The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-02-02

of each spring. and on the caprice of tism, but not one to be confounded With the conservatism that retards and hoios back the natural evolution of the wisest and most progressive policies The time has come in this state when the people of Alabama should be permitted to man. age their affairs without the interference or dictation of outside influences, either In favor of one faction or the other Ala bamians are able to conduct their own affairs of state, and to elect men to of flee without the advice or suggestion or any foreign element.
 I would be unfair to myself and unfair to the people of the state if in setting forth my claims to the governorship failed, at least in brief. to give my ideas upon some of the important questions that are likely to confront the next execul tive of Alabama.
 Foster a Rich State.
 We have a state rich in mineral re- sources, abounding. in mineral wealth; our forests are second to none in the union; our broad acres are capable of maintaining a population many times as large as that now composing our citizen- ship. Providence fin her beneficence has placed us in position to multiply our wealth many times over, and If elected 1t shall be my endeavor to so execute the laws of the state as that every legitimate business and interest shall be fostered, and every public enterprise that is worthy shall be given fair and square deal In the pursuit of it's legitimate business to the end that we will not stop at what has been accomplished. but move on. to greater higher, better and nobler realiza- tions of the promises which now seem to, tad hxr For old Soldiers.
 With all these resources, and the knowl- edge of the prosperity that is within our hands, and having get our faces toward the higher and richer things, we must not forget the trs dtions of our fathers, or lose sight of the noble services of the veterans of the war between the state, and insofar as the treasury will admit I would favor such liberal pensions to the old soldiers as will give them comfort in their declining years in recognition of the noble services rendered to noble cause.
 The development of our great mineral resources has made such rapid strides as to attract the attention of the entire world. This great section should be the object of the most careful legislation to the end that our state should receive the benefits to which she is justly entitled by reason of the great natural deposits within the bosom of our mountains. Not only should the great iron industrq grow to greater dimensions, but the develop ment of the fine arts and sciences should be looked to, and the attention of the manufacturers of the world should be turned to the fact that from Alabama steel could be made every character and al of f,,,y, y,1ptnept nf fba hfprlar grn1e9 The time has come when Alabama should be not only great producer of raw ma terial. but producer of finished products, giving homes to artisan and mechanic and skilled labor. thereby increasing the wealth and capacity of our people. Industrial Education.
 In this connection I desire to say that there is no branch of our educational system that needs fostering more than that of industrial education, and so far as Is within the power of the state, we should develop the hand along with the mind The educated hand and the educated mind must conjunctively be looked to in the development of our future greatness. The results of a great industrial prosperity express themselves in benefits of such ramified nature as that they became part In aiding the transportation companies and their employees, creating trade and traffic, business, shipments, small and large, affecting the producer on the farm and reaching into every walk of life. In every household is felt the quickening impulse of the golden stream which reaching from it's busy scenes mingles with the hum of machinery and the joyous shouts of the prosperous work men.
 We have by the sea one of the great est ports of the south. The completion of the Panama canal will mean much to our people, if we turn our. attention, as we should, to the development of our resources. The magnificent port and harbor at Mobile. from which the rivers constitute arteries of commerce perma- ting to. the uttermost parts of the state, should be fostered, and sh ould be your governor 1t would be my pleasure to give to the port of Mobile whatever as- sistance is right. just and proper under the constitution, to the end that it may become the great port on the Gulf of Mexico.
 Agricultural Interests.
 Notwithstanding all this the greatest industry in Alabama, and at last the one upon which all wealth is based. and upon which our prosperity for the future must depend, is our agricultural interests The farm must be made pro- ductlve and profitable. The development of agriculture in every legistimate way must be looked to. Good roads should be built in every county in the state. In so far as is permitted under the consti- tuition, and within the limits of a safe financial administration, the state sh ould aid In the development and up- building of these highways, thereby as sisting fin developing the home life of the country, which is the backbone and support of every great state. I fully agree with the wonderfully construc- tive mind of Mir. James J. Hill. when he says: "The surest source of our wealth is agriculture. Its unceasing flow of prosperity rencws itself with the return