Birmingham state herald., 1895-12-24
| H. ALDRICH INTERVIEWED
AIabama'S Contests Before Com
 mittee No.;l.
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
On Venezuela Indorsed byAH True Americans,
 Regardless of Party y-ABrmingham's Interest,

E NIT. T. Ii. aAldf1ch, who IS c0nteStlng the seat of Hon. Oscar w. Underwood in the Ninth Congressional district, arrived in the city Sunday from Washington.
 A State. Herald. representative called on Mr. Aldrieh in his office in the Chali- foux building yesterday afternoon and obtained the following interview. much of which is foreign. to. politics and speaks well for the general prospects of Bir mingham and the south:
 What do you think of the presidents message; Mir. Aldrich?" began the news man.
 T am very much pleased with it. never saw a better exhibition of pure pa- triotism, exclusive. of partisanship, than was exhibited by congress in the support given MT. Cleveland in his interpreta tion of the meaning of the Monroe doc trine There is no questioning the fact that the people of the whole country re- gardless of politics, have risen to the occasion, and they will sustain the pres ident and congress in the maintenance of the independence. of the United States as the ruling power of the western con- tinent."
 Speaker Reed and the President.
 "I learned from quite a number of pIoHliHeHl- Hltsn 8llH NnO11 1 talked that Speaker Reed is in constant communica- tion with the president and has resolved to pursue a conservative and manly course in the matter. which is very unex- pected to many of his opponents.
 Considerable Excitement.
 There is great deal of excitement in Washington, however, on account of MT. Cleveland's Venezuelan message, and the members were disposed to consider the message as rather serious. Yet they all seemed to be perfectly willing to trust the president in this particular. Whatever happens, the country is to be congratulated on the general uprisngt of true Americanism."
 The Contests. -
 How about the contest cases, Mr., Aldrich?"
 "I was not long enough in Washington to form more than a superficial opinionll My attorneys and friends can truthfullyI claim that these cases will have prompt' adjudication from the fact that Speakers Reed has provided three committees ton handle them The speaker has been quoted as saying it was absolutely necesf. sary to dispose of these cases in order to save money to the government, and on that ground the contestants ex>- pect speedy decisions. Cases in which. fraud has been established will receive first attention. &
 "The Alabama contest cases have aia been assigned to election committee Ndl ], composed as fellews: Charles Danielsl New York; Iemuel W. Royse, Maryland. E D. Cooke, Illinois; l.. E. Leonardo Pennsylvania; ". H. Moody, Massaclpi7 setts: k. z. Linney, North Caroflnas E. Bartlett, Georgia; Omar M. Rem, Ne braska. - E. -1-
 "rhe committee is composed of six re- pubicans and three democrats; the last named are democrats"
 What about your own case?"
 'I am content to let the case stand on it's merits and to beradjudged according to the law and the evidence. But you may rest assured that l will never let up until a decision Is reached"
 What did you hear about the panic in New York?' as+ Hfr.
 "I left New York last Wednesday eyen- ing, after the presidents message had been fully considered there. No one dreamed of any panic, though the stocks had begun to drop some, and the Lon don and New York stock boards were exchanging numerous telegrams on the situation. Here is a specimen from London: .s
 "When our fleet comes up the bay Please keep the excursion boats away
 This couplet referred to Lord Dunra- ven's complaint in the yacht race, of course.'
 Good for Birmingham.
 Have you got anything good for Bir- mingham?"
 "The old chestnut about the steel plant has some possibility of becoming real ity. I was assured by men of large means in New York city that a steel plant would certainly be built here at an early date, the Tenhessee Coal Iron and Railroad company having already dem onstrated that they, can make basic iron rl.l r.f was the stumbling block that long stood in our wayc and this. I am happy to say, has been permanently removed.
 T found a great deal of interest being taken again in southern investments and a better feeling in regard to the fu- ture of the south. The northern people generally are pleased and delighted with the rising tide of the patriotic feeling of the people of the south over the presi- dents message, and this common senti- ment is bound to bring us closer to- gether." -fsstt
 Our Pig Iron.
 "What about the pig iron?"
 '"rhere seems to be feeling among the consumers that prices are too high, and this is caused by.a falling oH in the demand. We will probably have to re- duce our prices some. but when this is once done there is no question but that all of our furnaces will be busy for an- other. year. 21 -5
 Our Coal Inter st. ,
 What about our coal trader" IF
 'In all my.experience in the coal bus ;. iness covering nearly a quarter of al century in Alabama, I have never seen a better demand or better prospects, and this splendid business is likely to cfh1, tinae urtil March or April The contih4' ued low water in the Ohio river has pre- vented the Pittsburg people from getting into New Orleans and this business has fallen into our hands. Besides this. the increased demand for, pig iron has Hb- sorbed a large production of coal"
 "When do you expect to return to Washington"
 "I expect to return after the holidays and shall no doubt remain until after congress adiOurns" js lt