The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-06-16
Official Statement by the Governor. DOES NOT REGARD IT
 AS BINDING ON S0L0NS Chief Executive Will Not Be Candi- date Before Legislature. He is Opposed to Alternate senatorshin Idea, and Will Make Appointment
 Because He is Pledged
 to Do So.

Governor Conner will appoint Hon. John H. Bankhead as United States Senator from Alabama to succeed the late Hon. John T. Morgan.
 That statement made unofficiaily by The Advertiser twenty-four hours ago, is now made officially. upon the authority of an official statement given out last evening by Governor Conner. through his private secretary w. E. Fort.
 In his statement, the Governor ern- phasizes the Idea that his appointment is not made as in any way binding on the members of the egislature--thsy are as free to select Bankhead or any one else they may desire as they wera before. according to his statement. The appointment. of course, is effective only until the Legislature shall again be fin session.
 Governor Conner expresses himself as opposed to the alternate Senatorship Idea declaring that to select anyt man for another's office merely because he is aged and inffrm is not only subverstye of the Constitution, but of ordinary decency and respect" He declares that he will name Bankhead solely be- cause of the fact that he is pledged to do SD. and without regard to any en- dorsement he received from the peo- pie.
 In no uncertain terms, the Governor declares his belief that his place for the four years for which he was elected Chief Executive of the State is in his office in the Capitol building. and that he is fin no sense a candidate for the United States Senate"
 The full text of the Governors pro- nunciamento is as follows:
 The Executive Committee of tho Democratic party in the years 1905 and 1906, in the unrestricted and ua,~ warranted exercise of party power. without any demand from or consent of the people. and for evident partisan purposes. required the people to vote tor candidates for Aofiices which were not then vacant. Not only this. but set aside both the Constitution ard ol~ dinary deoency and respect in presup- posing and providing for a vacancy, which vacancy occurring the E0nstttu- lion itself provided for4 aIfude so tnas plan of siactIng ap alternate Unfkea States Senator to be tho Senator in waiting in the event of the death nt Senators Morgan or Pettus, our sWo Senators, venerable in years it is frue. but still living. and with all the predi- cates of refined emotion and feeling.
 During my campaign as candidata for Governor, 1 was, without precedent. called upon by this Executive Commits tee of the Democratic party to pledge myself, If elected Governor, and a va-  ator should occur. that l would ap- point the man named in the primary to fill said vacancy.
 while at the time condemning the said requirement both of the people and candidates as without proper au- thority and uncalied for, recognlzed the behest of the then Executive Con1- mtttee Of the Democratic party of the State. and pledged myself to appoint, In the event of a vacancy, the man so named. In accordance herewith and on account of the death of our late Senator. John T. Morgan. will name John H. Bankhead for tho said vac cancy.
 Does Not Bind Legislature.
 "wIll state that this appointment will last until the adjourned session of the Legislature re-assembles- Will further state that In my opinion the Legislature Is in no sense of the word trammeled or obligated in view of this appointment. 1 say this for the foi- lowing reasons: That believe that the people only meant this appoints ment to last until the Legislature mets for the further reason that the Constf- tuition requires that the Legislaturs at the first session, whether adjourned or called, after a vacancy occurs Ia the office of United States Senator, to elect such a man as they see proper. And, for the reason that the last Stat8 Convention. one of the most represent tative bodies for years, and fresh from the people, distinctly condemned this action of the Executive Committee as an unwarranted, unheard of and un- precedented demand on the people and candidates for the office of chief execu- tive. and distinctly ordered that such plan should only be recognized until the Legislature next met. That then the Legislature should exercise their right under the constitution to elects and will here commend that the wia- dom of that convention is shown in the fact that the policies and reauirA~ Anents of the Senator to be elected to carry out the best interests of the State in the Senate is very differann from what it was one year ago. The revolution In the United States govern ment and State government in the past year has projected Into our politics new features of government and of the most important character. The PresI- dent of the United States has outlined a plan for the Federal assumption of the States authority in the Federal dominance and management of ths States most important rights, and even in our capital city an injunction has been filed In the Federal Court againAt the State in It's exercise of it's proper function of control in its internal af- fairs, in the matter of control of it's public service corporations as to whether or not the State has the right to limit them in their management and charge A measure of vital import ance tof the State, and the people should have fin this highest branch of the government. the United States Senate. a retresentative in whom they could nlace the utmost confidence and trust. This is one of the most seriou. issues before the people today. One for them to retain as an inalienabia right: the destruction of which would lead on to the loss of control of the states Government by the people. On this account, l will advise the Legls4 lature that in many years 1t has nevex