The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-03-07

 1 sion was one of the most exciting ever held in Alabama, MT. Conner winning over John V. Smith, who retired today, by over 26,0O0 votes in the democratic pri- mary. The last legislature made the members of the commission election they having always been appointed by the governor before. MT. Conner stood for | regulation rates and openly contended that the railroads of the state are not giving the people a just showing in the making of haulage charges and the en- forcement of rules. On this issue he went before the people and the result was his overwhelming election.
 Corners Address.
 In his address which he read today MT. Conner said
 'The result of the recent election, in which the local freight rates of the state and the rules of government established by the railroads regulating business with them and the duties of this commission were widely dlscussed has placed this commission on a new basis-the protec- tion of the people as well as the care of the railroads. The people have decided that the railroads are not private snap running through the land with unre- stricted power to tax. They have also decided that the railroad commission must do it's best to secure lower freight rate, more equitable car service rules and the prompt settlement of claims.
 Conditions commensurate with those of the state which lies along our east ern border, and which is of llhe condition of tonnage and carriage and which has been successfully tried many years--Geor- gia.
 "The freight rate. the car service rules the weighing and inspection bureau and of olo ! have been established and made by the railroads and in their private interest and are In the very nature of the case ar bitrary onerous and one-sided.
 The Two Glasses.
 "A tax of rule of government made without representation on the part of the property paying the tax and observing the rule never be fair It was in recognition of this prnciplee that this Commission was created. We stand be- tween the strongest power in the state the railroad and the weakest, the poor est, the longest suffering, the class whose pockets are searched for every tax; the farmer. In between these we have the professional and business classes, the merchant, the miners the furnaeemen, the manufacturers. but the whole fabric rests on the farmer The product of the farm and saw mill and their supplies, local freight in their very nature, have grown to be regarded by the public carriers, especially as their private assets, and the freight charges for carrying and the point of ultimate destination as within their exclusive de- termination and interest. Both of these practices have been costly and onerous to the best interests of these classes and of the state, because out of this has grown higher freight charges than the product should bear and building up of interstate at the expense of intra- state business.
 'The railroads are paying dividends on cost and liquified securities The farmers have not grown grass bellied with ready cash. It is'to the interest of all classes that both the railroads and people should prosper alike. To secure this product whether of furnaces, mines. farm or factories and their sup plies should be carried at minimum and not maximum rates.
 Protect the Waterways.
 ''The port at Mobile. the Chattahoo- chee, Coosa, Tombgbee. Warrior, Ala bama and Tennessee rivers are the most valuable assets of the state. These as- sets. in the development of which the general government has expended many millions of dollars and which should be worth as much to the economy and up- building of the state as the railroads, are by the practical boycott placed on them by the railroads rendered of the least use So much so that the towns and cities on their banks have come to regard them as a kind of private proper ty and conventions looking towards their development are limited to their repre- sentatives Few states have such strong, natural advantages along this line for a nd frfr ct ia ht apf. no state uses them so little. Every pow CT of the state should insist that the railroads should not boycott or oppress these great natural carriers of the state. and should demand as of their inalenable right; that the same courtesy and combi- nation of rates be extended the states natural carriers which the states fran chised public carriers practice among themselves. It Is in the last degree thoughtless and selfish that corporations with the states franchises In their pock- cts and the states protection and pat ronage all about them, should combine to suppress and kill the use of the states own assets and properties.
 The water ways of Alabama are not private snap as some citizens seem to think: they belong to the state, and the benefits should reach every citizen how ever remote. The city at the head of Mo- bile bay and those at the river railroad crossings are receiving the portion of Hagar and Ishmael, whereas they are en- titled to that of Sarah and Isaac. There Is no other economy of the state which would so fructify every interest of the state as the striking loose of the boycott bands which the combination among the railroads has placed on our waterways There are also interior towns and cities which are laboring under obsolete freight conditions. If these conditions were reme- died and business expansion allowed, in- creased prosperity would be distributed through the state.
 Cotton Rates.
 ITO encourage cotton manufacturing in the state. the state has contributed the taxes on the cotton factories for ten