The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-06-19
mo Truth in That Inter-
VitW,'' Says He
is He A CANDIDATE j?
"For Reasons of Weight" He Declines
to Answer Question-WllI Can
vass State for Members
of Legislature.

B. B. Conner. president of the Alabama
state railroad commission, stated yester-
day afternoon that there is absolutely
no truth whatever in the report printed
recently in Birmingham afternoon news
paper that he would s'under no condi-
tions make the race for governor"
1t will be remembered that the newspa-
per article in question appeared in the
form of an interview with an unnamed
prominent politician, who was said to be
on terms of personal and political in
timacy with Mr.. Conner. This politician
was reported as saying that Mr.. Conner
would not make the race for governor,
that nothing could induce him to make it,
that he was satisfied to remain in the
office of president of the railroad COM
mission, and that Lieutenant Governor
Cunningham was quite acceptable to the
railway rate reform people and would
receive their support in the race for the
governorship
Interpretation Given Interview.
This interview has been widely copied in
the state papers, and interpreted in some
circles to mean that Mr.. Conner would,
under no circumstances, go before the
people of Alabama as candidate for gov
ernor.
When the subject was brought to Pres
ident Comer's attention yesterday he
made this statement regarding it:
"No Truth In IT,
There is absolutely no truth whatever
in the interview in so far as it purports
to reflect my views. No one has been au-
thorized by me to make any such state
ment have said nothing to anyone
of my friends or acquaintances in the
state that would Justify him in making
such statement. have not intimated to
anyone that would under no conditions,
became candidate for governor. Where
or how the report originated cannot
imagine. There is. repeat, no truth in it.
If you can find words that will deny the
report more emphatically than those
have used shall thank you to employ
them.'
Is He a Candidate7
MAY 1t be inferred from this denial of
yours, Mr.. Conner, that you are a cam
didate for governor?'' was asked
''For reasons of weight, said Mr.
Conner, deliberately, 'I must decline to
answer that question at this time. This,
however, 1 will say, namely, that no
matter whether am a candidate for the
governorship or not 1 shall canvass the
whole state in favor of electing as men,
bers of the legislature men who will
railway rates and to throw off the yoke
of railway domination in Alabama poll
tics. On that point my mind is made
up, and I shall not be swerved one hairs
breadth from that purpose"
Comparing Dissenting Opinion.
Mr. Conner will at an early date make
public an elaborate statement on the
railway rate question in which he dis
sents sharply from the conclusions
reached by the two majority members of
the railroad commission, Mr.. Sanders
and Mr.. Tunstal. The president of the
commissions work on this dissenting
opinion has been interrupted since his re-
turn from his vacation ten days ago by
pressing business affairs and more re-
Gently by the grave condition of one of
his daughters, who is i'll of typhoid fever
in St Vincent's hospital 1t is expected
that the opinion will be finished before
July 8, on which date the commission
reconvenes at Montgomery.
VIII Talk to Editors.
Mr. Conner has accepted an invitation
to address the State Editorial association
at its annual convention to be held July
10 at Sylacauga. 1t is not improbable that
he will then take occasion to touch upon
the railway rate issue. Indeed, indica-
tions are plentiful that the railway rate
campaign will soon open briskly in. the
state and be kept interesting till the cleo
ton of governor next year.