The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-04-24
e. PLANE TELLS WHY
HE is IN THE RACE
Huntsville Republican Wants to
be Governor
SAYS He CAN BEAT Conner
Thinks 1t Wrong to Array the People
Against Railroads Which
Have Done So Much
fer Alabama.
SAYS He CAN BEAT Conner

Huntsville April 23-(Special )-The re-
ported candidacy of Hon. Charles P.
Lane, editor of the huntsville Tribune.
for the republican gubernatorial nominal
ton has been the theme of comment
here for seevral days past. 1t is sup
posed. that Mr. Lane has some unknown
backing, something up his sleeve. or he
would not so boldly declare himself as he
has already done.
Il said l would be a candidate" said
Mr.. Lane in an interview, land in being
one l want 1t understood that my candi-
dacy is unsolicited--it is my independent
act. The only way to forbid my candi-
dacy or cut me off is for the machine to
forbid a state primary Such an action
OH the part of the machine holds the
publican party right where we are We
will neither grow nor decrease in deem
cy or public favor, but will be useful
alone for filling the odd federal jobs.
Simply this and nothing more. just for
a moment think of it-with the matchless
business principles of the republican
party, with the Incompatible prestige
won from innumerable victories on is
sues submitted to the intelligence of the
bama, with her developing wealth an,s
Intelligence, the strength of the repub-
lican party should be confined to three
United States marshals, three United
States district attorneys, United States
land officer and one postmaster from
every city and village That is what 1t
has been-no more, no less-for thirty
five years. | never want to see another
republican postmasters convention held
ia Alabama.
Il am going before the people, will en-
deavor to explain to the people what l
am and what my party represents
where do you expect your strength to
come from should you be nominated, and
what chance would you have to beat
democrat?" Mr. Lane was asked
White Supremacy Is Assured.
.'There is reason for all things. he
replied. THE time has been when white
supremacy would have jeopardized itself
lad there been a split In democratic ranks
and Alabama would have been a verit-
able political hell and the split occurred
so long as the black menace existed. That
is reason No. /. Why the democratic
marty has existed for thirty-five years in
the face of as dscreditable, destructive
a series of administrations as ever afflict-
ed a comm onwealth. In plain language,
the politicians saw they had the people
in a hale and dared not ehirp and the
state has been run for the benefit of the
office holder, and when reelection time
came the attention of all was called to
negro supremacy and 1t was first all over
with the negro and second all over with
the white voter The democratic party
of Alabama hasn't represented principle
nor presented, an idea In twenty-five
years. Now the negro menace Is gone
the bagging and ties which held the
white bale is no more. | voted to remove
it. I think in this I was wiser than my
party which kicked me severely because
l had the temerty to vote for, speak for
and write for the new constitution.
Now comes along a man In the dem
ocratic party. with a head on him like a
cantaloupe. In the outset of his game he
assumed the role of innocence abroad,
while in fact he was the most astute
demagog,ie who ever fooled the fools.
That man with his democratic methods.
his bad principle. melting the poor
against the corporations, is going to do
more TO build up the republican party
than all Its own combine virtues. We be-
lieve he viii have a candidate In the
field for governor and we believe he will
receive the democratic nomination II he
does. What inducement does the dem
ocratic party offer the great railroad in
terests to stay inside of democratic lines.
stay there and be burnt. stay there and
be destroyed: help build fire. a pyre for
victim? The negro is gone and the rail-
roads are free to do as they please.
Is Loyal to Alabama.
"If I represent anything under the
canopy of heaven it is the development
of Alabama. l have written 1t, spoken
1t, preached 1t and practlced 1t until /
have assimilated 1t, and am the natural
enemy of the man who raises the knife
to destroy Alabama and the man who
viciously strikes at our railroads, the
arteries of our progressive blood is the
red-handed destroyed of Alabama's pros
perity for whom my gun Is loaded. be-
lieve in an intelligent showdown the is
sue we'll drawn. a thorough canvass,
could beat Mr.. Conner or his man Friday.
Saying the least of it, 1t would be the
first race we will have had since 1874.
'I want to say that l am In favor of
compulsory education. I want to deal
fairly with the negroes in the school fund
but I want to force the mountain Bibles
to receive an education. This class is a
discredit to the state and are retrograd-
ing In point OF civillzation-will be black
ing the negro's shoes in ten years more.
In short I want to do something for the
state, hence / will be a candidate
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