The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-10-24
THE GovnnNows rRorrEroRsHIP.

i 1T u
 It is agreed and understood that no right or interest Of the railroad conn panies herein named shall be affected adversely in respect to the rates and matters covered by this agreement by Gny legislation to be enacted at any Alabama held prior to the next regu- the Governor and Railroad Commis- sion will do all things necessary on the panes ns stas smsS s9 % respect to rates and matters covered by this agreement
 The Alabama Legislature of 1907 has. been charged with being the property of the Governor. with which he can do as he Wills. The charge has come from every section of the State.
 Members of the Legislature in re- cent months resented this charge. During the July session the members of the Senate and House manifested a resentfui sensitiveness to the charge. so often repeated and believed by many people. At times they broke away from the Governors dictation. but not Tor long.
 The paragraph above was taken from the agreement signed by Governor Conner and President W. W. Finley. of the southern Railway. The Cow ernor assures the railroad that he will not permit the Legislature to do any . thing to that road. The Governor merely asserts his proprietary right in the Alabama Legislature
 How can any member of the Legis- lature resent the charge that the Gov ernor owns and runs the Legislature? The Governor himself is authority for it. The authority is in the quoted par agraph from the Governors agree ment.
 practically asserts that the House and the Senate will pull together.
 As a subsidiary feature of the agreement. the Governor indicates what he viii have the Railroad Commission to do. Now the Railroad Commission Is supposedly an independent body. But the Railroad Commission did not sign the agreement. The Governor will attend to all the details of the affair, signing the agreement and maix- ing out. perhaps, a little memorandum ek the formal orders which he wants the commission to pass and enter upon the record book.
 But this is a minor matter compared to the Governors assumed proprietor ship of the Legislature. It is a sorry day for Alabama when one man, Gov ernor or no Governor, claims such dic- tatorship of the Legislature. When the Governor calmly. but publicly. ap- propriates to himself the legislative functions of the State government. he runs counter not only to the consti- tuition. but to the genius and tradi- tions of the people of Alabama. Through the complaisance of the Leg isiature the experience of the past Is trampied under foot No good ever came of such course.
 The Alabama Legislature of 1907 in good intentions, in appearance, and in individual intelligence averages well with any Legislature of the State since the Civil War. But, unless it's course is changed. the Legislature of 1907 will go down into history as the single Legislature which worked under the domination of one man.
 A legislator is theoretically a free agent. He is elected by his people. and the constitution of his State gives him sphere for independent action. He is answerabIe only to his conscience and to the people who elected him.
 The Governor may dictate the course of legislation. But the individual leg islator win be held responsible for the effects Of that iegislation. Protests against the action of the Legislature of 1907 have ascended from every quarter of the State. They will con- tinue to rise.
 "The Governor told us to do it," is an excuse that wills not excuse. Char acter and independence are attributes that humanity is pleased to honor through all the years.
 While it Is undoubtedly true that the Governor until now has dictated to the Legislature. is it seemly of him to proclaim his proprietorship in pub lie document?