The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-10-03
CAREER DISCUSSES
 PUBLIC QUESTIONS
GIVES HIS VIEWS IN CONNECTION WITH HIS CANDIDACY FOR THE OFFICE OF ATTORNEY GENERAL OF ALABAMA.

should give his views on public questions and that such a course would prepare the people to cast intelligent ballots In next years primary. It's Montgomery cor respondent in an article of recent date also refers to the important work of the next legislature and the probability that the attorney general will be brought into more active and prominent service than heretofore.
 While 1t has not been usual for any can didate for a subordinate office to make an announcement on public issues, and since the duties of the attorney general are along designated lines, involving no special policy, are fixed by laws, and any additional duties can only be i'm posed by law, and since 1t is not within his province to propose legislation, l have not considered it necessary to give expression to my views
 In view, however. of the manifest de- sire of the people as gathered from the press recently, in thus announcing my candidacy for attorney general. l deem l. proper to state my position upon some of the important public issues at pres ent before the people of the state, as feel that they are entitled to know my at- titude upon any matters of public ln- terest.
 The duty of the state to provide ar education for all of Its children is no longer debatable. It's future greatness peace. and prosperity depend upon an educated. moral, law-abiding, Christian citizenship, and since 1t is conceded tnat education Is elevating, that the trained mind makes the hand skillful, then no higher duty rests upon Alabama than to afford to all of her children an eouca, ton that will fit them for the duties ol citizenship The need for public educa- tion Is accepted by all intelligent, thought full persons as one of the pressing neces- slties of the day, and this need mas pe- come more imperative than ever since the adoption of the new constitution. u Is true that much has already been done but much yet remains to be done, not only for our common schools, but Tor the higher education and the industrial and technical training of our young peo- pie And in all such provision our girls and young women should participate with the boys and young men. l believe that we should do all within the power or the statet consistent with other neces- sary governmental expenditures, to in- crease the appropriations for public schools, and for the establishment and maintainance of necessary school houses.
 A native Alabamian, a believer in the justice of the Lost Cause, reared to re- spect love and honor the brave, ,nself-
 sh heroes who gave themselves to that cause, one who with many others suffered loss of loved ones In that struggle It would be strange indeed If I did not re- we're the memory of the Confederate dead, and yield full measure of love and ven- eration to the living Confederate soldier. Believing as I do that history does not record superior valor more heroic cour- in, hut patrOtiSm. civic virtue in time of peace, cannot fall 10 accord to the Confederate veteran that love and homage which is his just due. Knowing as I do that the southern man went to the front without thought of reward without a desire except that his home be protected and that his rights remain inviolate, when I come to reflect that thousands laid down their lives. and that other thousands came home to an experience as bitter as death: when l see around me the remnant of these men in ther age and, in many cases, their pov- erty. magnificent still in their courage. fighting the battle of life, I am proud that a grateful people have made provi- sions in the law of our state for their aid in cases of necessity. l believe 1t to be the duty of the state to make such addi- tional provision as may be necessary for all cases Of Confederate soldiers who may be in need.
 DouDiltSS IL WILL De COnCeut0 aS a Rcfl- eral proposition. one not open to serious controversy, that rainlroad corporations engaged in the business of common car riers are public corporations, and are bound to serve the public in the trans portation of freight and passengers for a fair. just and equitable compensation. It Is for this very reason. and because of this service which they are bound to render to the public and the resultant or reciprocal benefit to the people that the state confers upon them its sovereign power to condemn the property of it's citizens against their will and without their consent upon making just compen- sation While 1t Is true that under the constitution of the United States Congress has the sole power to regulate interstate commerce, and that such regulation is beyond the power of the state vet the state does have the powre to regulate intra- state traffic. and to compel and re- quire that only just fair and equitable rates, without discrimination or rebates to favored shippers or classes, becharged within the state. provided only that a just and fair compensation be allowed the carrier for such service am con vineed that In many instances railroad rates In Alabama are to ohigh, and that unjust and unfair discriminations have been made. It seems to me that Alabama. with her vast and rapidly developing mineral resources. her great agricultural productiveness, her growing cities and rapidly increasing population. stands in the front rank of the states of the south. and that under these conditions her people are justly entitled at the hands of the railroads not only to fair and equitable local rates. but to fair and equitable through rates as well. And 1t fs my opi1- ion that the railroads. which as we have seen are public corporations, owe to tho people and should be required to give to the people the lowest rates which if is possible to do, at the same time earn for themselves fair and reasonable return upon the capital invested believe that with such an equitable basis of local rates in our state our farmers could supply our towns and cities with many products now brought from other states and this would be equally beneficial to All classes of our people in keeping the money at home that now goes to other states for such products. I furthermore believe that this regulrtion of railroad rates. either hy the legislature or railroad commission acting under authority ofN law, should be done In A spirit of justice and fairness. without prejudice and upon thorough tnvcs igation and discussion of the whole ucetion
 The people desire nothing but what is fair and right. and If this Is not conceded to them. 1t fig the duty of the law-maklng power to secure 1t for them by law, and 1t would certainly be the duty of the attorney general to sustain and uphold such law. At present 1t ls made bv the law the duty of the attorney general tAct- of Alabama. 1903 page 104). upon the certification of the railroad commission, through its president. that railroad has