The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-03-24
WR. PERCY WRITES
 VIGOROUS LETTER Resents Efforts to Fix Up Leg
 isiative late OUT. FOR LEGISLATURE Wants Birmingham to Have Oppor- tunity to. Vote on Commission Form of Government and Would Help
 Abolish Fee System
OUT. FOR LEGISLATURE

un1dVOraDly on the eHOflS ol lew men to name a legislative slate for Jefferson county. Mr. Percys letter reads as follows: Many of my friends, wh ose wishes appeal to me, have urged me to run for the state legislature. Others dis . approving my announced choice for governor have advised me against run
 ming. expressing appreh ension that [ might suffer the humiliation of per sonal defeat in the pursuit of a min Tor office. Approaching the well-meant solictude of these latter I would say to them that my political creed is to fight openly and fearlessly for tn e cause that seems to me right, regard less of personal consequences. 1 have been troubled more often by the fear of being wrong than by any apprehen- sion of being whipped. Other genuine friends have protested against my seeking an office, generally considered unimportant. To them I would say that my loftiest ambition is to be O.; some use to the community in which live. The office of representative of this great county in the state legis- iature seems to offer an opportunity or real usefulness without laying one open to the charge of self seeking The | candidacy for this office and the con- scientious performance of Its duties Off my candidacy should be successfully will entail serious sacrifice financially and in the matter of personal comfort; a sacrince l am reluctant to make, and which I have decided upon only be- cause I should like to be of some ser vice in averting what appears to me a very real danger.
 Constitutional prohibition, which I opposed, was defeated by a vote so overwh elming and decisive as to set tie that question certainly for the pres ont generation of voters do not re- call speaker who opposed the adop- ton of the proposed constitutional amendment who did not warmly pro- claim his affection and loyalty to tn e policy of statewide statutory prohibi- ton. The antf-amendmenc orators shouted from every platform their un . dying opposition to the open saloon and announced that the fight tn ey were waging was on behalf of the sanctiry or the homes of the citizens of Ala bama threatened by ruthless invasion.
 The constitutional and inalienable right and privilege of every citizen of Ala lama to drink in his own home as much as he pleases or his wife will
 
 dicated.
 With the permanent settlement of statutory prohibition, a contest between such able men as Colonel Mallory and MT. ONeal for the privilege of filling the honorable office of governor would | seem ordinarily to offer nor occasion Tor rancor or bitterness. On their own merits each would naturally draw to himself the support of many of our best people.
 But MT. O'Nea1 and his leaders in this county, not satisfied that MT. ONeal, without regard to the filing of other prices. should run upon his per- sonal merits and political achievements TOT the great office of governor, have lnsnlrestiy determined, if they have the power, to control not only the royer- norship of Alabama, but also the per- sonnel of the next legislature,
 A widely known citizen of Birminrha m. one or the two gentlemen who first an
 nounced MT. ONeaPs candidacy ana recognized as one of his leaders in this county, recently advertised that he had nlred a nall In the city of Birmingham Tor mass meeting, the declared purpose of which was to name a slate for ths state senatorship and the seven represent atlves rom this county. The speakers peIore that meeting were recognized U Neal leaders. According to newspaper report 1t was declared by some of them mat the election of an O'Neal legislature was, If anything, more important than the election of MT. O'Neal himself. The speakers in that meeting styled then- selves as 'conservatives,' and announced their holy mission to be the further pres erVation of the sanctity of the homas of Alabama. That meeting appointed a com n1ittee of 20 to recommend a legislative siate grave responsibility which ap- parently staggered the committee, for. I am informed, 1t reported back to another aneetins that It was not ready to act. An aoJournment was had to another night. and then, I believe, on motion of MT. Lee Cowart, another O'Neal leader inc mass meeting of some 200 men undertool. to name. for the 20,OO0 voters of JefYer- son county, a slate for the state senator and the seven representatives in this county
 Desiring to make no personal criticism or the candidates for the legislature in- dorsed by the mass meeting, some of whom l favorably known, and with some or whom l am unacquainted, think many thoughtful men who have favored MT. ONears candidacy will agree with me in disappearing this undefhocratic at tempt to frame legislative slate for the 9oters Of this great county. Do the vot- CTS or Jenerson county need predigested food? Isn't 1t a reflection on the intelli- sence of the great body of voters here tofore favoring MT. O'Neal's candidacy that they should not be allowed to select even one or two legislative candidates to suit themselves2 If the loyal O'Neal fol- lowers must swallow this entire ticket, labeled by the O'Neal leaders ten days before the lists for entry had closed curious minds among them will inquire Just why these particular candidates were favored with the official O. K. and other aspiring friends of O'Neal debarred from applying for legislative honors. Are the thoughtful people of Jefferson coun- ty prepared to do the bidding, in the selection of all their legislative repre- sentatives. of the O'Neal leader who first hired and paid for the hall, or of the committee of 20 selected at the first meet Ing, or of MT. Cowart, who made tho mo- ton naming the slate at the last meeting or or MT. O'Neal himself, or of any other man or group of men?
 To the many high-minded men who, casting aside their calner judgment grow vehement in denunciation of the amendment, of prohibition and of every body who has ever stood for either. appeal as to whether they are prepared to ratify the action of the mass meeting referred to. and to regard like flat of democratic convention the pronunciamen- to of these self-styled conservatives and Self-constituted protectors of our homes and liberties. 1t is inconceiva- ble that men so close to MT O'Neal in this campaign could have taken this irnportant step except after consultation with him and upon his approval Ought not candidate for the great office of governor to content himself with his own candidacy and allow without dlctation, suggestion or interference the democrats of the state to select their own nominees