The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1909-09-07
conner LAUDS
HIS POLICIES
Governor Speaks at
Huntsville.
DEFENDS PARTY PLATFORM
But Tells Of Heart Change On Local
Option.
Audience In solemnly Told That n
Constitutional Amendment u
Adopted Legislature Cannot
Repeal Prohi LAWS.

Huntsville. Sept. 6-(special) --Covs
ernor Conner defended his administra-
ton and urged the adoption OF the con-
stitutional amendment as O necessity
for the protection Of the prohibitions
addition rally here today. He was
heard by crowd of considerable size
but no enthusiasm was aroused.
Governor Conner came from Madison
this morning by private conveyance,
after having delivered a speech there
Sunday night He was the guest Of
Representative Nathan Rowe.
r. e. Pettus. President Of the Law
and Order League introduced Governor
Conner and said that had Diogenes
lived until now and had his lantern
looking Tor an honest man he would
blow out his light when he found the
Governor.
Governor Conner said he was elected
on q platform. every item OF which
has been engraved in the IL VS. OF the
state. He asked that credit for this be
given the Legislature and Representa-
tives Rowe and Kirby of this county.
He said the money that has been spent
by his administration has been invest
ed to good purpose. He had aimed
to have q public road leading from
every home on every hill and in every
He denied that the old soldiers had
been deprived OF the money due them,
saying the increase in the number OF
pensioners was responsible for the de-
crease In the amounts received by
individuals.
ANY man who tries to throw dirt ON
the Legislature for It's treatment or
the old soldiers IL demagogue and
doesn't know what he Is talking
about" he exclaimed.
Bouquets For Himself.
He handed the Conner administration
few bouquets for reducing freight
and passenger rates and roundly de-
nounced Judge Jones for enjoining the
State laws.
"But thank God" he said. 'Tror
Judge Shelby and the higher court
that decided Judge Jones was In the
wrong AS long as / am Governor you,
win have those rates. but n you think
| the railroads are oppressed, you Just
offer TO pay the old rate They viii
| take it,
Governor Conner then took up the
question OF prohibition and explained
that he made the race for Governor
as local optionist, but after the
Legislature in its first extra session
passed a statewide prohibition bill he
| did not see fit 70 veto II and put hia
| Judgment against three-fourths OF the
| legislators. The time came whensfho
was compelled to line up with the
whiskey men or the temperance people
ana fie chose the latter He urged the
friends of the administration to fol-
low Another thing that converted him
to the prohibition side. he said. was
the condition bordering on anarchy in
Birmingham. Montgomery. Decatur and
Mobile growing out OF violations or
the prohibition laws in effect before
the last extra session.
He thinks the people of the state
have been paying too Nigh price for
the privilege of having whiskey. He
boosted of putting every club In Ala
bama out OF business ana said the
members OF those clubs will have no
place to go but home; that many
young men who might become OLD
bachelors would be influenced by the
| laws. marry and raise families.
Says Cannot Repeal.
The new laws he said might be re-
pealed' by the next legislature unless
the amendment to the constitution -
adopted The amendment would pre-
vent the Legislature from rerealing
| the prohibition laws without full
knowledge and consent OF the people.
An agent of the brewers is even now,
he said. busy in the state to shape tne
next Democratic platform. He begged
the people mot TO turn the tiI1er Of
| the grand old ship of state back over
| to the whiskey people,"
The Governor attempted to line up
the people of the county against the
CITY and attacked the dispensery sys-
| tenn that was in effect here as iniquit-
Gus and as sapping the life blood OF
the county for the benefit of the city.
The Madison county dispensary was q
county institution. He Is thankful for
the rural voee on these questions.
He closed by charging that no man
who Is truly a prohibitionist win vote
against the amendment. Unless the
amendment is adopted. he said, the
whole elaborate system of prohibition
laws may fall at the hands OF some
"sneaking Legislature"
Rev. g. E. WATSON spoke In the
afternoon. He made O Wholesale arr
raignment of the anti-prohibition
newspapers and charged them with ae-
ceptine brides in the form OF advertise
ing or money.
Governor Conner left this evening for
Gurley, where he delivered en- adj
dress. Tomorrow he win go to Owens
X Roads in Madison county ani then
to Scottsboro.
|