The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-09-16


 cause. Yet in his interviews, and in his recent speech, he appeals to what he is pleased to term the prohibition party or temperance element, to desert the demo- cratic organization, to form coalition with his band of postmasters and pie hunters, and to aid in restoring to power a party whose past record can only arouse the indignation of every patriotic Alabamian There are democrats who favor local option, but all democrats favor temperance and only differ as to best methods of securing sobriety among our people. But whatever may have been their views on the liquor question, they are democrats and will not be se- duced from their allegiance of the only party that has given us white supremacy and good government, by any words that may fall from the lips or pen of Joseph O. Thompson. However much they may have differed on the settlement of the liquor question. they are united in their loyalty to the democratic party. and are satisfied they can safely entrust the settlement of this question to demo- cratic legislature guided by democratic principles. which will give voice to the wishes of the people and settle this ques- ton wisely and conservatively with such wisdom and such justice as is possible to the finite mind
 Whisky and Railroads
 'FIt will be rather surprising to the peo- pie of Alabama to learn from the printed speech of MT. J. o. Thompson that the Same sinister, but powerful interests, whisky and railroads dominated all legislation in Alabama prior to 1901. If such domination existed during that long period of the states history, it is very singular that it was overlooked by both rvg-rasaF gan, by every historian, by every oppo- nent of the democratic party, and that this deplorable condition of affairs was not discovered till MT. J. o. Thompson In the year 1910. opened his oracular lips This charge that from 1874 to 1901 the administrations of George s. Houston Rufus w. Cobb Edward A. O'Neal Thomas Seay, Thomas G. Jones. William c. Oates, Joseph F. Johnston, w H Sanford and w. D. Jellxs were dominated by the railroad and whisky interests but betrays an ignorance which can only arouse our pity and 8 malice which can deserve only our contempt It Is very remarkable if the liquor interest con- trolled the state during that long period and dominated our legislature, that un- der the principle of local option we saw liquor driven from nearly 90 per cent or our territory. The acts of every legis-
  Ing the sale of liquor in beats, towns and counties, and yet, according to MT Thompson. the legislature that enacted all these temperance laws were domi- mated by the whisky interest. Was the democratic party dominated by these in- terests when in 1874 it rallied it's deei- mated ranks from the ashes of it's homes and the graves of its dead and stood in solid and impregnabe array in defense of our civilization and the purity of our race?
 was it composed of band of slaves, as MT. Thompson is pleased to charac- terize the rank and file, when it rescued the state from the control of that horde of carpetbaggers who had wasted our substance, and who inaugurated satur- nala of misrule and corruption without parallel in the records of political mis- government and moral depravity? We're we dominated by these same sinister in fluences when, during the same long pe- riod our party gave to the people or Alabama all the blessings of a wise, fru- gal and conservative government, and under whose inspiring influence Alabama. overcoming the waste and destruction or war, like an awakened giant moved for ward to grander and more lasting tri- umps in all the fields of industrial, moral and educational development. Was It party dominated by sinister influences and interests and composed or chattels ana slaves that formed our suffrage, elevated our electorate and curbed corporate power and made permanent and secure by the constitution of 1901 the supremacy or our race? I have no disposition to re- vive the angry passions engendered by the misrule, the indignities and humilia- tions to which our people were subjected by MT Thompson party, or to recall the appalling record of corruption which marked their control of the state. l would prefer to look forward to the possibilities of future which Is so ra- diant with promise, but as the standard- bearer of the democratic party l snail meet all attacks from whatever source they come, which assails the character, the intelligence or the high civic virtues of that body of men who compose that splendid organization which l have the honor to represent If the animoslty ana passion of the past are again aroused the Thompson republican faction are alone responsible. by being guilty of the foliy of nominating as their candidate one whose lack of judgment and discretion is only eaualled by his arrogance and his malice MT Thompson has also discovered that the same sinister interests. whisky and railroads, have again captured the democratic organization, and are seeklng to place me as their secret representa- tive in the executive chair. The demo- cratic party constitutes an overwhelming majority of the people of Alabama. It embraces in it's ranks as intelligent, moral and patriotic a body of men as can be found in any state of the union. That 1t has surrendered to all the forces of evil and has been captured by sinister interests and is now seeking to place me as their secret representative in the ex- ecutive chair, is a charge too puerile and too baseless to be dignif1ed with notice and is an insult too wanton and ma licious to demand anything but pity and contempt.
 The grand old democratic party of Alabama. whose record Is one of splendid achievement. of progress and of glory, cannot afford to heed every yelping cur that barks at It's heels. That this leader of the black and tan element-wno pc lieves that the negro should share with the white man the responsibilities of or fee. and who is a typical representative of that stand-pat faction which his own marty are now repudiating, should dare to denounce the democratic party as slave to special interests betrays an ef- frcntery only equalled by his folly and a reckiessness only matched by his ig norance.
 MT. J. o. Thompson seems to take of- fense because in an interview l declared that I fully agreed with Congressman Hefiin that the republican party under his leadership in Alabama had become joke. I do not understand that my nom- ination as the democratic standard bearer requires me to suppress my sense Of humor If had had any misgivings on the subject heretofore, his recent utter ances would have confirmed me in my opinion that if the republican party IS not now a joke his faction will soon be-
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