The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-11-03
Not In Politics.

You may state with as much emphasis as you can command" began MT. Thomp- son, before he left in his private car for Atlanta, that there is now, and is likely to be, no disposition whatever on the part of the Southern railway to partici- pate in the pending campaign for gov ernor in Alabama. In the first place, the Southern railway is engaged exclusively in the railway business; all its time and all it's attention are given now. and will be given in the coming months, to hand- ling the business 1t has on hand, solving business problems with which it is con- fronted and carrying forward to a sue. cessful conclusion the constantly increas- ing work of extending it's lines, improving its service, enlarging it's facilities and aiding in the substantial development of the states through which it runs.
 Railway Rate Reform.
 "one of these states" continued MT. Thompson Ifs the state of Alabama. Within the last few years agitation has been stirred up in this commonwealth regarding the freight tariff schedules that obtain inside this state. This agitation has been not always temperate, and it is no exaggeration to say that the public mind has been so infamed on the sub ject that it is difficult in the average man to see the situation in clear perspective. The question is, fundamentally and in all it's details, a purely business one, and to be settled rightly it needs to be consld- cred from the business point of view. each side recognizing the weight that inheres to the arguments presented on the one hand by the transportation companies and on the other hand by the shippers.
 ''No living man. be he a railway of ficial cotton mill man, Jobber, a planter or what not, has monopoly of wisdom when 1t comes to the discussion of complicated business propositions. In erant of one anothers opinions, remem- bering that even men of the purest mo- lives may honestly differ in their judg ments regarding policies and principles, and that there are no differences, how ever sharp or however radical they may be, that are not susceptible of discus sion, compromise and adjustment.
 Situation in Alabama.
 'Tt is in this spirit" MT. Thompson went on, "and in this spirit alone that I approach the discussion of the subject of railway freight rates in Alabama In the political contest that is now on in this state, the Southern railway will, for reasons of weight. adopt policy of abso- lute neutrality. Nothing could induce if. think. to interfere even in the slight est degree with the settlement of this question by the properly constituted au- thorities In the first place. the two can didates for governor have. according at least to their expressed statements, framed up platforms which in the opin- ion of the public are equally opposed to the railways. I do not say that either candidate is hostile to the railways, and I am quite sure that one railway at least is not hostile to either candidate. Our attitude is simply that of hands off and that attitude will be religiously main tained.
 Favors Conner
 "If, however, I, in my personal capacity. were required to make choice between the two announced candldates-if I could be induced to participate actively in the campaien-T am inclined to think that I would favor the candidacy of Mir. Conner His candidacy would, believe, he more agreeable to me than would be that of his opponent and 1t would be the more agreeable for the reason that railway men, like the great mass of the citizens of this great country of ours, admire a man, no matter what may be his views who states his position without artfice or evasion Every ono knows where MT Conner stands in thls fight. That of itself under existing conditions. would incline me if were a voter in Alabama. as well as the great mass of the people, 10 re- gard Mr Comer's candidacy the more fa- vorably of the two.
 Tribute to Conner.
 ''I am one of those who believe that the state of Alabama may anticipate with complacency the election of Mir. Conner to the office of governor. He has courage and capacity, and his intentions are not to be aspersed He is the kind of man who will, believe, approach the settle ment of this question with an open mind, no matter how clear or how clingng may be his convictions. He is business man-successful in many lines am sat- isfed that man of his training and capacity will look at every question com prehensivey, and that when differences arise he will cooperate with the people and the railways in an honest effort to obtain working idear that will be sat- isfactory to all parties concerned. base this opinion" continued Mir Thompson. upon my knowledge of the man as dis closed by his character, career and pub licly expressed opinions.
 Differs With Conner.
 Let me add. however that I do not accept all MT. Corners processes of reas- oning on this subject. I know that all of them are sincere. I doubt that some of them are either accurate or logical. His deductions, when erroneous. are. how ever, honestly so. and are due to his peculiar, and had almost said circum- scribed point of view. If it were given him to see the whole situation in clearer