The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-12
SOME CRITICISM
 OF O'NEAL IS HEARD Long's Friends Think He Should Have Helped LONG IS STILL STRONG Walker Percy It Appears VIII Be Majority Leader In House-Wiu
 Probably Head Judiciary,
 Committee
LONG IS STILL STRONG
By HUGH w. ROBERTS

Fly HUGH w. ROBERTS Montgomery, January u.-(Special)- Since the defeat of J. Lee Long for the speakership the ardent supporters of the gentleman from Butler have not hesitated to criticise Governor-elect ONeal for having refrained from taking part in the fight. These criticisms touch upon the fact that one of the main factors entering into the success of Colonel O'Neal was the victory against constitutional prohi- bition, to which victory the talent of MT. Long contributed more than that of
 any other individual. And the point is
 made. too, that MT. Long performed splen-
 did service for Colonel O'Neal when the
 Florentine was seeking the gubernatorial
 nomination against Colonel Mallory.
 On the other hand, friends of the gov
 ernor-elect raise the point that 1t is not
 ethical for the chief executive to attempt
 to take charge of the legislative end of
 the government-even though of the two
 candidates he may have had his personal
 preference. In this connection, too the
 point Is made that Colonel O'Neal in his
 speeches against the prohibition amend
 ment and in his campaigns against Nal
 lory and Thompson assaled Governor
 Conner pitilessly for doing the very thing
 which the friends of Mir. Long contend
 that Colonel O'Neal should have done. But the friends of MT Long point out
 that had the governor-elect simply an-
 nounced himself In favor of MT. Long
 that gentleman would have walked into 1 ,tn 0f
 who had pledged him their support dis
 appointed him in the balloting. MT. Long,
 himself, does not take part in these re-
 marks and ardently defends the position
 of O'Neal.
 Long's Great Strength
 The fact that at one time MT. Long
 was the Conner leadep in the legislature
 was used to his disadvantage in his cam
 paign for the speakership, and it Is known
 that several eminent railroad attorneys aligned themselves with Judge Almon and used their influence in swinging un- rooted legislators.
 And in this connection MT. Long states that he has no apologies to make for the part he took In the anti-railroad leg islation instituted at the will of Governor Conner He expresses a warm regard for the present governor, and declares that were the old fight to recur he would be found in his former position. The fact remains, however. that in spite of his defeat at the hands of Judge AL mon MT. Long will continue to be power in the house to be reckoned with. The AS legislators who voted for MT. Long have volunteered to stand with him in the legislature for whatever he wants. tc ', hat fhn | republican members of the house, who did not participate in the democratic caucus, will be found in the Long column. The republicans of the state, as is generally recognized, were tooth and toe nail against the prohibition amendment to the constitution. and because of his leader ship against that false doctrine the re- publicans look upon MT. Long as their friend.
 It becomes evident, therefore, that should MT. Long desire to open war fare against the Almon faction he could do much toward blocking legislation in
 the lower house. And the Long strength Twill increase in case Judge Almon is
 unable to satisfy those who voted for
 him with favorable committee appoint
 ments MT. Long, however, states that
 his defeat has left no sores, that he has
 come to serve his state and not to seek
 revenge.
 Cha1rmen From JeIIersOn It is practically certain that Walker
 Percy of Birmingham will be a power
 in the legislature.
 It Is considered positive that Judge All
 mon will make him chairman of the judi
 ciary committee. It is very probable that
 Mir. Percy will come to be recognized as
 the majority leader of the house. In this connection 1t is understood that MT. Percy came to Montgomery without hope that he would be the majority leader His friends state that when he aligned himself with Judge Almon he did so not because he thought Judge Almon would win, but because he considered Judge Almon the better man of the two candidates It is said that he really ex- pected to be the minority leader of the house.
 It is believed, too. that T. H. Motion of Birmingham will be made chairman of an important committee. As is known, while he was generally believed to be a Long supporter he voted for Judge All mon This favor, which resulted in tho election of Judge Almon, is no doubt ap- preciated to the highest degree. and 1t is confidently believed in Montgomery that MT. Motion will be made chairman of one of the most important commit tees.
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