely aspirants for the presidency This post under the three commissioner act will pay $8,000 a year, while the two associate jobs will pay $7,OOo each.
 John A. Taylor, former police com missioner, is certain to run against w. B. Cloe. Some observers expect to see Cloe avoid a race with Taylor by run ming for president, but the commissioner has not announced his intentions.
 Mrs. Eunice Hewes, assistant city clerk and one of the most popular women at city hall, is being urged to run for one of the three seats. Mrs Velma Smiley of North Birmingham Mrs. Charles J. Sharp, national demo- cratic committeewOman, and Mrs. J. M. Hankins, former head of the League of Women Voters, are other women who are being mentioned in the pre-cam- paign talk.