The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-08-08
sPEEcH oF MR. cLARKE.
Former C0nEresnman is Received With
 Enthu@iasm.


 The introduction of Mir. Clarke was made by Major ". W. Screws in d short speech. In which he referred to the former congresslonai Representa-. few figures stand higher In the civil and martial history of the State.
 Mr Clarke. who was greeted with enthusiastic applause when he arose: in beginning his remarks. said he had never made a claim that Alabama Is the greatest state in the Union. It falls short In many ways of the pre-
 But I love this state." he said T was born in the state. was raised here. and I expect that my bones will seG Alabama advance and advance until 1t may be the greatest state Tn the Union.
 first state. 1t is very different state from what 1t was thirty years aSo. II has grown in wealth and prospert- ty, and I think I may ma .ssys say TlthGSs ;p fSa
 Union has greater undeveloped re- osurces than Alabama.
 Alabama IS the third state In the
 production of cotton. the southern staple. Its output of coal in the isst few years reached 14,000.000 tons. Its SiE iron governs the price of iron in at these facts, and think now the in- dustries of the state were thirty years ago, we may realize what Alabama, great state now. may become Tn thel .Sears that are to follow.
 When he thought of these things, MT. Clarke said, he felt disappointed about running for high office of the state, an office second to none in this country except that of the preside 1cy of the United States. "and not alwoys then" headded.
 state that he sometimes wondered what Justification he had for asking others to vote to send him to the
 Senate. His chief 1usttheationii nid ne ne with all due respect, he found In the men who opposed him. He felt that his record was as good, and he felt he was as capable to fill the position as
 His Record in Congress.
 The former Representative referred to his record in Congress. He first entered the national legislative body in the 51st Congress and remained thero until the close of the 54th Congress. He had served on the Committee on Rivers and Harbors during that time, and felt he had performed good ser vice in the interest of the State In the four years preceding his mem bership on the Committee, the Alabama river had received $65.oeo. Dnping h.y in.I m the river h tho four years follow ing the river received $l70,OOo. Tor im- movements. During his terms, there- fore, he had increased the amount ot inc Alabama river some 400 per cent: Ia l.e assnred his hearers that If ho should % 10 Congress he would bend his ef- forts towards continuing the aeHe4op- ment of Alabama's chief waterway.
 Continuing his comparision or sta . tjstics, he said during the four terms pfeced't.g his inc Consa raver had nad re re ceiyed S23S,700. During his terms, the appropriation for that waterway haH ernounted to SS50,000. In the four terms foiIoWing there had been a decrease te sSO.OO0 in the sums appropriated to' ! 7
 The former Representative also re, ferred to the appropriations whlch nhd hecn made for the improvement or Mo- bile bay during the four terms ne Serv- Ie cS as n member ot the Rivers and Har- hors Committee. During the Tour terms preceding his entrance into ConereSss' the sum of S665,oOO had been approrpr, ro,' ated for this purpose In hlS 1ous dsrms a.ru Mobile Bay received s1.963.5 500 while in the four terms following hls withdrawal from the House ot Ncpr" sentatives, the appropriations totaHe' ';"tIp'ifSgIi' ;"I feel safe in saying" said the sneaker. that if men are kept Tn Con. gress who will work. the time VIII .aps n1s way nf Alabama. from the head or the CoGsa. down to the junction or tna' river with rho Alabama. and stu o9wh | through the bay into the GhIt' VIII D0 clea' '' Rural Mail Delivery.
 Nr Clarke referred to his connec- tion ,ni with the introduction of the rural ] free carrier service. He asserted ths n,s man who was responsible for the bili
 which resalted in the first practical | rial of the service in this country. lie originator of the Idea of the service, but if was through his bill that the | Committee on Postoffice and Post Roads reported favorably on the pro1I, | act of giving the system the trial which proved its practicability. In
 support of this statement. he read , a l nortion of the speech of Hon. Henry D | FIood of Virginia. made in the House 1 of Representatives, March l5, 1904. The ] portion quoted follows:
 1 aThe frst bul that was presented to | Congress on this subject was introduced