The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-07-30
shemeld STANDARD.


No one familiar with political condi-
lions in this State can doubt that the
chief motiyeg that inspired the call for
the special Session OF the Legisiature
was the desire on the part of the Gov
ernor to repair his own political for
tunes. Taking advantage of the move
ment which swept over the country In
ton. he rode into power as the most
pronounced exponent OF that reform.
The consensus Of opinion In this
State undoubtedly demanded stricter
regulation and controi or common car
riers engaged in intrastate business.
The Railroad Commission of the state
had proven utterly ineffective, and the
handed redress. But no sooner had the
Governor been elected. than he pro-
ceeded to inaugurate a war OF passion
anS IN ths state sa rnsteaS Of
ting to an intelligent and impartial
commission-the power OF hearing com :
plants, examining Witnesses and, after
full. free and full discussion. adjusting
rates so as to do no Injustice to the
people or the cerriefs the Governor in
duced the Legislature 20 undertake to
p psl 'e eom arsssl tsss n entered Into
! looked the fact that railroad rates must
be eiasticEsubtect to ShaP Rg ta nat
morrow. Moreover. 1t has always been
declared by the courts and leading stu
dents OF this question enat the Legis-
lature is incompetent to fix rates on
the numerous articles of trafiic trans
Isported by our common carriers. and
that such action ON their part has all
and ili-advissd schedules, by which in
justice was done both to the people and
Governor Conner had declared. on ev-
cry stump, that the railroads In Ala
bama had defied the la rs and that all
he was seeking to do was to make them
recognize that they were sub1ect TO the
paramount authority 2f the ye st soon az
the first acts he advocated was law
which prevented common carriers from
removing a case from the state 10 tne
Federal courts. under threat OIL
forfeiture of their charters.
There could be but two motives 70
inspire, such law, either herut that ,b the
f EsSsesl dishonest GSHs ena incompetent
that the railroads We're not entitied 70
the equal protection OF the laws. Hav-
ing aroused public passion and prelu :
dice to such an extent as to silence the
voice of reason and> justice; having
coerced his Legislature TO enact the
most radical code of laws ever placed
on the statute books. the reaction was
Most of the laws passed by the Leg
fslature were found to overthrow vest
ed rights. or to defy and ignore s sonas 81
fore attacks in the courts. The con :
trovergy between the railroads and the
people degenerated into private guar
IL smith. The messages of the Cover
nor of great State Were composed
largely OF bitter denunciation OF the
President of the Louisville and Nash
vile railroad. Denuneiation wnicn
would scarcely find place In the col
umns OF the most partisan newspaper,
bristled in every line OF all the cover
nor's state papers. Instead Of correct
| ing existing evils, all corporations must
| be punished, until, after the people
| calmly surveyed the wreck he had
wrought the swinging 20 the other
| extreme and railroad batting com
vslenced 20 lose its popular favor. The
| Industrial development OF the state nad
| borders, and business panic settled like
| d pail over a State winch had. only q
| few months before. been riding on the
| full tide Of prosperity.
| IT was then the Governor realized
| the imperative necessity OF rehabili-
| tating his waning popularity, and the
| prohibition wave, which was sweeping
with such power 4y' t me s eoSntr :t 0t
| in Alabama he had declared for local
| option. He had written, or caused to
| be written. the platform Of the party
SAIGON League Seemed to be perma
nently entrenched in power Its paid
| followers dominated politics in the
| State, 1t 6WAAOWeu up go put a Sihd y
remnant Of the Democratic party. and
dictated our laws. Hence, without hes
ifation, forgetting his pledges to the
| people, the Governor swas swift to
| mount this new hobby and proceeded te
| ride il, under whip and spur, inspired
| nv the lusty cheers of his followers
The Senatorial toga CLEANED In the
little provision of the State Constitu-
| ton forbidding the Governor from be.
| coming a candidate for the Senate till
one year after the expiration of hi:
The solution of the difflculty could bt
| found in biennial A.ssiuns, and, hence
this amendment OF the Constitution re-
cali for the special session. Prohibi
lion must be Incorporated in the fun
| dsmental law, and, with 1t. code Of
| the most radical sumptuary laws evei
before suggested. was urged as OF par
| amount Importance. The only law
(which had been passed on the sublec
| Of Intoxicating liquors were those for
| Kidding their sale in this State, Thu
| nse Of iiduor was not condemned. Un
der this law, the courts have recent!
held that liquor was property. could b.
stored like other property, In any place
and were not subject TO search O.
seizure unless used for illicit sale. Yet
Supreme Court under the eighth sub
ject OF the call, lave must be paSse'
preventing the storage of liquor. II
! man places a bottle OF beer in hi
neighbours ice-cheSt 1t Is to be mad
a. Violation of law. -,
Under Section 10 OF the call, liquor
are 10 be made contraband and seize
understand how an artIcle. which tn
| co,lrt saws Is as much property as 4