The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-02-17
LEE LONG TO AID
0 NEAL CAMP A|CN
Gives Reasons for Supporting
Lauderdale Man
ISSUES FORMAL CARD
That He Would Vote for No Man
For Governor who Supported
the Amendment

j. Lee Long, VINO managed the recent
campaign against the constitutional
amendment. and, at the request of Cam
paign Manager T. II. Motion, is in Bir-
ningham to assist in the fight for Col
onel Emmett Neal, today for the first
time expresses his position in the guber-
material contest He states that he made
up his mind long ago that he would never
support for the office of governor any
man who advocated the adoption of the
amendment. Here is his card:
ITO the democratic voters of Alabama
During the campaign which closed on
the 18th day of November last, in which
the issue was whether or not the peo-
pie would ratify or reject what is known
as the prohibition amendment to the
constitution of Alabama, | had the honor
to conduct the campaign of the anti
amendists. The result of the election
showed Overwhelmingly that the senti-
ment of the voters of the state was
against the adoption of the amendment to
the constitution. From the beginning to
the end of that campaign much bitter
ness and acrmony were manifested, but
l tried without prejudice or passion
granting to every man the right to think
and vote as he saw fit to place before
the people such arguments and reasons
as in my judgment would tend to the
defeat of the amendment
MANY months before this election was
ordered the Hon. II. 5. d. Mallory and
the Hon Walter Seed were candidates for
the high office of governor Of Alabama.
| Shortly after the legislature passed the
bill submitting this question to the vot-
ers of Alabama the Hon. S. D. Weakley
announced his candidacy for the same
office Until after the 18th day of No
vember, 1909, no other candidates had
placed their claims for the governorshp
before the people of this state. From
the ranks of the anti-amendists the Hon.
Emmett o. Neal was the first to announce
his candidacy. In the meantime Senator
Spragins of Madison county, and Senator
Moody of Tuscaloosa, were fayorably
mentioned in the public press as prob
able candidates | was importuned from
time to time to espouse the cause of
more than one of these gentlemen. | de-
cllned to express an opinion or take sides
until after the Hon. Charles Henderson
withdrew from the race, and until it was
ascertained that neither Senator Moody
nor Senator Spragins would be confess
tants. | took this position, first because
had made up my mind not to support
for the office of governor any man who
advocated the adoption of the proposed
amendment; and, second, because l felt
that having been selected manager of
the anti-amendment campaign 1t would
at least be indelicate on my part to ex-
press preference for either Senator
Moody, Senator Spragins, Mr.. Henderson
or Mr.. O. Neal. each being a gentleman of
high character, each of whom would have
made a great governor and each of
whom rendered conspicuous service in
the defeat of the said amendment
Mr.. Henderson has withdrawn from
The race and it appearing to me that
that neither Senator Moody nor Senator
Spragins would enter the list the only
two candidates remaining in the field
for this high office being the Hon. EN-
met O'Neal and the Hon. II. s. D. NAL
lory, and being invited by Hon. T. H.
Motion, chairman Of the ONeal state
campaign committee, to assist him in the
conduct of Mr.. O'Nears compaign. 1 felt
that my duty was to accept his invitation,
and am now here at Chairman Notions
headquarters to render such services as
within my power lies to secure the nom-
nation and election of the Hon. Emmett
o Neal.
Information which is coming to these
headquarters convinces me beyond a
doubt that Mr.. O'Neals nomination will
be secured by an overwhelming majority
of the democratic voters of the state,
and that his election as governor of Ala
bama will surely and naturally follow
1