The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-06
Aabamas Governor Has a Very Strenuous Day In
 Nations Capital
TAXES LUNCHEON WITH
 PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT
Governor Corners Address at the Rivers and Harbors Congress Makes Fine Impression, and He
 Boosts Alabama.

Washington, December 5.-(Special J. Gov. B. B. Conner of Alabama arrived in Washington this morning and has put in busy day meeting public men from 'all over the United States, addressing the National Rivers and Harbors convention and lunching at the White House with the President and eight other invited guests Tonight the governor was the guest of several members of the Alabama delegation at dinner given in his honor at the Riggs house, and tomorrow the delegation will be the governors guests at lunch.
 The governor declined to discuss for publication the status of the controversy between the state and Federal Judge Jones. Naturally, the subject being of such importance, it was referred to at some length by the President in his con versation with the governor this morn ing, but even this much the governor does not care to admit.
 Corners Address.
 Governor Conner said tonight that he ex- pected to go to New York tomorrow. In that event he will be in Montgomery Mon day morning. Among members of the Alabama delegation it is believed the states answer will be ready for filing on January 6. and the way paved for final settlement of tii tssaes in the United States supreme court
 Governor Conner made the closing ad- dress at the afternoon session of the Rivers and Harbors convention today. He commenced by emphatically declaring that he was earnestly in favor of the m- provement of the waterways. He was as much for improvement of the rivers as were Pennsylvania and Massachusetts for the tariff, because it would help along business in his section of the country. The governor then discussed the proposi- ton for the all-water route between the lakes and the gulf, and spoke of the ip- tense interest felt in this movement by the Mississippi valley states and those adjacent.
 Alabama, he said, was interested in the 14-foot movement. He next dwelt upon the importance of improving the Tennea- see river. It was a great stream, and as important to the commerce of the south as is the Ohio river to the states along whose borders 1t flows, and upon which the national government had properly spent millions dollars in aid of navigation.
 We want all these rivers improved" he exclaimed. We want them opened up to move our commerce."
 Earlier in the day Governor Glenn had told of the wonderful progress of North Carolina. Governor Conner in referring to hls speech remarked that Alabama had more tonnage to move than Georgia and North Carolina combined. He created x.,t It.. zf1.. shipments of ''goobers'' and chairs out of North Carolina. Then he spoke of the immense tonnage in the Birmingham dis trict alone from which iron was even sent to Providence, R. l.. which was like carrying coal to Newcastle"
 In his speech today James J. Hill, the railroad magnate, In alluding to the reg ulation of the railways and the drastic laws enacted In some of the states, ere ated much applause by saying: Do not amputate your leg at the hip because you have a corn on the little toe"
 Reference To Hill.
 Governor Conner in referring to that statement said that sometimes the corn is permitted to remain unattended until it gives blood poisoning to the entire system. This provoked much applause and also laughter.
 Governor Conner insisted that tho pro- queer must pc DIOttcleu,s DttbuSt HS makes the worth of the country. Regard ing the value of the south's cotton crop he asserted that the crop saves the na- tion by bringing money from abroad, and referred gleefully to statement he saw recently in the papers that south ern planters should be forced to sell their cotton right off in order to save the finances of the nation.
 The governor said that Alabama had 9 great harbor in Mobile and humorously mentioned that some people down there wished to secede because of prohibition in Alabama He painted rosy picture of Mobiles future as harbor and re- ceiving point for products of export and then the world would see how much Ala bama can send through a port of which the whole state would be proud. Rail- way and river transportation interests, he insisted, will have to work together.
 In closing he declared commerce de- manded that white men should rule the earth. and with much emphasis said he was in favor of s1000o0,000 for the i'm proyement of the waterways or as many more millions as were necessary to sat fsfy the demands of commerce. w. s.