The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-04-02
JOHN '. SMITH
 GAINING GROUND
Says Some RatherWarm Things
 About MT. Conner
MAKES SEVERAL SPEECHES
Has Assurances That He Will Carry Madison, Morgan, Limestone, Gull man and Other Counties in
 Tennessee Valley.

John V Smith passed through Birming- ham yesterday en route to Equality Coosa county, where he speaks today MT Smith has returned from a two weeks canvass of the counties of north and west Alabama. In answer to a question as to the status of the campaign for president of the railroad commission. MT Smith said:
 ''f spoke at Huntsville and Gurley in Madison county to large crowds and met with hearty reception at each place, receiving assurance that I would get large majority of the vote of Madi- son county. I also met my friends and managers in the counties of Morgan, Limestone. Culman, and in fact, all the counties in the Tennessee valley. and they assure me that I will undoubtedly carry these counties by large majorines.
 "I also spoke at Guntersvile and Al- bertville in Marshall county with similar good results. I visited and spoke to large crowds in Lamar and Marion counties, and in every instance l met with an earnest cordial reception, and the assur- ances of enthusiastic support of all classes.
 Only Five Persons Present.
 Tn each of these addresses l have talk en occasion to point out the fact that MT. Conner poses as the special represen- tative of the farmers, merchants, etc., when, in lact, I am reliably informed that at the time of his boasted nomina- ton by this association, there were only five persons present. who met behind closed doors in secret caucus, and nom- mated him, and that the democracy of at least one of these men is seriously questioned. In every speech I have made have demonstrated conclusively by facts and figures that the rates on the necessities of life in Alabama to the con- sumers is in nearly every instance cheap CT than consumers pay for the same com modities in the state of Georgia.
 This has been demonstrated by cir- eulars prepared and sent out by me- as we'll as the numerous newspaper articles from different sources and published all over the state of Alabama
 "It, has been an easy matter to over come and refute the misleading and er- roneous statements with which MT. Conner iioS hooutd <AldDduld III WndI IS Known as his 80 per cent circular The people are deserting his standard every day by the hundreds, and the frantic efforts that that he Is making at this time, to make 1t appear that I am the candidate of the railroads is but an evidence of the weak ness of his own cause and will react upon him with greater force than has mislead- ing literature.
 Conner Has Grievances.
 ''I have also taken occasion to show that MT Conner has many personal griev ances against the railroads, some of them doubtless caused by his unfortunate con- nection with special rebates when in the wholesale business at Anniston, as well as the Jim Dandy meal transaction
 ''To sum the whole matter up, Mir Co., mer has based his campaign on a plane of misrepresentation, and I feel coni- dent that the good people O. this state are on to his methods and that they will repudiate him on the 11th of April, in more decided way than did the pee pie of Jefferson county, when he was candidate for the constitutional con- vention some years ago. I am absolutely confident that I have the fight won."