The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-03-26
CORRIDOR TALK OF
 THE ALABAMA CAPITOL
BY HERvEY w. LAIRD.


 , quence. think Cunningham felt that 1t was due the people that he speak out at this time, and in response to what he thought was right he did speak out. He has made an ideal governor for eleven months, and 1 am perfectly satisfied that if elected he will continue to make a man that the whole state will be pleased with. He is an honest man and will do what he considers best for all concerned, no matter who Is for or against him. ] will certainly do all l can for him."
 There is another thing about the pres ent situation that has it's bearing. Presi- dent B. B. Conner of the railroad commis- sion, who has led the movement for ultra action as regards the control of the rail- roads, has not had it in his mind to run for the governorship. The writer has this from source that can not be ques- tioned. To be sure he has held the pos sibility over the heads of some fellows he wished to control or influence, but at heart he has relied on his leadership of the railroad commission to bring about what he thinks should be brought about in the field of rate legislation. The real situation seems to be about this way: He was elected to the head of the commis- sion with the knowledge that he would
 
 years, and that if they did not see fit to fall in line with his ideas he would have to wait until men of his way of thinking would be put in their places when the people had a chance to elect them. 1t would look like child's play to quit be- fore these men in sympathy with him were chosen and he had tried in untram- meled way to execute some of his ideas. He is not looking to the governorship at this time at any rate in the opinion of a great many men who are really well post ed on the political situation as it is
 Another gentleman who seemed very much interested pointed out that the act ing Governor could not have taken action as he did much If any earlier, because of the fact that the occasion did not arise sooner. Prior to. the adjourned meeting of the railroad commission on March 10. at which date the trouble came up be- tween President Conner and the other two commissioners, there had been noth- ing which would have justified the exe- cutive in "butting in" There was no controversy before that time and such a letter to the president and members would have been quite impertinent if written when there was nothing upon which to base the supposition of a serious differ ence of opinion This was Friday, and he was out of the city until the follow ing Monday. The letter was written early in the week, it Is reported but held up for a day or two until it could be thor oughly digested and worked over In the meantime Governor Jelks wired that he would be home late in the week. Up to the time of the receipt of his message no one had any idea when the Governor was coming, not even the Governor himself The very day before he decided to come he wired instructions for the transac- tion of some business that wanted his. at tention not knowing when he could get away. All in all. it looKs as if the let ter could hardly have gotten out sooner, points out this man.
 There are rumblings of future politics within the last few days that promise to make the old ship of state lurch here and yon before the assembling of the new legislature early in January, 1907. Every department of public service is going to feel it. This correspondent was not wrong fin recent letter when he talked of an effort to induce former Governor William C. Oates to run for governor and the re- port that Robert J. Lowe. former chair