The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-06-27
The Principals This Time
Are Governor O'Neal and
Frederick Thompson
HEADLINES AROUSE
GOVERNORS IRE
Denies There Was Any O'Neal Slate
at Baltimore-CharEes That Gov.
O'Neal Completely Evades
the Real Issue
ny HIGH W. ROBERTS

Baltimore. June Zb.---tSpecldl- -Mote iii'-
ton between members of the Alabama
delegation The principals this time are
Governor O'Neal and Frederick l. Thomp-
son, editor of the Mobile Register.
1t seems that Thompson published in
his paper June % an article eritielsing
the governor for having framed an al
legged slate which was subsequently put
through the delegation with the result that
oNeal heads the delegation as chairman.
Judging from headlines telegraphed the
governor today from Montgomery the ed
itor was exceedingly frank in his discus
sion
Prior to the meeting of the delegation
Monday afternoon there was a session of
a majority of the members at which 1t
is understood an agreement was reached
as to whom the candidates should be.
Major Screws, E. X. Campbell Thompson,
Colonel Mallory, J. r. Bell. w. d. Jelks
uninvited. In reference to the controversy
the governor issued the following state
ment today at noon:
Headlines Caustic
I'm the Mobile Register of the 18th inst.
appeared the following headline:
'O'Neal slate jammed through at Bal
timore. allows his ambition to in1ure
Underwood's chances for nomination; Tn
derwood men are scarcely restrained from
rupture with 0Neal men,.
Every member of the Alabama delesa-
tion knows that the above statement Is
absolutely and unqualihedly false There
was no O Neal slate at Baltimore. Every
gentleman selected for the different po-
sitions on the committee of the national
convention was elected after nomination
In an open session Of the entire dele
CATION from Alabama, and without a SIN
gle dissenting vote l was nominated
and elected as chairman of the delega-
ton without opposition and l have had
no ambition but to subserve the best
interests of Alabama's candidate FOR the
! presidency. The editor Of the Mobile Reg
| lister was present at the meeting OF the
delegation and assented to every noniina-
tion that was made and knows this state
ment to be true"
Thompson Replies
Mr.. Thompson issued the following to-
night:
Governor oNeal attempts to deceive
the people of Alabama by ignoring and
evading in his statement the caucus he
headed at which his slate, as made at
the ONeal CAUCUS was acquiesced by
those who did not attend the caucus
when the full delegation met for 1t was
felt by some that aequiescence was best
for the Underwood cause than an open
fight in the delegation. l was invited by
message from the governors secretary to
attend the caucus but refused to lend
my name to such a movement One OF
the delegates who attended the caucus
by invitation left when he discovered
the purpose of the writing and the mo-
tive behind the call.
THE force of the governors denial loses
its strength when II is recalled how often
the governor, when caught with the goods,
has resorted usually to denials, vitupera-
tion or both / do not believe the people
Of Alabama will give as much credence to
his denial as ordinarily expected would be
given TO a governor of a state. For this
the governor can only blame his past con-
duct when answering criticism or pub
licity Of his official or political conduct.
The governor has never yet learned 1t
seems, that political or official deals can
not be put over without the possibility OF
the white light OF publicity being given
them.
Has No Second Choice
For myself, l am for Mr. Underwood
first, and have no second choice.
II is generally accepted that Governor
ONeal is for Underwood first and some
body else second. II interpret correctly
the Instructions of the state democratic
convention that honored both of us with
commissions to represent the state OF Ala
bama at tho national convention, 1t Is to
vote for Underwood until a nominee or
the convention has been made. Therefore,
second choice has no place In the
minds or hearts of loyal Alabamians and
true supporters OF Alabama's favorite
son.
This issue the governor altogether
evades. although 1t was the primary point
in the article the statement of the gov
ernor is supposed TO answer. His silence
on this point is obvious
The members of the Alabama delega-
ton did not observe the unit rule when
the Ohio cases was opened. That case in
cidentally depended on the question, shall
the unit rule apply in Ohio? The Har-
mon forces are insisting on the unit rule,
while Bryan's men are opposing that rule.
The Alabanans met today TO determine
how they would vote when the famous
case is opened. Senator Bankhead was
asked for advice, but did not advise.
Therefore, the members decided to vote
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