The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-03-26

Montgomery, March 25.-(Special.)- There can be no kind of doubt that the letter of Lieutenant and then Acting Gov ernor R. M. Cunningham, written last week. to the members of the railroad commission, has been the main topic of Interest at the capitol ever since it was made public by President B. B. Conner, in Birmingham, on last Monday after noon. It is also a fact that 1t has been discussed so guardedly that few men have allowed themselves to express an opinion on it. Many will say this thing or that in a meaningless way but the men who will come right out and talk about 1t and say what they think of it's proposals are scarce. struck the first pne Friday afternoon, in the person of Col. Thomas Ts ssoweli. state auditor. who had just sretarned from trip to his old home at Jasper. T in the main l think he is correct" said Colonel Sowell. He does notiask that anything be done that Is not in line with the law and does not seek to have anything brought about that will work hardship upon any man or interest. What he suggests is action; let us know what there can be done and then let us do it. There is nothing else to it. I think he is right"
 It can not be said on the other hand, that there has not been blame of the Lieutenant Governor, for there has. He is criticised for sending the letter at the time he did. It is argued that he knew he was going out of the office and could not possibly put into execution the alter native of an extra session of the legis- lature. He IS charged with playing to the galleries in a threatened move that he would be powerless to execute, and with trying to get into the Conner band wagon over the back of the rear seat.
 But it is fair to say that this kind of adverse expression is found in small way at the capitol itself, with which this part. of this article is expected to deal almost absolutely There Is found a tend ency to look at the matter in decidedly favorable way. This is argued by some. He Is consistent. He broke the tie in the senate when the bill came up for making the railroad commission elective and made it very plain that he was on that side. He was very vigorous on the pass ques- ton and went so far as to make some of the state officials sore" about the mat ter of accepting railroad transportation. It has been generally understood that he HdS SlOOu LOT the control or the rate QueS- ton and other railroad rules by the state, and has been known to quote largely from that section of the constitution giving the state the power along this line.
 
 An instance of the confidence that is shown in Cunningham by the leaders of the state was brought to the attention of the writer Friday afternoon A gentle man from Birmingham, party man and the president of a corporation of mark cd influence in the mineral district, was asked what the impression was in his part of the state regarding the letter. He re- piled that he had heard little said about 1t one way or another, which Is natural, he being among business men more than politicians. He did say this, however: "I am not bothered about the matter at all I am for Cunningham and will vote and work for him for governor no matter what he writes And I am quite sure there is nothing to make fuss about in the letter. I believe that he could have been elected governor without the letter and think he felt that he could. He is close to the people and the people know that he knows it. They will not be influenced much in either direction as a conse-