The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-06-23
CAPT. ROBSON ON
 THE RAILWAY ISSUE
He Says it is Paramount in
 State Politics
MAY RUN FOR CONGRESS
Conner, Says Hobson, Is at Present the Logical Candidate for Gov ernor-A caustic Criticism of
 "Eleventh.Hour" Converts.

last night before he left Birmingham for Highland Park, Ill., that the railway issue would be paramount in Alabama politics in the next campaign, and that B.. B. Conner. president of the railroad commission, would be- under existing conditions. the logical candidate for gov ernor.
 Captain Hobson, while here last night. called on President Conner and conferred with that gentleman respecting the poli- tical situation throughout the state
 May Run for Congress.
 It is understood that Captain Hobson will again make the race in the Sixth district against Col John H. Bankhead, and that he will force the railway rate reform issue square to the front and keep it there throughout the canvass.
 Colonel Bankheads interview in The Age-Herald in favor of reduced railway rates and of federal and state regulation of railways, prompted Captain Hobson. it is said, to call upon President Conner and discuss with him the political situation. Here is what Captain Hobson said in the union station while waiting for the train going north
 Paramount Issue
 There can be no doubt in the minds of the people of this state that the ques- tion of railway domination in Alabama politics is now, and will be in the next campaign, the paramount issue On that issue l stand squarely in favor of what is known the railway rate reform movement. By that mean not only that l am opposed to existing Irregularities in the railway freight rates of the state, but also that l am opposed to the vari- ous forms of railway domination in the political life of this commonwealth.
 "The Battle Is On"
 "'rhe battle is on in Alabama between the railways, on the one side, insisting that they retain their grip on the political throttle of the state, and the people on the other side, demanding that they be freed from the greed of their oppressors 'In case I should become a candidate for Congress in the Sixth district next year, would press this issue squarely to the front and keep it there throughout the canvass. By this l do not mean formally to announce my candidacy, but I never theless desire to make known my posi- tion on the paramount issue of the hour.
 Will Finish the Work.
 "The people of this state may be relied upon to press to complete accomplishment rtr Hae been thus far courageously carried for ward under the leadership of MT. B. B. Conner.
 ''The people will see to it that the fruits of their victory are not wrested from them by political wolves masquerad- ing in sheep's clothing. Conditions in this state at this time requires that the men who have fought the good fight be permit ted to finish their course, and that leaders known to be in sympathy with this re- form movement be not displaced by raw recruits whose eleventh-hour conversion to the cause has been reluctantly wrung from them by a desire to save their political lives.
 Conner the Leader.
 
 of this reform movement in Alabama He Is the embodiment of the paramount issue in the politics of this state. I do not know that he will be a candidate for governor, but I do know that he Is at this time, and under existing conditions, the logical candidate for that office and am confident that, if -he does become candidate for governor, he will be elected by an overwhelming majority.
 Favors the Movement.
 Though I may not altogether agree with Mir Conner in certain details of his programme. nevertheless I am heartily in favor of the movement with which he is identified It is absolutely certain that the next governor of this state will be man who will faithfully execute the peoples will on this railway rate reform issue. In making the fight the people will select as leaders only men whom they know they can trust. Place none but Americans on guard tonight said Washington at Yorktown. In the, coming fight the people will elect as governor no opportunist, no backboneless politi- clan, no eleventh hour convert, no polit- ical wolf dressed out in sheep's clothing They will consent to be led only by a man whose loyalty to the cause is un- questioned and unquestionable."