The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-04-11
MoRAL-BE A FENCE RIDER

We once stood and fought for principle
and what we believed to be right. Now
adays, if man stands out in the open,
and advocates what he believes to be
for the best interest of his state, in the
mind of some it is considered that, how
ever able, or however worthy, he has
sacrificed himself and must be punished.
But there has come to our people a great
reawakening, and, struggling from the
lowest moral plane touched politically in
their history, our people are reaching for
higher ground, and in this campaign are
going to re-establish the standard set by
our fathers
The Hot Blast is for Mr.. Knox for the
Senate. He made the opening speech at
the Montgomery convention against the
amendment, and set the pace of that
campaign. In his announcement he de-
clared for O'Neal, and set the pace of
that campaign. Everyone knows where
he stood in the former campaign, and
everyone knows where he stands in the
present campaign. Mr.. Knox is not run
ming against Mr.. Mallory for governor.
he is not running against Mr.. O'Neal
for governor; he is running against Mr..
White and Mr.. Banlxhead for the Sen
ate. If elected to the Senate he will have
to deal, not with state, but with national
issues.
Whether you were an amendist or an
anti-amendist, whether you are for ONeal
or Mallory, if you have any respect for
yourself you must respect a man who
has the courage of his convictions, who
stands for principle and for what he be-
lieves to be the best interests of his state.
A contrary practice has brought us to
our present low moral plane politically.
The modern idea, which prevails with
some, seems to be that candidate, to
succeed, must be all things to all men.
II the voters are divided on a great pub
lie question he must seek to pursuade
both sides that really at heart he is with
both of them; he must be guilty of moral
cowardce, and he must not declare how
he stands on any public question.
In the amendment campaign Mr.. Bank
head was on the fence until the battle
was fought and the victory practically
assured. In the present campaign Mr..
Bankhead and Mr.. White are both on
the fence, if their public utterances are
to be considered.
Now, then, we have three points TO
make to the people of Alabama.
The first is, that no battle can be fought
or won under the leadership of a mere
fence-rider.
The second is, that If man comes out
in the open and fights for principle and
for what he believes to be the best inter-
ests of his state, and a mere fence-rider
is to walk off with the best office in the
gift of the people, what reward is there
for man to stand for principle, and
advocate what he believes to be for the
best interest of his people!
The third and final point is, are the
people of Alabama going to hold up to
the youth of the present and succeeding
generation the moral that, if you would
succeed in your aspirations for public
Office before this constituency, you must
not come out in the open, you must not
stand for principle, but you must be
fence-rider?
Mr. Knox was the leader in the alter
nate senatorship race, and by combina-
ton of circumstances, if not of candi-
dates. against him was knocked down to
third place. Mr.. Banlthead, as We are
advised, is industriously circulating the
report that vote for Mr.. Knox is
vote for Mr.. White. On the other hand,
Mr. Whites friends seek to inculcate the
idea that a vote for Mr. Knox is a vote
for Mr. Banllhead. Evidently both of them
recognize Mr.. Knox as the winner and
some tremendous effort must be made
to accomplish his defeat. But on May
2 the people are going to make their
own verdict, and that verdict will be pro-
nounced in favor of the man from Cal