The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-11-26
TACTICS ARE To
OBSCURE Conner
Governor Given Only Small As
signment for Speeches
SAYS HE'S NOT IN HOLE
Chief Executive, However, Is Conduct
ing Systematic Personal Campaign
Through Country-Drops "Vin.
dication" Argument.

Centre, November Especial. by
| observing the movements of Governor
Conner and those of Rev. Brooks Law
renee and others in command of the
| state amendment forces, local politi-
clans believe they have a solution of
the small speaking assignments given
the governor during the close of the
campaign. They declare that 1t is the
tactics of the amendment leaders to
take Governor Conner out of the big
and prominent places and so remove
him from the public gaze.
1t will be recalled that from the be-
ginning the amenders tried every In
direct method they knew to separate
the amendment from politics. Resolu-
tons were passed at the second meet
ing of the state committee of amenders
disowning politics. But at that time
Weak1ey, Seed and Mallory were can
didates on the amendment for governor,
and Governor Conner was on the stump
for 1t, asking that the people vote for
the measure as a "yindication of his
administration"
Conner has denied that the amendment
Is for his "vindication" and that 1t is
in any manner an administration"
measure, the farmers of Cherokee won
der at the speeches and conversation
of the governor In this county. 1t
would seem that the governor for the
remainder of the week had been de-
tailed mostly for personal work and
tn erefore he is slated for speeches at
very small crossroads and school
houses. He is conducting a systematic
personal campaign in his private con-
veyanoe. In each of his CONVEX sations
the governor opens with a discussion of
the pensions for old soldiers. He de-
clares that 1t is a mistake to think
that the old soldiers had been neglected
by his administration. He also pleads
that the appropriations to the COL
leges were responsible more than any,
thing else for the deficit in the state
treasury.
In the hotel lobby, In his buggy, at
the dinner, supper and breakfast table,
Governor Conner talks his adninistra-
ton, roasts the Montgomery Advertiser
and his critics, laughs at the deficit and
taunts all opposed to the amendment
with the charge that they want to
elect "a liquor governor to succeed
him."
1T seems strange to me-" said the
governor at the supper table here last
night, that they keep talking about
the deficit. They ought to know that
1t is nothing good for the states
credit outside of Alabama for the pa
pers, especially the Advertiser, to keep
mentioning the deficit. I suppose they
were disappointed when 1 got an offer
from the First National bank of Bff-
mingham of 100000 to loan for the
states needs"
Some of the local defenders tried to
joke the governor about being driven
to a hole during this campaign. He
did not take to the fun well. declaring
That's all right, you'll see whether
am in the hole or not. I never get in
a hole and I'll be right there until 1911,
and don't you forget it,
The governor is very busy besides
all this. He went up to his room to
think over his speech next to be made.
and the telephone rang downstairs. He
answered some anxious inquirer about
the payment of poll taxes. He quoted
the law right off his tongue.
Governor Conner spoke today at
Gaylesville and Sand Rock but there
were no more hearers than respond to
the average speaker on that side of the
question.
No" said the governor at the sup
per table, II believe If the farmers just
understood this amendment tn ey'd
vote for It," And then followed an ex-
PLANTATION of the vast quantity of liquor
a man may keep on his premises, bar
rel, or 800 barrels a year, promising that
there would be no molestation from
state authorities IL kept for the use of
the owner and friends.
IF Governor Conner Is not very much
interested in the success of the amend
ment," remarked a former supporter of
his today, II certainly mistake his ac-
tions. He works and talks day and
night. There is much talk of his adj
ministration and little OF the amend
ment. When he approached me he be-
gan discussing schools. the old soldiers
and taxes 1 told him We were not in
terested in them. that we had q hot
political campaign on. He asked what
it was ! told him 1t was the amend
ment He then said, Well, what's the
matter with the amendments told him
frankly thought 1t was sick and meas
ly and needed treatment! But this was
only an invitation to Join In long
defense of the amendment. I followed
the governor through his race for the
railroad commission and through his
race for governor. But there is a limit
somewhere and called halt with the
amendment.
The governor will be practically OBJ
secured in the mountains of north Ala
bama during the remainder of the
week.
Meantime there seems to be COM
mand from some source to turn out
state documents for public perusal.
Though the amendment is not an lad
ministra ton" measure, politicians here
wonder at the report of the attorney
general made public. to be followed by
the special report of Examiner Brooks
showing total disbursements to old
soldiers. Then came the state super
intendent's annual report showing what
salaries have been paid to the teachers