The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-11-14

bills.
 Easy for Governor.
 Though the opposition to the aGminis- tration may talk and will talk in large and increasing volume, it is plain to even the least observant that 1t will end there, Trials of strength in the house made this very plain. Students of economic his- tory and of men are much interested in the fact that Governor Conner, a man with little personal magnetism, has been able to hold the members of the legisla- tive body so well in hand in the face of criticism from sources of marked in telligence and in many cases from men who have been with the governor in the fight he is making on the railroads.
 There can be only this explanation of it.. Thevoters back in the counties have not vet lost faith in the executive A member of the senate said the other day: ''It is not a fact that the people have , changed. I thought it might be that they had until l went back and mixed with them, when I found 1t not so. They are confused about the failure to make the railroads obey the laws and do not know just where the trouble lies, but they have not changed their minds about the effort to control them The facts are as I have stated, even though it might be best to hold up on the fight for the time. I call your attention to the refusal of the Eu- faula business men to send delegates to the mass meeting of business men here as a case in point"
 Where They Failed.
 The effort of the business men of the state to stand off further legislation for the control of railroads has failed of it's purpose because it did not have men from the Conner following as leaders, however strong those men might be. The majority of the legislature are of this way of thinking, and they will pass the laws. They could not be influenced by the men who have fought the governor and the present administration, no mat ter how mertorious the cause. Any move ment that is lead by railroad men or men so environed is just now fruitless for the reason that it is as a red rag to a bull.
 We do not hope to have any influence on the present body,' said a business man at the meeting. but we do hope to begin the building of sentiment that will mold into public opinion for good in the f future. It is a deplorable fact that We can have no influence now when business is going awry and men are being laid off all over the country for lack of work for them to do. Conservatism now might mean good for the time to come, whereas radcalism, which the legislature seems determined to foster. must do incalculable harm. 1 can see nothing else to come of it."
 There is shown already this session d marked disposition to deal in personalities and indulge in bitterness in remarks. MT. Gunter was very severe on the men Tn the house who favored depriving the rail- roads of the rights to go into the courts, and said things that his colleague, MT. Mastin, thought too severe. He replied that it was not his intention to offend and only those who wanted to be offended would be.
 The same thing is so in the senate. Judge Thomas G. Jones of the United States court, not member of the body and not able to talk back, as it were, is severely criticised in several speeches for issuing injunctions against state laws and in defending him some of the senators are put In the category of enemies to state rights. Certain editors are taken to task for utterances and private individuals are quoted in the general desire to make good copy in the papers. However, it is all working out in good humor, and the members take no offense of a lasting kind, or have not so far.
 As it was at the other session, Senator Thomas and Senator Lusk seem to-get into most of the encounters, but they re- main good friends. It Is not infrequently the case that they laugh over their sallies after they are over. All cf which makes it plain that in the end all will be well with the feelings of those in the two houses.