The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-07-07
REPLIES To
CHARGES Of
GOV. Conner
nti-Comerite Editor, of
Samson, Ala. Where Com
er Criticizes u. S. Judge
Jones, Says Radical Laws
Hurt Progress of State.


Samson, July IA hot sequel to
the address o. Governor Conner here
Saturday at noon was the TejOinder
of Editor Ed NJ. Johnson. of the Sam
son Ledger. a recognized anti-Comer
leader in Geneva county
II was no purpose of Mr. Johnson
to reply to the governor, according 10
the peaceful plans of the Geneva
County Fair Association. but as the
states executive had tainted the
editor all through his fiery speech he
felt called upon to retafiate-
Mr. Johnson attacked severely the
administration of Governor Conner.
He spoke for fifty-eight minutes and
to a crowd for the most part the
same as that watch had assembled
to hear the governor. The editor of
| the Ledger who. by the way was
general field marshal of the fair AMI
celebration and Introduced the COVER
nor in the morning notified the all
dience at the end of the governors
speech that he would make a rejOin-
| der He said afterwards that he in
| tended for the governor to be present
| but the distinguished visitor was not
| present.
| The editor had introduced the gov
| error at the morning occasion with
what was considered a few courteous
| rearls. True he iutimated that the
administration Of the governor might
have been a failure but he told his
| hearers that he believed the visitor
had been earnest in what ne attempt
ed. Although the speaker Of the AT
| ternOon was a local citizen he COM
manded the attention of his au-
tdience and his address was well
| received, there being occasional out
bursts of applause.
Progress Reta
1.-THE administration of the gOven-
or has tended to set back the clock
of progress in Alabama more than
any other factor" said Mr. Johnson
near the beginning of his reply.
| Thousands of laOoring men who had
| been led to believe that their wages
! would be Increased now find them
selves out of JOBS. IL is due 10 the
wrecking policy of the governor IT
lis due 10 mis- laws, 50 radical that
but for their being held up would
| have been COnhscatoTy-
! TT Is no time in Alabama to talk
of aTrestng development We need
the railroads for the development of
our country"
Mr.. Johnson criticized the drastic
nature o. the recent railroad legisla-
ton He said that il was senseless
! 70 pass laws aiming at anything
when one knows in advance that they
are unconstitutional. There was in
the speech of the editor also a de-
| Tense of the federal courts and a
! tribute to the constitution of the
United States as a power and aU
IthOrity above any and all the states
| The effect of the governors admin
IistratiOn on the inflow Of <OTeign cap
itaI came in also for condemnation
on the part of the speaker The
charge was male that capital sc
badly needed for the states develip
lment. had been made timfd, ana IN
vestors had been kept out of the
state.
Not all the speech of Mr. johnson
was devoted to mis- answer TO Cover
IuOr Conner. He took occasion to con
graduate the audience on the inau
guTation of the county fair Il was
pictured as an suspicious beginning
II Is the purpose o. the people o.
/ Geneva to make the fair an annua
event They have Joined hands
| Samson and surrounding cOmmuni
| ties ard the initial results Of theil
enthusiasm and IabOTs are shown in {
wide expanse OF cleared land, walled
= in by a bign board fence including
/ 2 race track and a baseball dia-
| mOmt Agricultural and live stock
exhibits viii be part OF the FIRST iaIl
10 be held in OcIOber here.