The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-11-10
Announces That He Will b' Candidate for Lieuten-
 ant Governor
FIRST CLASS SYSTEM
 OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS
MT. Gray Stands for Liberal Pension for Confederate Veterans and Better Roads Throughout
 the State.

Henry B. Gray, an alderman rom the Eighth ward, the president of the Peoples Savings Bank and Trust company, and one of the most popular and innuentiai men in the Birmingham district, formally .nnounced yesterday that he would be a candidate for lieutenant governor.
 Tn his letter of announcement MT. Cray comes out clearly and emphaticaiiy in favor of railway rate reform, the de- yelopment of a flrst-class system or pup lie schools, liberal pensions for Confeder- ate veterans, better roads, state control of convicts, immigration when carefully safeguarded, and the adoption of a muni- cipal code for the state.
 Here Is MT. Grays letter:
 To the Democratic Voters of Alabama:
 hereby announce as a candidate for lieutenant governor, subject to the acton of the democratic party, and wish to make plain my position on questions Whlch l conceive to be of the greatest interest to the people of Alabama; a proper settle ment of which will bring about greater prosperity and satisfaction to all.
 I believe that the absolute regulation and control of freight rates by the govern ment the one question on which depends the future welfare of the commercial, agricultural manufacturing, and mining interests. It Is the essential element in our advancement and whatever the state of Alabama is to accomplish depends upon its correct solution Railway corporations doing business in the state of Alabama have been authorized by law, and exist by virtue of such authorization. The off, spring should not be greater than the ere ator. The law that made these corpora tions should be extended and enlarged C0mDleta them. There Is now no adequate law to control them. Whatever there Is they defy--dctating rates and charging what they will, so long as the freight will move and can bear the burden The power should be given to the railroad commits sion where a railroad company appeals from its decision to the courts requiring a cash deposit of at least $40,0O0 with the state treasurer, in order that if It's de- cree be sustained small shipper can by proving his claim collect from the state treasurer without additional litiga- tion.
 Unless prompt relief can be afforded, the railroad can exhaust the funds and patience of all small claimants, and prac- tically defeat collections. Under present conditions because of the laws delay there is a denial of substantial justice. Where such law has been tried, appeals by railroads have been few and far be- tween.
 In addition to having a law authoriz- ing the railroad commission to regulate freight rates, the people should elect commission which would see that Ala bama has as low a rate within her bor- ders as any other southern state. While 1t is true that regulation of rates has become a national as well as state issue, the people of Alabama should not wait for relief by Congress, as the legislature has power necessary to pass laws which will give the people the needed relief. Let the people see that a law Is placed upon the statute books to control the situation, and men elected to office who can and will enforce the laws; and the people of Ala bama will again be in control of their state government. and will no longer bend to corporate domination.
 Only second in importance to railway legislation IS the question of the public schools The appropriation for schools should be increased till every district in the state shall have a full nine months term free of cost and good and sub stantial school houses in which the schools shall be held. The time has come for the state and cities to furnish free such books as are required by all in the pub lie schools, and a law authorizing this should be passed. The strength of citizen ship in every state lies in the intelligence and education of its people, and Alabama should take such strides in the years to coue tHdt SHe VIII assume and hold the place in the sisterhood of states she is entitled to-that Is, stand at the head.
 The pensions for Confederate soldiers should be increased till every veteran of the great war shall be given enough to make his declining days comfortable and his lot happier. We of the younger gen eration owe these men debt of gratitude that money can never pay. Those who are needy we must take care of and protect at all hazards. My earliest recol- 1ections are filled with the stories of the bravery and suffering of the veterans who wore the gray-stories learned at the knees of my mother, who had known and felt all the suffering that the devoted women of the south have passed through and from my father, who shouldered a musket at the first call of war, enlistfng as private and serving throughout the great struggle, and was the only one of four brothers to return alive when the war was over. I would therefore be recreant to my dearest memories and traditions If did not believe that Confederate vet erans should be honored and sustained in comfort, and that the first appropriations that should be made should be to care for them.
 The state should have better roads. Bet