The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-09-19
COMER AND HEFL|N WERE TIE SPEAKERS He1in Once More AssaiIs Booker I. Washington MIR. COMER IS GOOD MIXER Gives Man Dollar to Buy Cork Leg and Brushes Clothes of Another
 Who Had lmbibed Too
 Freely.
MIR. COMER IS GOOD MIXER

local wheels of justice stopped long enough today to allow President B. B.. Conner of the Alabama Railroad com mission to air his views on the rate re- form and to allow Congressman J. Thomas Hefn to speak on education Incidentally MT. Hefin's scathingly ar raigned Booker T. Washington for din- ing with northern white people.
 This was the opening day of the fall term of the circuit court and as Talla- poosa county Is to vote on the special school tax Saturday it was decided to set aside the greater part of the morning session to the discussion of the question by MT. Conner and MT. Hefiin.
 Court was convened this morning at g o'clock by Judge Alston. At Il o'clock he announced that MT. Heflin had been delaid by late train and that MT. Co., mer would deliver the first speech. In the meantime people had been coming into Dadeville from all parts of this and adjoining counties and the streets were lined with people.
 Mir. Conner Introduced.
 Mir. Conner was introduced by J. F. Oliver and spoke for over an hour on ducation-especially railroad rate reform education He spoke along the same lines that he did at Blount Springs. He made an earnest plea for his issue. He did not say that he is or that he would be a candidate for governor.
 'I have begun this fight" said MT. Conner. and will continue to wage it until justice comes and the people are given a fair deal by the railroads"
 MT. Comer's speech was clear and con- vincing and was enthusiastically re- ceived
 The reports that are going the rounds over the state that MT Corners health would not permit him to wage a long and strenuous campaign seem to be ground less, as the president of the Alabama Railroad commission is in excellent phy- sical condition.
 Proves Himself Good Mixer.
 He is in fine spirits and the statement that he is poor mixer Is unwarranted. All the dime he was in this city he was surrounded by his friends and admirers and smiled upon them right and left. Occasionally he would slip his arm af- fectionately around some voter and whisper in his ear.
 A young man with one leg soliciting funds with which to buy a cork leg was given dollar.
 Another horney-handed son of toll, who had imbibed too much Tallapoosa fire water" and who sliped and fell on the stone floor of the courthouse, was picked up by MT. Conner. The fighter of rail- roads brushed off the unfortunate mans 8 hat and replaced 1t on his head. MT. Co., mer acknowledged the mans thanks with ono of his benevolent smiles.
 MT. Hetlln Is AppIauded.
 MT. Hehin spoke for nearly two hours and was continuously interrupted by ap- plause. His arrangement of Booker T. Washington was wildly cheered.
 'In this district'' said Mir Hefin. there is an internal machine run by a teacher of false doctrine and a danger ous leader. This institution is main tained largely by contributions from trust magnates, who ruthlessly wiring money from the common people of this coun- try. This incubator is yearly turning out hundreds of negroes. ShSll we deny OUT children a few extra nickles and dimes by voting down this special tax?
 "A few months ago. fellow citizens denounced Washington for puppying around and holding out his hands to the northern white people. I said that he was hissing serpent crawling In the weeds: that he was an enemy to his race and to civilization. By dining with Wanamaker's daughter at Saratoga he has struck a blow at Anglo-Saxon su- premacy and Is attempting to raise him self to a social equality with white peo- pie.
 His school has been drawing money from the state. I say let the remainder of his trustees rise up and condemn his methods.
 Another race-the Indian-stepped across the path of Anglo-Saxon civiliza- tion. They were driven to the west. I predict that unless the negroes improve in service as farmers and as household servants they will be replaced by an- other race.''
 Endorses Railroad Rate Reform.
 MT. Hef1n endorsed railroad rate re- form in no uncertain terms.
 MT. Heflin has always been popular in Dadeville and at the conclusion of his speech he was given an ovations In the past two years he has developed won derfully. He Is no longer the impulsive singer orator but is sober, thoughtful speaker. His speech showed profound study and concise grasp of the situa- ton. Mir. Hef1in shows that he has work ed hard in Congress, and 1t is conceded all over the district that he will be un- opposed.