The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-06-07
Tells Hearers That State Is Up Against a Shell
 Game"
OTHERS TESTIFY
 TO ENTHUSIASM
Former Governor Apparently Made Big Hit by Caustic References to Railroad Rate Situation in
 the State
By HUGH W. ROBERTS

Governor Conner is delighted with the reception he encountered in Greens boro.
 He returned yesterday, and at noon was the center of an interesting throng on Parker's corner.
 T did not adhere rigidly to manu- script" admitted the former chief ex- ecutive q strayed from the typewrit- ten pages to the extent of telling the people that Alabama is up against she'll game"
 He was making ference to the ac- ton of Judge Thomas c. Jones in nulli- flying the Alabama railroad rate leg islation.
 Continuing, he added: And I told the people that was unaware of what action Governor o'Neal would take. And I told them that if I were gov ernor and had the support of the Conner legislature. we would have matters adjusted in the limited period of five days
 As matter of fact whereas MT Conner admits that he was generously applauded, the truth Is that he pro vol<ed a demonstration.
 A. M. Tunstall, senator from Hale county, heard the address. He was in Birmingham yesterday He stated that Conner made an instantaneous hit. and that the people evidently were in warm sympathy with what he said.
 Another witness who bears testi- mony of the success of MT Conner is Robert l.. Williams. Mir Williams. though an Alabamian and an aiumnus of the Southern university at Greens boro, is at the preesnt time chief jus tice of the supreme court of Oklahoma He is also a member of the delegation to the Baltimore convention which will cast 10 votes for Champ Clark.
 Chief Justice Williams compliments MT. Conner on the fact that the peo- pie were pleased with his remarks.
 
 Save the sentences quoted above. MT Conner had very little to say to re- porters. But he left the impression not that he is preparing to get into the fight for the restoration of former railroad rates. but that in that fight he is already engaged It was his manner. He was strenu- ous in detailing what had occurred at Greensboro and how keenly those who heard relished his remarks.
 Mir. Conner believes that the time has come for an extraordinary session of the legislature. Were he governor he would immediately call the lawmakers together.
 He Is so positive that the Louisville and a. the impression is gathered that he will battle that railroad even if 1t becomes necessary for him again to make the race for governor
 MT Conner has not said that he will be in the campaign of 1914 He has not said that he will not be.
 Political savants believe that If Gov ernor ONeal's legislature restores the former rates, MT. Conner will make the. race for the Senate; but that if no fight is fought or a desultory fight is fought, he will make an effort again to occupy the chair of the governor of Alabama
 In Greensboro he said very little con cernlng prohibition This is taken to mean that MT. Conner at the present time believes that there Is more vital issue facing the state. It is also taken to mean that prohibition will not be, in the opinion of MT. Conner, a gauge of bat tie fin 1914.
 Other than the gossip following the speech of Mir Conner at Greensboro there was little political news developed in Bir- mingham yesterday.
 Walter D. Seed. lieutenant governor. was a visitor. Since the initiation of the college commencement period he has been engaged in the art of speech making. He did not freely indulge in political gossip.
 He stated, however, that he has never announced himself Na candidate for tho governorship In 1914. On the other hand, he admitted that he has never up to the present time. said anything strong enough to cause those who believe to lose their faith.
 Tho situation is exceedingly interesting. more interesting than ever before In period two years prior to political cam paign There are no candidates and there are half a dozen who desire 10 be, and 1t has seldom happened that the issue on which a great battle of the future is to be fought has formed so prematIre1y