The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-11-09
Lawrence Kite Had Too Much Tail But Still Refuses
 To Fly
NEW TACTICS ARE COMING
 TOO LATE TO DO ANY GOOD
People of Alabama Have Themselves Put Aside Extraneous Features and Are Considering Amend
 ment On Its Own Merits.
BY HUGH w. ROBERTS.


 News that Gov. Braxton Bragg Conner has seen fit to announce in a public card that he is not candidate for the Senate of the United States, and that the pro- posed amendment to the constitution has no connection with his administration. was hailed with great delight by anti amendment leaders last night
 Another grasp at the straw, was the general interpretation.
 They are leaving undone nothing, was another comment, which they have rea- son to hope will stay the tide that is sweeping them headlong into oblivion.
 Governor Comer's action, in other those who would change the constitu- ton of the state that defeat Is staring them in the face.
 And, 1t matters not how confident one might be of the result of an issue, an admission of defeat coming from the op position Is always news of the most cheering variety.
 Too Much Tail to Kite.
 Some time ago the news was sent abroad that the Rev. Brooks Lawrence, fearing that the Conner Weakley tail to the amendment kite might hinder the graceful floating of the same, was desir- ous of disassociating the would-be addi- ton to the constitution from any other thing of whatever nature. It was un- derstood that he did not want the people to think of the amendment and Cover nor Conner in the same moment. It was understood that he did not want the peo- pie to consider the amendment in con- nection with Judge s. D. Weakley and his candidacy for the gubernatorial nom ination. It was understood that he did not want the people to consider the amendment in connection with Walter D. Seed and Hugh s. D. Mallory, other candidates for the governorship. And it was understood that he did not want the amendment considered in connec- tion with either the Fuller or the Car michael bills.
 Association Too Close.
 But 1t has been impossible to disasso- ciate the amendment from those people and those things which were considered to imperil its perpetuation. People saw the amendment depending solely for eff fectiveness on the Carmichael and the Fuller bills, two measure which have lit tie hold on the affection of the citizens of this state. People saw s. D. Weakley and Walter D. Seed fall over each other in giving dollars to the cause in the First Baptist church of Birmingham, and saw the smile of satisfaction of the latter when Weaxley's "opener" of $l5o tottered and fell with a smash before Seeds raise" of s10o0 People saw Governor Conner endeavoring to gain a vindication of his administration through the adop- ton of the amendment. They heard him say at Clanton that classical phrase which has made history:
 "Unless you stand by and see me vindi- cated you know you will be cowardly shunks.''
 And people learned of the cabal in Montgomery at which the submission of the amendment was planned. and at which offices, as plums of heavily laden bush, were dished out with lavish hand
 Campaign of Abuse.
 Unsuccessful in his tatempt to place the amendment simply as an amendment before the people, the Rev. Brooks Law renee endeavored to withstand the storm by other tactics. The defenders of the constitution were abused. They were termed whisky heads. gamblers. thieves, cut -throats, felons of the blackest dye, and soldiers In the ranks of the whisky army and in pay of the whisky trust. Slanderous poems were written and scat tered broadcast over the land Literature, overburdened with vituperation and epithet, was sent from the north to the south. Newspapers were permitted to give but one side of the proposition. Newspapers published exposures on gigantic scales, and told weird stories of immeasurable sums sent into the state to debauch the electorate. Hundreds of preachers were dragged from their pulpits and sent into the field on political missions.
 But the old kite refused to hyl
 Next, a campaign of personal abuse was determined upon. Senator BanlShead, when he stated his opposition to the amendment, was charged with having taken a stand for political reasons, and was charged with having enlisted in an army which is seeking to bring open sa- looms back into this state. Then the Rev. Brooks Lawrence issued his now mo- torious prediction, which, in the general interpretation, means
 "We have the voters if they don't buy them back again."
 And the old kite still refused to fly!
 And the indications now are that some of the tail of the contrary old kite is go- ing to be cut away.
 Governor Conner has fallen. He has sev- cred himself from the amendment. From 1t he has chosen to take his political aspirations From 1t he has carried his administration.
 It was another '11 :65" announcement.
 Came Too Late.
 Even if 1t could have done good. it came too late. Even should Judge Weak ley follow suit, no good could be accomp- lished Even should Walter D. Seed re- nounce that which he considers well in xi.s-