The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-04-08

CONFER IS NOT CONSISTENT
Free Lance Says He is the Prince of
Demagogues.
AN INTERESTING STORY FROM A BRIGHT PAPER

The Free Lance says:
Mr.. 3. B. Conner is a great and power
full man, who would make the people be-
lieye he can coniiscate the railroads and
ran them so as to save them one-half of
the local freights. But can he do it?
Not while title to property can be di-
vested only by due process of law Does
Mr.. Conner know this? Yes. demagogue
Of demagogues it is all dema goguery.
Mr.. Conner is a wise and able man, who
knows that he cannot confscate a rail-
road, but he would make the people be-
lieve that he can take their use from
Them and make them reduce local flight
rates one-half but the use is an element
Of title, and If the title can not be con-
fiscated, the use can not be taken. Does
Mr.. Conner know this? Yes; demagogue
of demagogues; 1t is all demagoguery!
Mr.. Conner is sensible and smart man,
who knows that he cannot conhscate a
railroad nor convert its use to anybody s
benefit; but he would make the people
believe that he can convert their earnings
by cutting local freight rates in half; but
If he cannot convert their use to the BEN
eft of anybody, the result of their use
can not be converted. Does Mr.. Conner
know this? Yes; demagogue of dema-
gogues; it is all demagogueryi
Mr.. Conner is a lawyer and a statesman,
who wants to be judge to decide ques-
tions between the people and the rail-
roads; but he prejudges every case In ad-
vance; has formed and expressed an opin-
ion on all the questions to arise and thei
by disqualified himself to be judge in
any of the cases which would come be-
fore him; does Mr.. Conner know this?
Yes; demagogue of demagogues; it is all
demagogueryl
Mr. Conner is a shrewd and sagacious
business man, who knows that the state
can only regulate freight rates, after in
come in excess of fixed charges and ope-
rating expenses shall be paid, and then
only when the local freight rate shall be
shown to be unreasonable, yet while he
can not know, he does not hesitate =
say that all local freight rates in the
state are unreasonable to the amount n
one-half the rate charged. Is Mr.. Co
mer's conception of the meaning of "rea
sonable" Incorrect and does he know III
Yes: demagogue of demagogues: 1t is al
demagogueryl
Mr. Conner is a great lawyer and a wise
judge, who says he would abolish demur
rage on cars consigned to shippers, ano
| instead of having twenty-four hours r
unload them. he would give them twenty
four days, If necessary. There Is M
power or authority vested in the rail
road commission to deal with or act upor
the question of demurrage A railroad
commission is not a legislative body AM
can not enact laws. Does Mr.. Gomez
Know this? Yes; demagogue Of demago
CUES; it is all demagogueryl
Mr.. Conner is a wise politician and Z
slick artist in inventing food for gud
geons-something that vets their appe
tites and makes them long to taste Its
sweets-and he would make the people
believe that he would abolish overcharga!
On freight or have such claims settled OF
| demand. The railroad commission has
no power nor authority to deal with over
charges by shipper, who can go to TN
courts like customer who is over
| charged for merchandise by merchant
and enforce a remedy for any wrong prac
ticed upon him. The merchants customer
can go to court; but Mr.. Conner woul6
have the people believe that a shipper i
superior flesh and blood, who is entitled
| to extraordinary treatment as priv
lodged class, and he holds out TO th'
people to 20 what he could not do, u
elected. Does Mr.. Conner know this? Yes
eemagogue of demagogues; it is all demo
goguery.
Mr.. Conner is a learned lawyer and ar
! able jurist, or he would not aspire to dor
the ermine and dispense Justice in the 10
rum where the most distinguished ant
successful lawyers can only hope tC
evolve wsest solutions of most complex
legal propositions. Only fools rush II
where angels fear to tread" and Mr.. Co
mer is not fool. But Mr.. Conner knows
that where a juror has formed or ex
pressed an opinion as to the issue al
bar or has bias or prejudice against eth
err the plaintiff or defendant, that he Is
disqualified to act in the case. The same
rule applies to judges, who with learning
and due regard for the proprleties and q
proper sense of delicaey as well as honor
always respectfully bow down and Out
and refuse to await until objections shall
be filed, which all know would be sustain
ed either by the other members of the
court or by the appellate court, when the
case shall be brought before it. In the
| speeches made by Mr. Conner, he has fur
nished the evidence of his deep and abld.
ing bias and prejudice. Any lawyer
knows that Conner would be disqualified
from sitting in a case for the adjudication
of any feature of the railroad question
which he has discussed. Almost every
Intelligent man knows this. Then Mr.
Conner is In the attitude of asking the
people to elect him as a judge of court
of limited jurisdiction, as to specific is.
sues set out by statute, when he Is dis
qualified to act as Judge to adjudicate
those issues if elected. Does Mr.. Conner
know this? Yes; demagogue of dema.
gogues; 1t is all demagoguery!
THE DANGER OF MR.. CONFER.
From the Montgomery Advertiser