The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-05-01
Communicated
H. K. White, Leg
isIative Candidate.
''Raps" The "SIate"

In letter to The Age Herald, H X.
White, candidate for representative, says:
Last Monday in the Birmingham News
] gave comprehensive statement of my
views as candidate for the legislature l
stated that oppose the fee system" and
division of the county, and favor a COM
mission government for Greater Birming-
ham, good roads and liberal pensions for
Confederate soldiers. / opposed the pro-
hibition amendment and favor Hon. EN-
met C'Neal for governor. In dealing with
the evils of liquor 1 believe he will be
more in accord than Mr.. Mallory with
tn emajority of the people. AS under
stand, he is not in favor of returning to
the open saloon. Neither am /. Ho
favors more rational and temperate
methods of minimizing the evils of liquor
than the drastic and negotiable Car
michael and Fuller bills. So do /. 1
favor repeal of both those extreme acts
of legislature which were never author
lied or ratified by the people of Alabama,
and which in their practical operation are
being discredited every day.
Although my views are In accord with
Mr.. O'Neal, my name is nst on a ''slate"
which is being distributed as the anti
amendment or O'Neal ticket. l am not
complaining of this, for If my name were
on any 'slate" / would take 1t off.
don't believe in "slates." Before the bal
lot was restricted in Alabama to intelli-
gent citizenship, "slates' were the de-
light OF professional politicians, who fire.
Quently carried them through by COM
manding the support of ignorant voters.
l''Slates'' used to be winners, but they
don't go now. Voters are now too indie
pendent, and will not be led to the polls
by their noses at the hands of noisy and
legotistic '-slate Makers who have the
assumacy to constitute themselves polit-
1cal Headers"
<sx,sx eJaff reIn f,s
1t has not been authorized or ratified by
Mr.. O'NeaL Many loyal supporters deem
1t detrimental to his interests, as shown
by the address to democratic voters in
the press today, signed by w. p. G.
Harding and many leading bankers and
business men. There are some on the
s'slate' who will compand support by
their clear and correct views and their
high standing as citizens The SLATE"
should be ~chewed'' but not swallowed"
1t Is generally stated that the "slate"f
was mainly the handiwork Of Hon. p. G.
Bowman. Many doubt whether Hon. p.
g. Bowman ct ais. are Sufficiently relia-
bic political cooks to prepare a slate
for democrats to swallow whole without
serious risk of oramp collie to the party.
Nearly two months before March %,
which was the time for closing entries
Ia the primary fixed by the state demo-
cratic committee, Hon. p. g. Bowman
ID
meeting to discuss a legislative ticket.
This meeting was held and a committee
was named by 1t to report legislative
ticket to an adjourned meeting. At the
adj Ned meeting the committee was
-ieady to report the ''slate." The
meeting again adjourned, and at the
third meeting at the Orpheum, March 49,
the "slate" which is now being marked
on tho OFFICIAL ballot and printed on cards
distributed through the county, was Gin
dorsed" attended none of those meet
1ngs, but understand Mr.. Bowman was
the moving spirit. did not decide to be-
come a candidate until the day the en-
tries closed, March %, when I yielded to
the requests OF some personal friends.
Their kind words fired a latent ambition
to offer for place of no financial re-
ward. but great opportunities to make
an honorable name and fame by useful
public service. did not feel that a
meeting of about $50. led by Mr. Bowman
IN Endorsement of a "slate" in advance
Of the time fixed by the state democratic
committee for closing entries in the pri-
mary should preclude other democrats
from entering and asking and receiving
on their individual merits the support of
democratic voters. Had they waited until
the entries were closed their action would
have been viewed differently. perhaps.
Mr. Bowman's admirers who believe in
his conservatism, patriotism and leader
ship in the democratic party will doubt
less swallow the "slate" which has be-
some generally spoken of as the Bow
map slate rather than the O'Neal or
anti-amendment "slate;" but the general
lYnpneesion is that the "slate" will not be
.s0Wal1owed whole, but will be carved up
and partaken of by the voters In a dis
s. eliminating manner. The people wish to
\ krow the views Of candidates on many
questions which have no relation to &c
= 49,
have stated my views clearly and sim
eerely through the press. I have not
written a letter or made a personal APP
peal to single voter. rely on my q
years record as citizen of this county
ana my Views on questions which will
come before the next legislature. ! shall
appreciate the votes of all who agree with
mo sufficiently to mark me as one of the
seven representatives.
~ s=#r=ss H.. X. WHITE.
= -. -