The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-08-01

Determinations In freight rates, charges on the same and all the other alleged abuses and grievances can be provided for by law and regulated in such way as will give the public their full rights. and yet at the same time permit the existence of the corporations.
 Without the railroads and without the other great corporations that are spend ing millions of dollars in our state, we would not continue our present rate of progress in material development. With out at least fair treatment to them we cannot expect further Investments from those already existing, nor hope for fu- ture investments from new corporations.
 In Lieutenant Governor Cunningham we have 8 candidate who Is conservative, and yet pledged to favor such legislation as will force the railroad companies to be fair and just to the people believe that he Is sincere that he will do his utmost to enact the necessary legisla- tion to carry out his pledge and to en- force the laws that are enacted. He has great experience in state affairs, and believe that he Is an honest man. As to his having a weak backbone and being under the control of the corporations, l do not believe such campaign charges.
 To say that he is not honest, honorable ana IIuet WOul0 De u Itlltttioii hpt Diii9 on him, but on the great body of Masons in Alabama, who have honored and trust ed him for years. To say that he Is not sincere and would prove untrue to his pledges, would not only be a reflection on that honorable body of men. but also on his brother physicians, who have hon ored and trusted him. To say that he is a demagogue and unworthy of confidence. is not only Inconsistent with the personal at,l fgfa Ar ma hi would be a reflection on the great body of democrats and statesmen who have re- peatedly honored and trusted him in the past. To say that he is not as capable as MT Conner, because he has not succeeded so well in making money for himself, would be a reflection on other distin- guished Alabamans, who have never learned the art of making and accumulat- ing money, but who have attained the loftiest heights in the gift of their fel low-men possibly they would be as rich as Mr. Conner Is today had they devoted their entire time and attention to money making. Some men think of nothing else, and others have no talent for making money, at least for saving 1t. Dr. Cum ningham may be in this latter class; certain that it is that he is a good physi- clan, ranks among the first in his pro- fesslon, and as such has done much for his fellow-men. Certain it Is that he has well served his state and county as legis- lator, and for a period as chief executive of the state, he made no serious mistakes nor reflected discredit upon himself, so far as l have ever heard
 As to the issues before the people, 1t cannot be denied that MT. Conner Is ex- treme and radical, and that Dr. Cunning ham is broad and conservative. It can not be denied that while the foremost issue seems to be the regulation of freight rates. still, when the rates are regulated (and they certainly are to be if either candidate is elected), there are other and highly important duties that will fall upon the shoulders of the governor dur ing the four-year period of his office, which have no connection with nor rela- ton to railroad rates.
 As stated before, l had intended to vote for MT. Conner. but the recent more wig orous attacks upon all corporations, the increased denunciations and abuse indis- crimnately heaped upon them. by the Conner followers and the Conner press. have increased my fears, and have moved me to east aside personal preference, and resolve to vote for the man whom, I think, will do his full duty to all classes without prejudice.
 l am not much in the habit of changing front on any proposition, but my convic- tions impel me to make this change. We need the railroads and other corporations to assist the people of Alabama in nov ing onward in the development of our great resources Especially is this true of the Birmingham district. The agitation does not seem to be confined to regula- tion of rates, but Is so denunciatory and sweeping fin its charges against all kind of corporations and everybody directly or indirectly connected with them, that the election of MT. Conner cannot help but put the state on record as being an enemy to industrial enterprise when undertaken by corporate bodies (the only practical way irr which it can be undertaken where large expenditures are involved), and, In my opinion will retard in a substantial way the material growth and progress of our state
 Those who believe we should invite cap ital to come within our borders, those who do not believe in killing the goose that lays the golden egg, those who can view the issues now before the people in a calm. deliberate, conservative way, those who are strong enough not to be swept off their feet by monstrous appeals to their pdejudice and passion, l believe will be added to the Cunningham column in goodly numbers from now until the election day in August. Yours truly,
 T. II. MOLTON.