The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-07-26

SOME ~NTGGER IN THE wooDPrLE.v
 The boldness of MT. Conner and his leaders in their attempt to set up an overmassering political machine is re- ceivine fresh illustration every day. The governorship and the legislature have been their chief aims In the past. and now they regard the State Com mfttee also as essential to their plans. The following is from The Birmingham News of Tuesday:
 If the peoples control of Alabama's governmental affairs is to be perpefu- ated after Governor Corners term, State Democratic Executive Committee should be controlled by friends of Ills administration. The supporters of Co., mer, in every county. should be vigil ens and see tha, the delsEssss, iron September 10 are in sympathy with Corners platform. A new. State com mittee will make 1t much easier for the people to continue In control of their own affairs.
 The gun about the people controlling their own affairs is enough to make horse laugh The fact is clear that Mir Conner wants to set up domineer- ing political machine In Alabama. and that he wants every wheel in 1t under his control He is most self-willed arbitrary. domineering man, and he wants everything and everybody to dance when he pulls the string.
 Now the question arises why is the control of the State Committee regard ed as so important by MT. Conner and his rnouthpiece7 What do they pro- pose to do through that body? What scheme Is up their sleeves, wherein the Committee will play an essential part? Undoubtedly the crafty Conner and his ambitious friends have something on their minds. It will be well for thought ful people to put on their thinking caps and study the scheme out
 Of course, The Advertiser does not know, but it ventures surmise. It is well known that the action of the pres ent Committee on the Senatorial suc- cession has always been thorn in the side of Mir Conner and some of his ambitious friends. Is 1t not probable that the proposed control of the next Committee has something to do with that matter?
 Suppose, for instance. that with the considerable list of aspirants for the Senatorial succession, they should all get about the same vote. that no one or two should have a pronounced lead; would it not be very easy for tho ar1- bilious Conner, greedy of power. tc de- eide that the people had not virtually expressed preference? Would it not be easy for him, if nominated and elected Governor, to boss a State Com mittee of his friends and to persuade them to declare that under the circum- stances mentioned. he was not bound to fill vacancy with any one of the probable leadersg Or could not Com mittee of his domination be persuaded to recommend to the Governor the calling of special session of the Leg islature to fill a vacancy by election, instead of by the appointment by the Governor of a primary nominee dis tasteful to him? And with Legis- lature made up of Conner devotees. would he not be able to influence them into electing his choice7
 Of cpurse, all these suggestions are mere surmises. But there may be some thing in some one of them. There is probably "a nigger in the woodpile" somewhere. All this anxiety about the State Committee as we'll as the Legis- flature, by MT. Conner and his leaders, has deeper and more personal mean ing than "a perpetuation of the peo- ple's control"