The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-06-17
Says if He is Not Elected Sena- tor the GovernorShip
 Lies Ahead
EVERYBODY DISCUSSES
 GOVERNORS STATEMENT
Representative cranford Thinks Conner is Not Trying to Antaaonize Bank head-Statement by Others
 of Walker Delegation.


 Morgan which was published yesterday morning was the livest topic of conver- sation in Birmingham during the day.
 Various differences were drawn from the governors words, but the view of Col. J. H. Bankhead will be of especial interest. Here Is what he had to say before leaving the city yesterday morn ing after having read the governors pro- nunciamento:
 "l regard this as declaration of war on me. I have always had to fight for all I got and am ready to fight fnr the senatorship before the legislature In Juf.'.
 "Then again if I do not get the sen atorship there Is a governorship ahead. believe, however, that the sentiment ot the people is that I am entitled to cleo tion to the senate because of my nom ination as alternate senator last year. I expect to see this sentiment prevail" Puts Alabama In Awkward Position.
 There is a growing belief that the leg islature will not go contrary to the wishes of the Alaoama electorate as expressed in the recent primary, but will in the end elect Col Bankhead because he re- ceved the largest number of votes for the place. It was pointed out yesterday that Alabama would be placed in a woefully awkward position before the na- ton + the primary declaration Is not la year for deciding to put up men for places not yet vacant but in time the country at large evidently came to see the wis dom of such action. But 1t is now claim ed that if the state administration fails to carry out the expressed wishes of the vo,ers, Alabama will become the subject of shll greater criticism.
 It was declared yesterday that the vote received for alternate senators In the last primary was morally as binding upon 1 the men who carry out the wishes of the people as were the votes cast for gover- nor. or any of the other state or county officers of Alabama. One man called attention to the fact that Governor Comer's vote in the primary with one op-. ponent was 5S033, while that of Col. Bankhead with six opponents was &,S62.
 Cranford Expresses Opinion.
 Representative Jack Cranford of Walker county was in Birmingham last night, and he takes the stand that he does not believe Governor Conner is trying to an- tagonize Colonel Bankhead. He said:
 "I think Governor Conner did a perfect ly reasonable thing in issuing this state ment and don't think he will antagonize Banl1head at all. Governor Conner hinted at existing differences of policy between himself and others Of his party, but do not believe these differences are as great as some people make them appear to be. He has a perfect right to uphold his policies of administration, yet l do not think that in this matter he will antagonize many of his party.
 Governor Conner was mistreated in the last campaign in the action of the demo- cratic party in making him take that pledge to appoint the primary nominee to a place that was not vacant and which placed the governor in a very delicate po- stion to say the least Conner is a sin cere man, and much fairer than his ene- mics give him credit for. His action Tn the senatoral matter calls for no con- demnaton and the appointment of Bank head as Morgan's successor to my mind is an indication of his election by the leg islature"
 Views of Walker County Men.
 Not many of the member sof the legis- lature have yet expressed themselves on the subject, but in view of MT. Cran- | ford's statement the views of other mem- bers of the wal.er county delegation sent to The Age-Herald last night will be of interest
 l Senator M. L. Leath when asked for | a statement, said:
 "There is only one thing we can do, and that is to elect Hon. J. H. Bankhead. The question was settled by the demo- cratic party last August. Captain Bank head was nominated to fill the first va cancy in the same primary that nomi- mated the governor and the members of the legislature. This is a democratic legislature and of course 1t will elect the democratic nominee for United States senator.
 l T feel sure that neither Governor I Conner nor any member of the legisla- ture will raise any technicality in this matter. The people expect the spirit of | the primary to be carried out, and l am sure that 1t will be done by those who were selected by the people at the same time to serve them. I think the news | paper reports about another candidate Is idle talk. I don't believe any man who | ever expects to have the confidence of | the people of this state will try to thwart | the will of the democratic voters" Representative Ernest Lacy gave to the | correspondent of The Age-Herald the | following interview:
 "The democrats of tine state were called upon to express their choice of United States senator in the event of vacancy | such as exists by reason of the death of Senator Morgan. large majority of the democrats expressed themselves in favor | of Hon. J. H. Barkhead for the United States Senate in case of such vacancy. | believe that Governor Conner will adhere | to the wishes of inc reople.s and appoint | Colonel Bankhead to succeed Senator Morgan, and that the members of the leg | islature will elect him without opposition when the legislature reconvenes and | thereby carry out the expressed wishes of l their constituents"