The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-01-16
MIR. COMER'S SPEECH
STANDS BY PRIMARY PLAN RE-
 GENTLY ADOPTED.
Says People Have the Right to Dictate to the Governor Appointees to the Senate in Case of
 Vacancy.


 Candidate Conner spoke here today in the County Court House to very small audience. Mir. Conner was intro duced by ". c, Crumpton. who in his address advocated the principles of Mir. Conner. and urged the support of the citizens of ConecuE County in his be- half. When Mir. Conner opened his ad- dress there were probably about thirty persons present, which was later aug. mented to about fifty or sixty.
 It WAS thought that the crowd would be very much larger on account of tine fact that today marks the opening of the Circuit Court. in addition to which a circus and a Street Fair have ar rived, but the crowd failed to materi- alize at the speaking. While Mir Co., mer claims Evergreen as his own prov ince. your correspondent finds that sentiment Is about evenly divided and one of the prominent merchants of the city expressed his opinion as that the antagonism shown by Mir. Conner to- wards the railroads will profit him but little in the race because of the fact that the country people are no longer embittered against those corporations, but rather understand that thei:- pro- gross and success is largely due to the possibilities of the railroads.
 Mir. Conner Democrat.
 MT. Conner opened his address by paying tribute to the voters of Co., necuh County for their support two and half years ago. A la Ben Hill, he also said. T will state to you at the beginning that am a Democrat" He then cited the instance in his county when 150 white men were boiled against 1900 negroes, saying, T believe that everything we have in this State should be referred to the Democrats, and whenever we differ among ourselves let's fight 1t out in the party and not go without the bounds to make the fight Let's stand square and firm within the party and fight the issues and let the little minority bow to the little majority"
 Continuing Mir Conner said: Tt has been charged against me that I am op- posing some of the old war horses; them. Nothing is further from the facts"
 Referring to tho recent acticn Of the Democratic Committee, Mir. Conner said: We have had in the last few days a meeting of the highest power in the Democratic Party. and that highest power Is the Executive Committee. That Committee has laid down the rules to govern this party: it has laid down the rules to govern your next election.
 Has Right to Criticise.
 "The question was asked me how I stood on their rulings I replied, Gen tlemen, am a Democrat. I am with every single Democrat in the State. and regardless of what we think, we should stand by 1t. But we have the right to criticise it; we have the right to say what we think of 1t. We don't mean that we attack the men who made it; we don't mean that, we attack the Democratic Party; not by any man ner of means. or course it is a little bit extraordinary the way It is marked down that you should elect your Sem ators; but gentlemen, I am the strong est believer in q primary you ever saw. There is no man in Alabama that be- lieves more strongly than that face to face you should meet the men you need for office; that you should ques- tion them, and ask them whether they are for you or not; whether their views Ire your views or somebody else's views.
 'T believe in the primary. and I be- lieye that in the primary for sena- tors, that you should require, if you want to, the governor, whoever he may
 
 you want to succeed him. But, gen tlemen there are two writings in there that l differ with. I believe the peo- pie in Alabama have got common sense enough to elect the supreme court judges. Take those that you have to- day, elected by the people, and I cha1- lenge any man if it wasn't well done. They are good men and true men and it is everlasting testimony to your common sense that you nominated them for the offices.
 Danger in Conventions.
 But, gentlemen, there is another thing in there, and that is the exec utive committee. My friend said a while ago that the governor was the highest power in the State but, gem tlemen. taken as a. whole, the executive committee is the strongest power in the State, because they name your party the name what you shall do and they name the method of your elections. Face to face you ought to come in contact with them; face to face you ought to nominate them and elect them. I tell you there is danger in conventions. Your committee might name themselves. If they do it, 1t would be dangerous for Alabama. That is one of the criticisms l propose to make"
 MT Conner then proceeded to pay his respects to John " Smith. He said: i: MT. Smith, the ex-president of your commission, has gone over to the railroads. They now give him, I un- derstand $5,000 year to practice be- in line, and I understand he thanks me for defeating him and for giving