The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-11-07
THE TWO CANDIDATES
 DEBATE AT SHEFFIELD
Much That Was Said at RusseIIville Revamped-Cunningham Makes
 Lively Rejoinder to Conner.

Sheffield, November 6.-tSpecial)-ln the Cunningham Conner debate here tonight there was a revampng of great deal that was said at Russe1lville. Cunning ham opened with an hours speech. Conner followed for an hour and half, and Cum ningham closed in fifteen minutes.
 The feature was question Conner put to Cunningham while the former was speaking and the reply made by the lieu tenant governor. Dr. Cunningham had dwelt at length both here and at Rus sellville on his vote In the senate when he decided a tie and opposed the bill, which extended for two years the terms of Saunders and Tunstall. Didn't you tell me, Doctor" said Conner. that the reason you did that was to avoid having their election come up this year, as it would hurt your chances in the race for governor this year. Didn't you say that?"
 Yes, ! told you that" said Cunning ham. This came as the climax to what every one who has heard Conner said the most effective speech he has yet made on the railway rate question. The audi ence had listened to Dr. Cunningham's finished oratorical discussion of various subjects for an hour. Conner concentrated his upon the railway issue didn't mention another subject. With fact and meta phor he painted the picture of what he calls railway domination In Alabama. show ing how the railways have retarded water transportation and stified the development of the Tennessee valley. The audience seemed about evenly divided. but Conner got the applause, bringing round after round of cheers as he denounced railways methods and "the railway cabal."
 Dr. Cunningham in this reply made a wonderfully effective speech. He said that MT. Conner had said that Alabama's state fort had been run by the railroads for years. 'T deny that" he said. "that the great men who have held that office from Houston to Jelks have been controlled by railway lobbies I deny that they were bound hand and foot by the railway lobby. and nothing could induce me to make populistic speeches in an effort to drag down into the dust the proud of democra- tic party and besmirch the character of its great leaders
 MT. Conner says that when he was making this fight I couldn't be heard from away back in the 90s and later No. l was canvassing the state from end to end, working with all my might to throw off the yoke of vicious and ignorant negro electorate and re-estab blish white supremacy What was the use in talking
 
 the carpet basger and the scalawag at our throats.
 He says he knows all about this ques- tion and I know nothing, well don't know much as he knows. and almost all I know about 1t I've learned fyom him 1 gladly admit 1t. No office under heaven could prevent my acknowledging the obligation. I owe my friend here for the great light he has shown me. And when do acknowledge it he returns the treatment by impugning my motives. God alone can search the human heart. ask you to judge me by the results"
 Dr. Cunningham's rejoinder evoked hearty applause. At its close Mir. Conner rose and said he had never uttered a word that could reasonably be interpreted to reflect unhappily upon any governor of the state. but that nevertheless the state had been and Is now controlled by the railway lobby.
 The meeting broke up with successive cheers for the rival candidates.