The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-05
SAYS LAWS ARE ALL GOOD
Governor Intimates That Judge Jones Is Not Competent on Account of Environment To Decide
 Railroad Cases.
By HERvEY W. LAIRD.


 Solicitor Henry B. steagall as an effort to intimidate the people and said there was no good reason for many of the actions taken by the judge.
 The occasion was the celebration of the Fourth of July by the people of Gen eva county and there was a great crowd from all parts of the county and section. Governor Conner was given close atten- ton and though he spoke over two hours he held the crowd. He had said that he would review the political history of the state recently and many went from far and near to hear what he would say.
 Governors Address. After complimenting the people of the state and those of Geneva county, Gov ernor Conner went vigorously into his ad- dress. He reviewed the policies of Ham ilton and Jefferson, extolling the denoc- racy of the latter. He spoke for state control and home rule. He said that MT. Jefferson at the very beginning of our country saw the dangers that now beset the people from the inferior federal courts. He warned the rich that every revolution was forced by actions of predatory wealth.
 The governor repeated the statement often made that 100 men control the coun- try's industries and that this number could be reduced to 25 He spoke of the ever lengthening power of the Standard Oil trust showing it's control over transporta- tion, finance and many other business lines and threatening the existence of the country and of the meat trust which fixes the price of all meat products, dead or alive. The federal government has been trying to cope with Standard Oil and has failed he feared.
 Of the farmers power he said:
 Power of Farmers.
 There is one class of producers, which thing. Paradoxical as it may seem, it is the class which does the paying which can control. It is one and the same. They are the hardest to combine They are the hardest to make stand for their own in- terest. Scarcely ever in concrete embodi- ment, except in revolution, and whenever i they get together, whether in peace or revolt, then we will have the reformation of these great matters, and not before. !, This class is the farmer. And so in speaking to you farmers of Geneva coun- ty 1Fsant to say in the utmost candor that We great question before the people of the state today, and for al past and all future, has never been and never will be settled by the lawyers, the doctors, the merchants and business men. They can only be settled when the farmers get together shoulder to shoulder, in unbreak- able front, and demand what is just and right to them and their posterity. Dog matic as l may appear, the welfare of | every business interest depends on the success of that demand. They will call ] you and me demagogue populists, but gentlemen, now and forever, you are the 1 safety of the nation. Stand together in l solid phalanx like Xenophons 10000 ack to back, front to front, untiring ever, quitting never, surrendering never.
 '"In every age it has been the farmer | the white farmer-who has marked out 1 the line of civic liberty and as the farm CT drifted toward or away from that line ! so have the rights of man been preserved l or lost
 If the farmers make a big crop and ! get a good price, the railroads are all l right. If the farmers make big croI and get a good price. the merchants are | all right If the farmers make big | crop and get a good price the bankers arc
 
 and get a good price the preachers, the 1 lawyers, the doctors and in fact every class is all right Do not take up the trusts and politics. Take up the farmers and their protection. Give me their con dition, and I will give you the .condi- tion of the world. Put your finger or the pulse of the farmers and find out l whether their heart is all right, whether they are prosperous and I will give you the money condition everywhere. Save | the farmers and you save everything This is matter of pure policy and good | business sense. It was this kind of talk made by me since I have been in politics that caused my advancement from tho ranks of a private citizen first to presi dent of the railroad commission, ant then to the office of governor of oul state. It was on this platform you gave me such a large plurality of your votes and l will say to you, farmers of Genevs l county and of Alabama, that the legisla ture stood by me and with you in putting what was embodied in your platform into law, and those laws are written in th' statute books of Alabama"
 The governor here called attention tt the laws of the recent legislature passed in the interest of the people as whole which are familiar to all. He said they would give the greatest protection to thu greatest number.
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