The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-07-27
CAPT. FALKNER ANSWERS
STATEMENTS OF Conner
Present Railroad Commission Clothed with Ample
Authority DeplOres Attempt to Drag the "
Railroads Into Politics.
10 THE PEOPLE OF ALABAMA:

be done the people of Alabama than 10
force the railroads of this State into poll
tics. 1t would be but little less than
crime to do 1t, yet that is JUST what
few people are trying to do. They are
acting on the idea that those VINO nave
their money invested in railroads, or
who are employed by railroad companies.
have no rights that anybody is pound 10
respect; that whenever man engages
in the railroad business, either by Ill
vesting his money in railroad property,
or by becoming an Cmploye OF railroad
company, he ceases to enjoy the tights
privileges, immunities and prer oSatives
OF other citizens, and If assailed either III
his person or property, he has no right
to defend himself, but must stand and
take whatever punishment his assaiaut
Gses proper to inflict.
The Constitution and laws of Alabama,
however. fail to recognize any sucn I'M
Just distinction class. The property CT
railroad companies is as much under the
protection of the law of the land AS any
other species of property, and citizen
engaged in the railroad business s en-
titled to all the rights, privileges and
immurities enjoyed by any other c.ti-
zen.
Capital Has Been Invited to Ala
bama Under Guarantees Against
Confscation.
1t has not been many years since kla-
bana was but little more thanNa lant rs
dcsolation. 1t was bad enough at the
close Of the war between the States, hut
It was still worse at the end of the re-
construction period when the great Dem
ocratic and Conservative party. headed
by George s. Houston, as Governor a.
Alabama, came into power. 1t was then
that invitations were extended by our
party conventions, by every Democratic
and conservative newspaper, and by our
statesmen on the stump. to people ard
capital throughout the world to . Ine
amongst us and help build up the waste
places about u.s. WITH THE GUARAN-
TEE AND PLEDGE that all investments
made here, and all property built up in
this State of any kind whatever, woul1
be under the absolute protection OF the
law of the lard, and that there should
be no waste, destruction or confiscation
Of said property under the guise of taxa
ton, regulation" or otherwise; AMI that
no burdens of any character whatever
should be placed on one species Of prop
Crty that was not equally borne by every
ether species of property.
Declaration of War on Railroads st
Birmingham Meetings of May
18th and June 9th, 1902.
On May II, 1902, at meeting held in
Birmingham. presided over by ". II.
Tayloe as chairman, and G. T. McEldery
as secretary. among other things, the fol-
lowing resolutions were adopted: -
Resolved, That 1t is the purpose of this
meeting Of delegates from cities Of Ala
balna now in convention assembled TO
use all fair means to secure the election
a. the coming Democratic primaries OF
candidates for the Legislature who are
favorable TO the enactment of a law &C.
curing a Railroad Commission elected by
the people and paid by the state, and
the enactment by the Legislature NJ such
laws as will give 1t power to regulate
and adjust the charges levied by common
carriers.
Second That a committce of seveataeR
be appointed to carry out the provisions
of the foregoing resolution, with power
to appoint a campaign committee, and
take such other steps as may he neces-
sary to accomplish the object of this
meeting.
Afterwards the following appeared in
the Birmingham Evening News of June
%, 1902:
BUSINESS MEN ON FIRING LINE,
make Railroad Commission Issue in
County Campaign.
CREATE A COMMITTEE. y
snake Demand Pledges from Candidates
for the Legislature. w'-s' eo!'
1.-THE election of railroad commission
by the people of Alabama, to be paid by
the General Assembly giving the COM
mission the power to regulate local
fleght rates, is to be distinct and ag-
grcssive feature Of the forthcoming cam
paign Jefferson county, and in many
of the other counties of the State.
BUSINESS MEMS MEETING.
Yesterday afternoon a meeting of busi-
ness men, most of whom were members
either of the Wholesale GrOcers ASso-
citation or the Board of Trade was held
in the hall of those two bodies, Tomlin-
son building.
THE meeting was a sequel of that held
a: the Morris Hotel on the afternoon OF
May -, at which Chancellor Tayloe, of
Union Springs presided, and at whi1h 1t
was determined to make 4 concerted eht
In the counties of the State on this issue.
The resolutions adopted at that meeting
have been published in The News.
STATE CHAIRMAN TALKS.
Mr.. II. II. Sinnige presided at the meet
ing yesterday afternoon which was ad-
dressed by Hon. Frank s. White, who has
accepted the Craftsmanship of the cam
paign committee of the State ors1niza-
hon of business men effected by the
meeting at the Norris Hotel.
Captain Whites remarks were of an
advisory nature.
THE CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE.
"A resolution was adopted creating a
campaign committee. The personnel OF
this committee has not been announced
Yet. 1t will be composed of men who
are willing tn work hard and unremittiLg-
at was resolved not to support any can
didate for the Legislature who will not
pledge himself to support the measure
which proposes to change the method Of
electing and compensating the railroad
commission and to vote for bill - Hich
will give the commission power to Iegu-
late local freight rates.
The meeting, which developed much
earnestness of purpose by those in at
tendance, adj burned subject TO 11lL
THEY, ARE IN EARNEST.
lone of the gentlemen who was present
and who took AN active part in the poo
ceedings, said this morning;
1--WE are going to make a vigorous
campaign on this issue. Candidates for
the Legislature will be asked to define
their position as to this issue, and they
must speak in no uncertain tones 1t they
desire our support. We will he equipped
with the sinews of war. The State move
ment is gathering force every day. The
recon. nomination of candidate in Mad
ison county for the Legislature is VIC
tory for this issue.
Our participation in the county cam
paign will be confined to this one thing
but, as you will see later. we are very
much in earnest about it,"
AFTER ALL THIS WAS DONE, to
wit on July 9th inst, while in 3irming-
ham, a reporter for the Evening News
called on me at the Hotel Hillman, anC
called my attention to these two meet
ings which had been held by Messrs
Conner, White and others, and stated tc
me that they had given notice that the
business men would be on the firing
line" I did not hesitate to say TO tbs
reporter that he could say to those gen.
tlemen that 1 would meet them at the
..frinP line" that | accepted the gauge