The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-02-15

count of our attitude on the recent amend nlent. A common cause common dan ser, prompts that l Ink my political for tunes with his in this campaign; and from henceforth l shall be found fight Ing beneath his standard, confidently be- lieving that on May it will be carried to an overwhelming victory
 T have examined his platform and that of Colonel Mallory. They, when analysed, amount to practically the same thing. Colonel O'Neal stands on the plat form of the Montgomery conference and believes in giving statewide prohibition lair trial. Colonel Mallory believes h statewide prohibition. Certainly he does not mean to commit himself to 1t forever and externally and in all events. Hence, l take he, too, believes only in giving It fair trial, and each for keeping it, Ii 1t proves success and each for re- turning to local option if 1t proves failure. But above and beyond all this, each will be bound by the democratic platform which Is to be adopted on May l5 and which will settle the matter
 My course in the senate shows that voted for every prohibition measure ex- eept the unconstitutional Fuller bill and the constitutional amendment.
 When the fight came on before the Deo. pie on this constitutional amendment, an amendment which threatened. as many believed, the ancient landmark of freedom the peoples 'bill of rights In the constitution, and the very privacy and sanctity of their homes and the fire sides--the first man on the outside to sound the tocsin of war was Colonel O'Neal He, with several others, were the men who inauguarted the move ment for the Montgomery conference. He | made great personal sacifces. as did many others, in assisting 10 carry the message | of the conference to every part Of Ala | bama and the arous>d people over whelmed the amendment beneath an ava l lanche of votes less than three months | ago. Not 10 reward him now for taking leading part in doing something which the people overwhelmingly approved and | 10 reward Colo mel Mallory, his only oppo- | nent now, for taking a leading part In do- ing something which the people over whelmingly disapproved would, it seems | to me, bee ingratitude on the part or the people and furnish little inspiration 10 future patriotic impulse and effort.
 He is brave, he is broad. he Is con servative he is able-the worthy son of a worthy sire-and is in every way quail fled to discharge the duties and dignity of the chief executive of this state l confidently believe that the people Will honor him with this exalted station as a reward for splendid and faithful puphc service. In taking this position l am aware that thereby l will In all probabil- !ty alienate my friends who are support ing Colonel Mallory. I regret this ex- ceedingly; for esteem them very warm ly and highly and have felt greatly flat tered and aided to have their valuable support I, of course, release them rom theft support But whatever be their course, I desire to assure them that shall always cherish with deepest grati- tude their interest in me and sincerely trust that I may have an early oppor- turnity of showing my appreciation thereof to each and all The course I have here taken was not done upon the impulse, but after long and serious rehect1on. and seems to me to be the only log1cal, sincere and honorable one open to me- To remain neutral, as conditions now ex- ist. would be cowardly; and to support Colonel Mallory when he is opposed by worthy and able man who is being fought largely by the same people who are fighting ne and that on account or our attitude in the recent campaign would be to stulify my own candidacy I am not asking to be nonored with the office of lieutenant governor merely be- cause of my DC sition on the recent amend ment. but I am asking that, in the event the neople think me worthy of the honor and qualified to discharge the duties or inc offfce that they will not permit me to be crucifed merely because l dld oppose the amendment