The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-07-11
B. B. CONFER LOBBIED
 AGAINST CHILD LABOR BILL

when he and his associate lobbyists agreed and permitted It's passage through the Legislature.
 Now happen to know something about child labor legisIation in the last Legislature of which was mem Der was not member of the Com mittee on Immigration and Labor to which the original bill was referred, but took special interest in the Legislation eaSause the miners in Northern Bibb were very much in fa- vor of stringent law forbidding the working of children In mines and fac- tories. Being interested in 1t watch ed the progress of this legislation very closely.
 "The original bill forbade the work ing of children under sixteen years In any of the mines or factories of the State. As soon as this bill got before the committed, the mill interests of the State began to fight 1t actively and aggressivcfy. special lobbying com mittee appeared at the Legislature to defeat this bill. This special commit tee consisted of Mr. Goodwin. Mir. Tul- lis and, mind you, Mir Conner. and the most valuable man on the committee to attain it's end was B. B. Conner. This committee was successful In its eff forts. It had the original bill killed and the present weak, enervated and useless act presented as a substitute.
 While was not member of the committee, kept up with the fight so that Knew the substantiate amounted to nothing. I was on the eve of vot- ing against 1t. but the friends of child .egislstion on the committss tee been agreed upon as compromise measure. but knew then what sort of a compromise measure 1t was--a complete victory for MT Conner and his fellow lobbyists.
 with this record behind him MT. Conner has the audacity to get up be- fore an audience and declare that he never opposed child labor legislation. Do you know if cared to do 1t. could call the names of several of my asso- ciate members of the House who are new friends of Mir. Conner and who talked to me while the child labor leg islatinn was pending. of Mir. Comer's opposition to 1t. would like to know what these friends of Mir. Conner thought when they saw his public de- claration that he never opposed child labor legislation"
 But you are holding an elective ofice MT. Thompson, and you might have just said The Advertiser rep- rcsentative told the Solicitor
 "Of course I am holding a. public office, but Is that any reason why I should refrain from speaking the truth7 You can quote me on this mat ter If you care to wasn't afraid to tell the truth before I went into poll tics and I am not afraid to tell it now. And If the auuacrous MT. Conner. or any of his friends should deny that I am telling the absolute truth. 1t would be necessary only to call upon the members of the Legislature. some oe whom are MT. Corners friends to suhstantiate what I have said But as for me, don't need anybody's word to know that Mir. Conner was at the Capitol actively lobbying against child labor legislation For I know 1t of my own knowledge"
 public statement of this sort is. however. characteristic of Solicitor T Fritz Thompson. Fearlessness and ag- gressiveness have characterized his rubiic career. Representing Bibb county he made one of the best and most valuable members of tho last House since he was elected Solicl- tor of his circuit he has made one of the most fearless and aggressive court officials West Alabama mas had in re- cent years And no man stands high CT in his circuit than he. The people there know that no Influence awes him, and that no temptation can win him from his line of duty He is not the sort who believe that caution and political cowardice are the best guides in public life.
 Sweeping reductions on all Summer Suffs--at Alex Rtce,s.