The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-02-17
'coMER AT TUSKEGEE
CANDIDATE VARIES HUT LITTLE FROM REGULAR SPEECH.
Says Fight Now Being wagcd ia That of the People of Alabama Against the Railroads
 of the State.


 Tuskegee. Feb. is.--( Especial. 1--Can- didate Conner opened here today. He spoke for several hours but made no new issues The same old speech was delivered in the same old way.
 Mr. Conner was introduced by Judge w. H. Hurt. Judge Hurt, in an ad- dress lasting fifteen minutes, explained that while he was against Conner two years and half ago. he had seen the error of his way and was now his ard- ent supporter.
 Mir. Conner is the guest of W. W. Thompson. who rendered him a recep- tion tonight.
 The candidate consumed his entire time in attacking the freight rates of Alabama.
 Mir. Conner again announced that the fight was the people of Alabama against the railroads and restated his platform as being for equitable car service, lower freight rates and the prompt adjustment of claims. He repeated his statement that in the last campaign the railroads spent $50o,- 900 to defeat him and that s75.oOo was spent in Jefferson County alone. He | said: "one prominent man in Jefferr I son County told him he had money to- | control the county and his money was unlimited" T heard that one paper | got $20,00e,'' he said. What man in Alabama can go up against a thing | like that? That money came from tax 1 ing the people. The man who has to l pay for that has to put his hand In his own pocket, and when the statement Is | made that the papers are open to all men, nothing Is falser. No citizen can | do 1t, and they can charge you what they please and you have got to take it like the Rock of Ages. Anything that Is paid for is printed against any l man in Alabama. Don't you see the l danger of it and don't you see the ne- cessity that you stand like true men and women against these things and not have the press influencing your vote It won't do."
 Mir. Conner paid his respects to the press of Alabama. saying that he liked the press but that anybody could get to the point where they would do l things of that kind if they were paid for 1t. "The highest thing in Ala 1 bania," he said, lis your liberty and I include in that the liberty of the press. but liberty doesn't license wrong do. ing" He made his usual comparisons of freight rates and repeated his asser- tions that the advisory commission was worthless. and reiterated his assertion that the railroads would enioin any efrort on the part of the commission to lower the rates as unconstitutional.
 Referring to the railroad lobby, he said: "It's your government it's your state house and I say marca down there and take it and take broom and sween that railroad lobby out. That is democracy pure and simple. Give equal. rights to all and a square deal to every man. Give me a government run by corporations and I will give you dangerous government; give nle one run by the people and will give you safe government"
 Referring to the Tuskesee railroad, he said: Take your own little road here and it is the only road Eknow in. the State that charges nine cents q mile. I asked them to reduce 1t and they came down, protested and said if they did it would break them" MT. Conner advocated the election of an anti-railroad legislature and criti- cised The Advertiser for attacking him so bitterly in the last campaign, call ing him a dangerous man and John V. Smith a safe and conservative man and now saying "let Conner stay where he is." He declared that he was not a hunter for office: that the last cam paign cost him eight thousand dollars and if Dr. Cunningham could be relied not make the race
 Referring to the pass question. he said; "In the State of Ohio the rail- roads took up the passes from all over the State. Even a law maker couldn't get a pass. They took the passes from every nan in the State.
 The legislature at the very first session reduced the passenger rates in Ohio from three cents to two cents" . He made the attack on pr. Cunning ham which has been published. He re- peated his statement that he favored education, local option and the care of the old soldier.
 Mr. Conner will speak at Notasulga tomorrow.