The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-08-24

commission as in other states and get JUS
tice? The constitution vests the power
to regulate rates in the legislature, and
the legislature meets In Alabama only
every four years. AS an individual there
is no relief. You are a slave. l take oc-
casion to impress upon you that you must
win your legislature. Even after that the
governor might veto IT, You must win
the governor. Even then you are not
safe. I charge you to be very careful to
choose your judiciary. Eternal vigilance
is the watch word
Don't leave stone unturned. What
kind of tight is this? That is the first
thing every general inquiries into. The
first thing we do is to learn the strategy
of our enemy and the nature of his am
bush. They are out for the gain. In other
words we are fighting against unlimited
! money. 1t is corporation without heart
or soul, one Of those modern creatures
evolved for gain.
RAILROADS Arraiened.
You must expect that It will debuach
elections as much as possible. They want
II so that votes can be stolen. They have
money to hire the thieves. You must real
lie that that is the weapon they fight
With In this way corporations make
laws to suit themselves and vitlate the
laws they can't make.
ION all legitimate grounds l am friend
of the railroads. I will stand to defend
corporation rights Just as | would for an
individual, when their claims are Just.
Corporations have no place in the politics
of a free people When they camp out
side legislative halls, give passes to gain
an Legitimate end they deserve punish
ment just as much as a common felon.
They have bought newspapers Those
they own are distinguished from the
others by pegs on a map they keep. Then
| they set about to subsdze the others.
| They seize upon every source by which
they can influence your opinion. They
back the dominant party. In Pennsyl-
vania they back the republicans In New
York they back the democrats.
II wish you to believe 1t when l say
that I admire DR.. Cunningham. be-
lleve he is sincere. He has served In
politics for long time and logically Is in
line for promotion. If | can add any re-
ward to Dr. Cunningham will do It. But
my conscience tells me that the railroads
are fighting behind Dr. Cunningham and
that the railroads are enemies of the
state.
II declare you are mighty indulgent."
he asked to be permitted to take off his
collar. and forthwith he took it off.
| THE people are behind Conner" Hobson
continued.
"I'll go one step further and say that
railroads endanger the holy cause of lib
erty throughout the world. This fight in
Alabama is but a part of the fight. To-
day the railroads are tyrants and mem
ace to liberty.
Rome had fallen a long time before the
barbarians had entered her gates. Thzse
dangers are yours The tocsin is sounding
out there the perils of peace. l am ia
milar with weapons-these new rifles
with fiat trajectorics. You have weapon
that will hit the bulls eye in Montgomery
or even in Washington"
Captain Hobson closed with an eloquent
lperoration on liberty and the price thereof.
Mr.. StalIines.
Jesse Stallings was then introduced
Although the hour was late and some of
the audience had started to leave when
Mr.. Stallngs got fairly under way they
gladly resumed their seats and often in
terrupted him with applause.
He spoke Of his long service in the
cause of democracy In the state and
paid many tributes to Captain Hobson
and Mr.. Conner.
He spoke beautifully of the Confederate
soldier. He was roundly applauded and
his speech Is said to have been one Of
the best heard In Birmingham for many
a day.
| The meeting lasted until II o'clock.
Runnlnu Record Broken.