The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-16
Replies to Personal Refer ences of Col. Bowman
 Last Night
LETTER DOES NOT
 REFLECT ON O'NEAL
Also Makes Public Correspondence With Bowman Regarding Invita- tion to Be Present at Last
 Nights Meeting

W. P. G. Harding, president of the First National bank of Birmingham last night issued a reply to statements made about him by Col. P. G. Bowman in his ad- dress at the Jefferson theatre
 Much of Colonel Bowman's address was devoted to a letter written by Emmet O'Neal when he was a candidate for governor to Mr. Harding, which Colonel Bowman claimed was a reflection or the governors character and which if made public would constitute grounds for im- peachment proceedings. In view of these facts MT. Harding also makes the gover- nor's letter public. In a signed statement issued last night MT. Harding says Colo nel Bowman "has attempted to give a significance utterly foreign to the text" of the governors letter.
 MT. Harding also makes public Colonel Bownan's invitation to him to attend last nights meeting and his reply. The signed statement issued by Mr. Harding last night is as follows: Colonel Bowmans grievance against Governor O'Neal Is no concern of mine, and 1 hold no brief to defend the gover- nor from the attacks that have been made upon him. am a private citizen and the attempt to involve me in this con- troversy is extremely distasteful to me.
 Tt seems, however, that Colonel Bow man in his speech tonight has laid par ticular stress upon a certain letter ad- dressed to me by Governor O'Neal while candidate, which letter he had never seen, to which he has attempted to give a significance utterly foreign to it's text. and to which he refers as a 'bil of sale. :" He charges the governor with corruption in having sold out to the corporations. and as l am named as the party con ducting the negotiations, deem 1t prop CT to make the letter public in order that the people may judge of the moral tur- pitude involved in its conception and e. ception.
 Written in January, 1910
 @The letter was written in January, ts1o shortly after Colonel O'Neafs formal an. nouncement as a candidate for the nom i, inaton to the office of governor of Ala bama, and was in response to my request that he give me an outline of his policy toward the corporate and business inter- ests of this state in event of his nomina- ton and election. Because of certain ele- -ments. prominently identified with his campaign, there was some apprehension on the part of thoughtful and conservn- tive men as to the probable course of Colonel O'Neal as governor.
 T made no secret of the letter, but took occasion to show 1t to several of my friends and stated to certain others, Dr. Grove among the number, who did not care to read the letter. that I had received a communication from Colonel O'Neal which satisfied me that if elected he would accord fair treatment to the business and corporate interests of this state, and that in my opinion I would have as much influence with him in any crisis that might arise, as certain others whose names had been mentioned.
 T have not had occasion to refer to this letter for a long time, and was un- der the impression until a few days ago that it had been destroyed, but I found 1t recently among some other correspond ence and 1t Is the only communication that I have ever received from Governor ONeal either before or since his nomi- nation which gives an outline of his ad. minis stratve policies. It appears to be entirely consistent with his public ad- dresses and state papers
 "I have never at any time had any statement, written or verbal from Colonel O'Neal, either as candidate or as gover- nor, as to his conduct in the event of a strike or other labor trouble and 1 have never so stated, any affidavits to the con- trary notwithstanding.
 "As Colonel Bowman has seen fit to advertise the fact that he invited me to be present at his address, I also make public his letter extending the invitation and my reply thereto.
 w PC JARDING