The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-03-31
COMER AT GENEVA
SMALL AUDIENCE LISTENS TO THE
 CANDIDATE.
GubernationaI Candidate Has Been Put ting I'm a Busy Week, and At Several Places Has Been Greet
 ed By Good Crowds.

Geneva. March 30.--(Speclal) )---Can- didate Conner spoke here today to an audience of less than seventy-five per sons. His speech in all respects was of Democrats in this State. he said, the Jefferson-Jackson Democrat and the Hamilton Democrat The Hamilton de- mocracy is founded on the trusts and the other on the people.
 He made his customary argument against the railroad attorney in politics and in favor of lower freight rates, equitable car service rules and prompt settlement of claims.
 The Atlantic Coast Line. he said, only last year gave to their share holders an additional seven and half million dol lars. and yet went before the commits sion and said they could not pay the interest on their securities.
 He made his usual rate comparisons to show that Alabama pays & higher freight rate than Georgia, Carolina or Virginia. Referring to The Advertiser he said:
 q have frequently asked them where they stood on this great question. and they don't answer. I don't think they know themselves
 He made his usual reference to the discrepancy in railroad valuation as given to the auditor and the commis- sion. Tn advocating a rate made by the Legislature, he said if the commission attempted to make rate, the railroad would enjoin them and then if this commission was sustained by the courts and passed a rate, the railroad would enjoin the rate itself on the ground der the law 1t. would not give them a fair return on their property.
 Dr. Cunningham's platform. he said, was as strong as he could make 1t, but with the crowd who are behind him, he cannot carry it out. The Doctor, he said, had gone further than he had, but The Advertiser and the others had lined up with him because they knew he would not carry it out and that Conner would. Mir. Conner spoke for two hours to a somewhat listless audience. some of whom left before he conclud- ed.
 He was followed by Candidate Hood in short address.
 This has been Mir. Corners busy week, Wednesday morning he spoke at Anda- lusia to an audience of about one hun dred and fifty. The telegraph wires were down and a report could not be forwarded. However, his talk was practically the same old story, At An dalusia the speech was well received and listened to with close attention. He announced himself as a Democrat and believed in standing on the Dem- ocratic platform and carrying it out and if need be die there
 He made his customary arguments lin favor of education, the care of the old soldier. local option, and immigration. Coming down to his railroad talk he declared that he was not anti-railroad, and that the principle for which ae contended was not to tear down. but to build up. He is advocating. he said Uuhaf other Gfafna YarnnffapI many years, and in those States the railroads are prosperous. He announ- ced his platform for lower freight rates. equitable car service rules, and the prompt payment of claims.
 The express and telegraph companies, he stated should be classed with the railroads in this fight. In Carolina the twenty-five cents. while in Alabama, it is as high as forty cents. He made his usual argument for lower freight rates. using the same comparisons as heretofore.
 The railroad lawyer in politics is still one of the principal bugaboos of Mir Conner. He urged the people to elect their own representatives and sweep out the railroad lobby from the legis- lature.
 Referring to a recent editorial in The Advertiser he said: They say that the railroads of Alabama in their inter- state business don't earn as much as they pay out; that they pay out a long way more money than they earn" Turning to the reporters table he said: You tell the correspondent that's non- sense. Of course they don't because they don't try to make 1t interstate. They try to <make you buy your goods as far from Alabama as possible They try to make you ~ship your cotton as far from Alabama, as they can. and they try to make you buy your goods as far from Alabama as they can. I say that's destructive and if The Adver- tiser and such as 1t will stand by us we will develop a business within this State. All this is tomfoolery about what they are making on interstate ship ments. They are trying to make it as little as possible"
 He said the railroads are trying to make the people ship their cotton to Pensacola and Savannah and are howl ing about what they are trying to do in the State. MT. Conner spoke for two hours and was followed by Candidate Horace Hood who made a short ad- dress.
 At Opp Wednesday night Mir Conner spoke to a crowded house despite the weather and frequent showers. His speech was along the us- ua1 lines.
 At Florala MT. Conner received an demonstration. delegation of citizens headed by L. H. BrasseI met the candidate at the station and escort ed him to a carriage which was deco rated with flags and bunting. The citizens were lined along the sidewalks who cheered the candidate to which he responded by lifting his hat He was by Mir. Brassel in short address. His speech was the same as at other points, no new matter being 
 After the speech at Florala MT. Conner was entertained at dinner by Mir. Bras- sel during which impromptu speeches were made by the candidate and Mir Munroe.
 At Sampson where the party made for Geneva. Mir. Conner was called upon by several citizens to make an address which he did, giving them a thirty minute talk. He was intro dueed by J. J. Morris, who acted as chairman. At the close of his talk, Horace Hood, candidate for Auditor his candidacy in a short | talk.