The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-01-19
ONE CANDIDATE
 OUT OF THE RACE Booker WithdraWs From the Railroad Commission Race COMER MAKES STATEMENT Says He Wants Reform in Freight Rates and Is In Favor of Changing
 the Arbitrary Methods
 Now Used in Shipping"
COMER MAKES STATEMENT

The race for the presidency of tho rail- road commission was drawn one point nearer 10 a focus yesterday by the with drawal of Captain D. w. Booker and the announcement of his support of Robert ]. Lowe of Jefferson. This leaves four candidates in the field and 1t Is likely that they will fight 1t out to the end. The present contestants are John V smith, the incumbent. Robert J. Lowe, R. B.. Conner and F. NJ. Bonner of Dallas.
 The friends of Mir Conner were active ly at work yesterday and shippers are al- ready being interviewed for the purpose of ascertaining their ideas on the move instituted by members of the Merchants , Consumers and Farmers association to elect a man in sympathy with their cause. They claim that many merchants and shippers have expressed themselves as favorable to MT. Comer's candidacy and they have bright hopes of success.
 As yet Mir. Conner has not selected his campaign manager and the campaign committee but this will be done as early as possible. He called on several of his friends yesterday morning and outlined the programme of his campaign.
 MT. Conner intends to make several speeches throughout the state and feels that his chances of winning are excellent. When questioned concerning his plans yesterday he said:
 Freight Rates.
 'The freight rates in Alabama have re- peatedly been shown to be abnormally high. The Car Service association, the Freight Weight and Inspection bureau, the method of classifying freight and pay ing claims for over-charges are all arbi- trary, one-sided, onerous and costly.
 "The railroad commission organized for the purpose of equalizing and fairly ad- justing above conditions was under the old regime found to be Inactive, unin- formed, unsympathetic and useless. The merchants, consumers and farmers be- lievlng that this could and should be re- medied. appealed to the people to pass law giving the commission more power, and to make them elective. They gained an overwhelming victory and should reap it's just reward.
 ''lt would be a cowardly surrender not to offer man in full sympathy and ac- cord with the issues involved. Is the off, fee for business man or a lawyer? Is the office for supreme court judgeshlp for a business man or a lawyer? The parity of reasoning will apply to both
 Questions Asked.
 "We are going to ask every citizen Of the state to study the relation of trans portation to business. To study how the value of our crops, our forests, our fac- tories and mines are increased or decreas- ed as the freight tax Is higher or lower. and In consequence of this we are going to ask them how important is the proper administration of this office to every spe- cies of interest and value. What was the purpose of it's creation, and why maintained, and whether it shall continue to be battled around like a shuttle cock, to pay political debts, or like the railroad | commission of Carolina, Georgia and Texas, be used to protect and advance ev- cry species of interest, including that Of the railroads.
 Tt is on this issue that l am offered for the president of the board, and ask the zens. and I promise, on my part, if elect. cd, I will try to carry out the fair intent | Of the office"