The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-07-15
SENECA" ATTACKS
Mr.. BANKHEAD
Communication AppearSin Mont
gomery Dated Birmingham.
A LITTLE HISTORY REVIEWt D
And the Representative from Sixth is
Charged With Being the Power
Behind the Throne in the
eaa-5 Anti-Repeal Fight.

Montgomery July H-(special.) 1.-The
Evening journal prints a communication
dated Birmingham and signed Seneca" in
which Representative Bankhead is charged
of being the power behind the throne in the
fight at Montgomery against the repeal OF
the constitutional eonyention call In this
connection the representative from the
Sixth district is vigorously attacked in
his Candidacy for leader of the minority
in the house.
Seneca begins very much in the strain
of "X-Ray,'' the author of a former COM
munication, who was proven to be the gov
errors brother. The political events of the
past year are revived, Governor Johnston is
held up as the great savior of the people,
and the Lord is congratulated upon calling
such a man to sit in the gubernatorial
chair
Touching upon the Bankhead incident,
Seneca" possibly alias "X-Ray," says:
The ssrn4htad incident
at is rumor-in fact 1t is an open secret
here in we'll informed political circles-that
to John H. Bankhead is due the credit for
the plan of campaign that ended in such in
glorious defeat. l remember that the press
chairman, were frequently in consultation,
and that he was in hearty accord with the
move and leader of It, 1t is understood
that he pressed the button and others did
the work; and it is further whispered that
against the action of the machine the voice
of General Shelley was raised in opposition,
and then in protest. and warning was given
by him that it would open a Pandoras box
from which countless evils would spring.
This warning was unheeded. Whom the
gods would destroy they first make mad
Now, it must be remembered that if sue
cessful, the machine could hope for moth
ing but the triumph of those who ran it.
The move, if it had been successful, would
have made the division in the party wider
and its unihcation more difficult than that
now confronting us.
I'm either event. the projectors showed
themselves to be selfish politicians, with
ambitions only for their own agrandizc-
ment, and possessing a determination to
rule or to ruin.
The Lord Is Congratulated
Assuming that the part played by Mr..
Bankhead, as reported, is true (and 1 have
never seen it denied the question. comes:
Is SUCH a man deserving Oh democratic
support in his political ambitions? Are the
rights, the privileges, and the liberties of
the people as dear to him as the success of
his own personal aims? Can he point, and
does he point to his action at Montgomery,
in the fight against the governor. as evil
dence that they are? The Lord has been
good to us in providing us with a governor
who stood by the people and for the peo-
pie; and may He be also good to us in de-
livering us out OF the hands of such poll
ticians as the Hon. John H. BankheaG.
They need to be retired. They have been
In office too long. We want new men of
fresh blood, fresh from the people and filled
with a desire to serve them, not to drive
them (patient oxen that they are) to in
evitable ruin.
ut has long been said that the Almighty
never made great man without stamping
the impress Of His fiat on his face, so that
one glance would tell the observer that he
was in the presence of one holding precious
gifts Such man Is needed to lead the
democratic hosts on the floor of the next
congress. John H. Bankhead is spoken OF
In some quarters for the high honor, but
the signet Of commanding ability is lacking
on his features. There are too many that
compare with him as Brobdignag to Llli-
put, and too few inferior to him in qualities
that mark O leader among men, to elevate
him to that distinguished place. The mills
of the gods grind slow, but they grind ex-
ceeding fine.' ="