The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-08-25
Two Thousand People Listen to
Racy Speeches
ORATORS ROAST Conner
Pettus, Richardson and Or. Cunning
ham Address the Audlence-Rlch-
ardson and Cunningham Pay
Respects to the News.

to 1000 people. The spacious house Was
filled to the second gallery. First on he
last of speakers was Erie Pettus of Attn
ems Then followed Judge ]. c. Richard
son of Montgomery.
Despite the fact that DR.. Cunningham
candidate for governor was the last
speaker, so great was the enthusiasm
when he arose that at times 1t swept over
the audience in waves and brought th@
people cheering to their feet. 1t amount
ed TO an ovation. he was received with
tumultuous applause and waving hats and
handkerchiefs.
A. o. Lane presided. In his introduce
tory remarks he said 1t was an inspira-
ton to see so many democrats together,
especially so many Cunningham demo-
Gratis. He referred to a statement made
by w. E. Fort. chairman of the com'r
meeting, held the night before, to the
effect that the election of Hoke Smi'n
in Georgia was the harbinger of a better
day for those who stood for rate REFORM
to-wit, Conner.
He said we need the influence of no
populist, Tom Watson, to ride into office
we follow the banner of the greatest
American citizen, William Jennings
Bryan.
He then introduced Erie Pettus as a
representative of the young democracy
of Alabama.
Erie Pettus.
Mr.. Pettus said in part: ''Those of us
who are familiar with the political history
of Alabama know that In 1855, when the
Confederate soldiers came home after
having been overwhelmed by numbers,
they took up the burdens OF life where
they had laid them down. We know, then,
that political power fell into the hands
of the negro by the nefarious methods
employed by those who infested the coun-
try
This condition was unchanged untl
1875, when white men of Houstons stamp
swept the negro and the scalawags out
of office. We know by what means this
was done. We know that the methods
were revolutionary. but we also know that
the means justified the end.
white supremacy was placed upon the
throne of the state. During the time prior
to '73 the man who had introduced an
outside issue would have been traitor
to his party ana his people. There was
none to do it. There was one vital issue;
no division.
Deprecates Calamity Howl.
Now the sun of prosperity shines on
every hill in Alabama. No black menace
hovers round the polls. White supremacy
is supreme. l don't think 1t Is the time in
Alabama for campaign based on cal
amity howl.
Tell me that the people of the state of
Alabama are not stronger than the cor
porations in the state! When the people
were lined up against the corporations
didn't they show that their power was
untrammeled?
politics is like warfare. Did you ever
see a soldier, when he was placed on
post by his general complain and say
that there were no enemies and that there
was no need of anybody being on duty
as guard? l tell you a soldier who would
desert his post during time of war would
be shot. The people of Alabama have
placed their hand upon the shoulder of b.
b. Conner and stationed him as sentinel
with duties to perform as railroad COM
missioner. We have a peculiar situation
hereza man with two years of office yet
before him wanting to desert that post
and get something higher. Mr.. Corners
ambition has got away with him.
Conner Ambitious
Talk about railroad rates. What makes
Conner take those fifty-mle drives? Mr..
Conner, am afraid, leans a little toward
the desire for office. Tell me tint man
you have sworn into office and placed
with duty to perform has that duty at
heart when he waits until the heat of a
political campaign to draw up a bin and
tries to make it go over the head Of the
attorney general.
II understand that he has gone SO far
as to assail DR.. Cunningham for not en-
acting railroad rate. They took the Or
ganic law of the state Of Georgia and in
corporated 1T into the organic law of Ala
bama. The railroad commission has au-
thority to regulate railroad rates and 1t
is doing its duty. Conner seeks to make
the railroad rate the paramount issue, and
the state of Alabama regulates only 10
per cent of Its rates. The other So per
cent Is regulated by the federal govern
ment. Has Mr.. Conner fulfilled his prom
ises to the people? Two years ago he
made the same promises ne Is making
now. His excuse for not fulfilling these
promises is that there are two against
him and he is only one. He knew that
much before he was elected railroad COM
missioner and yet he made you promises
that he knew he couldn't fulfill. If he
would only keep his post where the peo-
pie placed him they would on next Mon
day elect two commissioners to help him
In this task he has promised to perform.
But Mr. Comers record is not noted for
consistency.
HAS the time come in the state of Ala
bama when all political issues sink into
one? Has the time come when all virtue
and power in the state of Alabama set
Ties into one individual. Has the time
come when you need a guardian. If so the
time has not come when you will elect
Conner for that guardian. Mr. Conner is
now holding an office for two years longer
and as great a man as he admits HIM
self to be- he can not IL elected governor
hold two offices. He has got to have a sue
cessor Why didn't he resign and let
democrats elect commissioner to take
his place. They named him two years ago
and people ought to say who will succeed
him. If we are In such need of guardian
are democrats not as capable of naming
an officer as they were two years ago.
They would nominate man who would
stay where they put him until the voice
OF the people called him to go up higher.
Skirn sh and Battle.
s,Nfr Conan calIna bfr 6eht of Two