The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-08-10
H.C. COMPTON SPOKE
ADDRESSES AUDIENCE AT COURT
 SQUARE FROM CARRIAGE.
Candidate for Railroad ,Commissioner Ar raigns Corporations for shortcom- ings and Makes Promises
 to the People.

With stentorian voice and lungs of power H. c Compton. of Birmingham. made an open air speech in Court Square yesterday evening and told the Montgomerians within hearing why they should vote for his nom ination for Associate Railroad Commission as.
 Standing in a carriage opposite the Moses Building, he held forth. and from o'clock until T o'clock he told those gath cred about him what the railroads of the State are not doing now. and what they would do If he were nominated for office.
 Promptly as scheduled. the man from Birmingham drove into the Square. At the stroke of six. he rose and commenced talking to the air Five minutes after he had begun his address there were six ne- groes and a newspaper reporter gathered about his carriage Tn quarter of an hour the number had increased to perhaps. score and before he was half through fully 250 persons had gathered about his vehicle. blocking the street and making it difficult for other vehicles to pass.
 The unique method of campaigning at tracted the passcrsby. What's he selling r was the usual question asked by the new conner Then he stopped to listen and to satisfy his curiosity. One of the interest cd determined that he was q labor agftator while another stopped under the impression that he was outlining new policy of an archv.
 But hefwasn't. H. c. Compton was talk ing in his own interest for theRailroad Commission office. The fact that only few were present when he began did not deter him. During the last few months he has travelled through some fifty-odd counties of Alabama in the same way, and everywhere. he has persisted in his address to the emp ty air. until crowd would gather to give him hearing.
 portion of the time last evening. how ever. he secured this with difficulty. Heavy .n.. h.-- .ra. "A the close of the day punctuated his. elo- quence with rattle and roar which drown ed his speech.
 .T believe the railroads have conspired with the teamsters." said the speaker. af- ter one of these enforced pauses. Every driver in Montgomery comes by hors to drown me out"
 If there was anything the railroads have not done. MT. Compton knows 1t. His speech last night was an attack on the railroad abuses from the start to the fin- ish. He held up to them the laws. and said that if he were nominated the law would be obeyed. When he was not de- taiiing the shortcomings of the different railway systems. hs was going for the Railroad Commission. and what he said was not in hushed or modulated voice.
 what has the Railroad Commission ever done for Alabama? 2" he asked. They have done two things First. they have met regularly the first Monday of every month. as prescribed by law, and second, they have drawn their salaries regularly, as prescrib- ed by the law.
 They tell me-" he continued, that the Confusion has no power. This may have been SC under the old Constitution. But now. under the new Constitution, they have the power. and what have they done for you7 How many miles of railroad have they ever inspected? How many people in the State have ever seen a Railroad Com missioner making trip of inspection? The law gives them power which they never use. They have plenty of power. if they were4oniy to carry out the law
 There were three requisites of a good Railroad Commissioner. he said. He must be honest he must have ability and he must have plenty of nerve and determina- ton.
 T have never, been to Congress-" he said, land have never sunk e Merrimno. But have made an honest living. and if am nominated for office. I will give you not one day in the month, but six days in ths week."
 The speaker said he favored fair rates for the Alabama farmer, and was oppos- ed to discrimination. He wanted a two and one-halfg cents passenger rate. If elected. he promised that every railroad station in the State would be provided with ice water in summer. fires in winter. and employees who would show the patrons oi the roads respect.