The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-08-04
Warm Times at the
 Reform Debate.
START QUIET, FINISH LIVELY
The Radical Candidate is Placed on
 the Rack.
sman Crowd Hears Joint Debate of the Rivals for the Gubernatoriai Nomination, Bad weather
 Being Cause.
py wili T. sheehan.

By wiI T. sheehan.
 Reform, Aug. s.-tspeciai Core spondence. )--The seventh debate pe- tween Lieutenant-Govern R. M Gun. ninghana and President B. B. Conner or inc RaiIroad Commission began here tonight as quietly as pink tea, ana ended as lively as a Kilkenny cat nrht It ended with both candidates on their feet at the edge of the pat form near the audience threshing out the questions that the nights oratori- cal combat had brought forth; was during the closing time of pr. Gun uinRham. in which this scene took place. MT. Conner, who had been more subdued than usual during the evening, was aroused to some degree Of warmth and excitement by the keen and pene- trating questions of Dr. Cunningham, and by these questions Dr. Cunning ham brought out the inconsistencies of MT. Conner and his supporters, and incidentally other political contests in Alabama were drawn into the contest, aud the audience was given a brief view of them.
 Dr. Cunningham had the closing twenty minutes, and this he devoted to asking questions of Mir. Conner in cold. metallic voice.
 ITS 1t not fact, Mir. Conner. that Senators Morgan and Pettus voted against the Hepburn bill in the Sem ate, a bill favored by you and your friends?" asked Dr. Cunningham.
 Yes" replied MT. Conner.
 Dr. Cunningham Scores.
 Then, if you and your supporters are sincere in your position for rate reform and have the strength. why have you not put out candidates against them for the United States Senator" asked Dr. Cunningham.
 Mr. Conner was on his feet in mo- ment protesting that he and his sup porters held Senators Morgan and Pet tus in the highest esteem. He talked so long that Dr. Cunningham asked the chairman to see that he lost no time from his reioinder by the interruption. ssMr Conner. said Dr. Cunningham rtwo ex- Governors of Alabama and ths President of thes constitutional Con vanEion are candidates for alternate Senator. xpf have criticised the Gov; efMors of Alabama and the Constitu tional Convention, saying that all wer' dominated by railroads. If you ant your committee are sincere, why havl you not gotten out candidates and trtet to defeat these men the people hav' Honorsd in the past7'
 MT Conner at length argued that h. and his friends were not trying to dom mate the State and all of it's offices During all this colioquy Dr. Cunning ham stood with his watch in his hand and looked at MT. Conner. who com' near and had gotten somewhat excited under the questions
 MT Conner, Is not Barbour Thomp son the political agent of the southeri Railroad?" asked Dr. Cunningham.
 "7e is." replied Mfr. Conner.
 Hasn't he come out In an interview announcing his earnest support of you candidacy"
 GA stab With a Dirk"
 MT. Conner replied, "Yes. and he fl the same issue of The Birmingham News in which that interview was pub lished there was printed an editoria denouncing that interview as a stal at the heart of rate reform under tn euise of friendship. That's what was, a stab with a dirk at my candi dacy."
 'Is not Col. Ben Elmore. who wa chairman of the John V. Smith cam raisn committee and supposed to b. friendly to the railroads, supportint your candidacy" asked Dr. Cunning ham.
 T have heard he is," replied Mir. co mer.
 was not Capt. Frank S. White. wh is chairman of your committed. 1atel, the legal representative of the Illinoi Central in Birmingham?" questione Dr. Cunningham.
 This question stirred Mir Conner t the greatest warmth he showed dur ing the night. He pronounced 1t "aI unjust attack on one of the purest, bes men he had ever known"
 He went on to say that Captai White had represented the Illinois Cen trai in a legal capacity. but that tn road had objected to his activity in tn Conner campaign. whereupon Captai white sent in his resignation. This wa refused. but later. when there was nor correspondence, Mir. Conner said Captai White resigned, And that resigna tion." he said. twas sent to a friend C yours who Is a railroad lawyer in Bir mingham."
 In conclusion pr. Cunningham sait 'I am about to give you somethin that came to me in confidence. bu probably a public man ought not have any confidence he would kee from the people. I want to tell yo' my friends. that when asked Gov ornor Jelks to call an extra sesion C 1ha Legislature. told him if the Leg Islature should be called to order an tha rate question settled. I would nc Ar A candidate for Governor. I woul ,tep out of the way. I want to say you. my friends. that I have been tn .uhiect of unfair and unjust attacks b men who have pTeleuoSu Lo pe my Pei Ional friends. The attacks, mostly b insinuations, have done me a gray s,justice, and they are absolutely witf sut any foundation that can be base anon my record. I refuse to sit qui' snSer such insinuations. and I appe' 10 you, the people of Alabama, to pai iudRment upon them and upon me b Inc long record that my public csret ,as written in the books"
 The Seventh Joint Debate.
 The Reform debate was the seventl since the present campaign began. came about almost through chance Unknown to each other. Dr. Cunning ham and MT. Conner made arrange ments to speak in Pickens County o the same day Learning of this, Chair man e. P. Robinson of the Democrat Executive Committee suggested join discussion at Reform, at which plac the schedules of Dr. Cunningham an MT. Conner crossed. Both candidate fell in with the idea and the meetin was held in the Reform school house A special train was run from Carroll ton and Aliceville for the speaking Between thirty and forty persons mad the trip to hear the speakers.
 nf onenirtonS Tor Il