The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-02-25
Mr.. KIN \ REPLIES
To HIS OPPONENTS
He Takes Up Each Criticism
Individually
ADDS SOME MORE SPICE
head, Walker Percy, Judge Cole
man and John Bankhead Are
All Given Attention

aitcliioOu JOHN 3. Knox, can0luate LOT
United States senator. made reply to the
recent utterances of his opponents and
their friends.
Taking each separately. he adds new
spice to this already interesting cam
paign. Here is what he says:
Since the publication of my formal
announcement for the United States Sem
ate Mr.. White and Mr. Bankhead have
published statements commenting upon
the same. l ask indulgence to make
some rejonder to these criticisms. Such
paper must, in the nature of things,
be in some sense personal. In my former
paper. as in this, I have endeavored
to avoid as much of this as possible
MIR. White.
First, then, as to Mr.. White. In an
authorized interview issued from ITALIA
dega. February Is, and published in the
Montgomery Times In its issue of Feb
ruary 10, as we'll in other papers of the.
state. Mr.. White, apparently with some
feeling, resents an alleged charge on my
part that he is wanting In ability, and
at some length seeks to prove to the con-
trary. l have made no such accusation,
and the evidence which he offers in his
own defense in this behalf is gratuitous.
I assume that a lawyer ought, at least,
to be able to understand the English
language. My paper was in writing, and
| challenge him to find within the four
corners of the same any such accusation
or any such implfca ton.
"A very wise man has said that the
wicked fee when no man pursueth lPro-
verbs ESD. Is it possible that there is
any feeling of inner .self-consciousness
which would prompt my opponent to
come to his own defense against charge
which l have not preferred? ] do not in
my announcement question Mr.. Whites
ability, l criticise the use he made of
1t in that convention in dealing with
and solving one of the greatest questions
which has confronted our people.
in the interview in question Mr.. White
seems to wish to lead the people to be-
leve that he co-operated heartily with
the committee on suffrage upon the great
essentials of the suffrage plan adopted
by the committee, and only dissented upon
some immateral details. I believe If you
will consult any members of that con-
vention, certainly all but d very few will
affirm that Mr. White was a kicker from
start to finish on the committee and
on the floor, and was one of the most
active and implacable opponents of the
plan adopted and recommended by the
majority of the committee and finally
adopted by an overwhelming majority OF
the convention, not upon an immaterial
sentiais of the plan adopted.
HE refers, for his vindfcation, to his
speech upon the floor of that convention
In that memorable debate. Il thank, thee.
Roderic for the word" In that argu-
ment. as / recall 1t, he objected especial
ly to the favoritism which the plan
showed in favor of the Confederate vet
eran. and especially to the son of the
Confederate veteran. 4
WHO is It that was present who does
not remember the dramatic attitude which
he there assumed when he graphically
described the disaster which would be-
fall the suffrage plan advocated in the
report of the majority of the committee
on suffrage, when the supreme court of
the United States should declare. as he
predicted it would speedily declare. the
whole scheme unconstitutional!
WHO is it that does not recall the
we'll turned phrase in which he conclud.
ed this part of his argument, by say
ing after the event, and when the propo-
sition advocated by the majority of the
committee came to be inferred he might
be present at the funeral as friend
of the family merely, but in no way con-
nected with the deceased!
I'm reply to him on this point I took
occasion to pay some tribute to the Con-
federate soldier. and to offer some de-
Tense of the son of the Confederate SOL
education because of the disaster which
had befallen his father by reason of his
service to the state. l endeavored to EN-
phasize the fact that every civilized gov
eminent had been forward to recognize
and reward patriotism, and where the
father had suffered in the service of the
state, either in life or property. it was
not unconstitutional to make provision
for his widow and orphans.
an dealing with the dramatic conclu-
sion of his speech, as to the disaster
which would follow the adoption OF the
plan recommended by the committee.
disaster which, by the way has not yet
and which win not material
ize. said in reply: THE honorable |
gentleman from Jeffe rson (kTr. White) |
has stated that our plan will be repu-
dated and held unconstitutional by the
supreme court of the United States. and
saws that when 1t comes to be inferred, |
az he predicts 1t will be speedily In |
TERED, he may be present at the funeral
as a friend of the family, merely, but
in no way connected with the deceased, |
Mr. President, when the people--the peo-
ple about whom the gentleman from JEFF |
ferson has had so much to say during the
of this convention-come to
PASS Judgment upon his attitude in this
convention toward the Confederate sol
der and the son of the Confederate SOL
der. there may De aDotici AdACi al di
which the gentleman may be present, not
as a friend of the family merely, but
as the principal in the case, ana when
some new Byron may be inspired to
sing:
Unhappy White, when life was in its
spring
And thy young hope just waived her
joyous wing,
Twas thine own hand that struck the
fatal blow.
And helped to plant the wound that laid
thee low"
H-Mr. Bankhead
Second, as to Mr.. Bankhead (a) In his
statement published In the Birmingham
Age Herald of it's issue of February 20 our
senator complains, apparently with some
resentment that I have overstated his
term of service. He denies with some
warmth that he has been in public office
and feeding out OF the public crib for IS
years. He says he has been supported by
the government for only IS years! I am
grateful to him for the correction Of any
inaccuracies in my statement Of fact.
fer l do not wish to do him an injus-
tice.
IAN of which reminds me Of similar,
anc still different. charge which was
r.ade against his great prototype, Mr..