The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-07-19
GOVERNOR DECLARES
 HE IS MSULTED BIZ
 PRESS ASSOCZA77OX.

HOte the eQucatlOnal moral, religious, industrial and financial development and growth of Alabama.
 Editor W. F.. W. Yerby, of The Greensboro Watchman, was then rec ognized and offered a substitute for the resolutions by thanking the Governor for his presence at the session and for his address. Editor c. w. Hare of Tuskegee, followed and spoke for the resolution. It was at this point that the storm arose.
 Rev. Harry Martin of The Ozark Tribune, was recognized and openly charged Editor Greer with premeditat- ing the unpleasantness. He said that MT. Greer had prepared the resolutions during the afternoon. even before the Governor had accepted the invitation to speak, and furthermore did not know on what subject the Governor intended speaking.
 Editor Greer spang to his feet and challenged the remarks and then 1t was battle royal between the two editors, until President Mel finally restored or- der in the auditorium.
 Those who were standing and seated outside of the doors, crowded into the room and for few minutes exciting scenes were enacted. Governor Conner arose several times during the contro- versy but was not recognized.
 When order finally reigned again. Night Editor Bruce Kennedy of The Advertiser. was recognized and moved that the resolutions be adopted as read.
 He said that he was a native of Ala bama and had high respect for the office of Governor and great respect for the present occupant of that office, whom he characterized as an earnest Christian gentleman. He said the Gov ernor had defended political policies and had assumed all of the political virtue of the State. He had underta- ken to lecture the editors.
 Continuing. MT. Kennedy expressed deep regret that the resolutions had been brought into the meeting or the occasion that made them possible. They were there, he said, and they expressed his own political views so accurately that he felt it was the honest thing to approve them. He wanted it under stood distinctly, he declared, that he spoke for himself alone, as a citizen, a taxpayer and one who also assumed some political knowledge
 MT. Kennedy spoke deliberately when he arratgned the Governor for reviewing what he had accomplished and remaining silent on the one para mount subject of working children in the sweat shops
 My God. men and women," ex- claimed MT. Kennedy. this Association should look first to good morals. We should set morality over politics and politicians. followed the speech of the Governor carefully and not one word fell from his lips about the little children who are worked in the facto- ries of the State" i-t | When MT Kennedy took his seat Senator Hamburger walked suddenly into the room and asked to be recog- nized. He scored Editor Greer severely and said that Governor Conner was his Governor and characterized Editor Geer's action as a disgrace. II was against Governor Conner in the campaign and gave him the best I had in my shop" said the Senator, "and | If he should run again, I expect I might do the same thing. but he was elected Governor. and as a Democrat I | am with him.
 Major Screws as Paciner. | Following MT. Hamburger, substi- | ute after substitute was offered but to 1 no avail. until finally Major Screws l arose and asked to be recognized. He l introduced a resolution which was &C., | cepted and brought the incident to a l close
 This resolution thanked the Cover l nor for his address. which had afforded the members of the Press Association much pleasure and interest. and also stated that while many members of the | Association did not agree with him in | his views on certain questions. yet he | was Governor of the State of Alabama | and they would assist him In carrying | out the laws as enacted and make Ala bama the grandest and best State in the Union.
 Governor Conner then arose and ask ed permission to speak. which privi- lege was accorded him. With voice | trembling with emotion he said:
 "Treated With Discourtesy."
 T am nearly 5S years old. and never | in my life. either as a private citi- zen, or public official, have I been treated with such discourtesy as I have received at your hands tonight. I was invited here to your hall 10 address this | body of ladies and gentlemen, and af- | ter getting me here, you insult me.
 " lam deeply touched aud hurt to the core. There are some good men and women here tonight and I want to say, to you that I am your Governor, | the Governor of the State of Alabama, and I invite you to come to the Capitol, my office. to my home. and I will re- ceiva you with the courtesy and re- | spect I expected from you"
 Turning to Senator Hamburger, he ] said
 Senator. I thank you. You fought me hard in my campaign. but in the | open" ..
 Turning to MT. Kennedy. he said | MT. Kennedy, 1 owe you an apology. | You spoke of me not having touched | on the child labor question. l am for | the child laborer as much as l am for the big leborer. To get the big things we must protect the littie things, and the little children have my considern- tion and I will protect them
 After the Governor had retired from the room. Lieutenant Governor Gray was extended the privileges of the floor an dinvited to address the Association.
 MT. Gray made very timely and witty speech. in which he referred tc his own career as a newspaper man | and took occasion to express his re. grets at the unpleasant incident which had just occurred. He said that le was positive that Editor Greer really | meant no affront to the Governor, and assured the Association that the Gov ernor was doing all that he could for the upbuilding of bama.
 Speaker Carmichael. or the House was then introduced and made few appropriate remarks.
 President Mel. of the Associa Ion was seen by representative of The Advertiser late last night, and gave out the following statement:
 The resolutions offered by Mir Greer in my opinion, are not differen, from what two lirds of the member ship of this Association have contendec for week after week. and day after day feel certain, speaking for the Association. that no affront was intend ed to the Governor, nor can I see how it can be streached into an insult"