The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-08-19
OPINIONS SOUGHT ON
PLAN OF GOVERNOR
To INVADE COUNTY
His Threats in Tax Cases
Apparently Are not Taken
Very Seriously
SOME ARE CAUSTIC
IN THEIR REMARKS
President Sibley of Chamber of Com
merce Says the Governor Is at
Liberty to Come Whenever
He Desires

The oft repeated threats of Cover
nor O'Neal not only to take the stump
in Jefferson county and force the cit
liens to make just returns on the val
uation of their property, but to require
certain members of the Chamber of
Commerce to appear before the courts
in explanation of charges of contempt,
have resulted in no unusual display of
fear and trepidation on the part of the
people.
As matter of fact, some have ex-
tended an oral invitation to the gov
ernor to come among the citizenry and
as a result of his masterful logic and
eloauenee unexcelled, drive them as
galley slaves to do his bidding" A few
have grown indignant in that the chief
| executive has mathematical the peo-
| pie of the county and the members of
| the board of revenue, but the great
majority have smiled with noticeable
| elevation of eyebrows.
Turner Is Humorous
| Oscar C. Turner when informed that
! he, as a member of the Chamber of
Commerce, was in danger of arrest for
| contempt of court did not tremble in
either of his joints. nor did the natur-
| ally rosy hue of his cheeks become
sickled DER with the pallor of fear.
Very WE'LL he said, 81 have never
objected to any condition as long as
others with me were good fellows. All
, that l require of the governor is that
he arrest several other members so
that 1t will be guaranteed to me that
my companions will be men of merit"
But, Mr.. Turner" the reporter inter-
jected, his exeellency threatened to
| take the stump In this county"
we should not object" replied he.
''as long as he takes nothing else"
Rice Is Indignant
Charles e. Rice. the attorney. in
formal statement extends an invitation
to the governor to come ahead. We
will furnish the stump he said. But
| this was not all that he said. As
matter of fact, Mr.. Rice was a trifle
| indignant as a result of the criticism of
| the governor, especially as 1t con-
cerned the members of the board of
revenue. Some of these members" he
/ bdiu. nave Ottn Te-tieCttu, WHICH NION-
ernor O'Neil will never be-"
John w. Sibley, president of the
| Chamber of Commerce, in reference TO
| the statement of the governor. said
The county Is large and the governor
can come whenever he desires. OF
course | cannot extend him an invita-
| ton in the name of the Chamber of
Commerce, but l daresay that none of
the members would publicly declare
| themselves as opposed to his coming"
| From what could be learned yester-
day, the advertising campaign of the
| chamber, which has served to incite
the ire of Governor O'Neal, will be con-
tinued.
For Democracy Sake
The statement of the governor that
he will cancel If it becomes necessary,
his engagements TO deliver addresses
throughout the country in favor of
Woodrow Wilson and come to Jefferson
in an effort to make the people behave,
has given alarm to thosea who are
wrapped up In the hope that the DEM
ocrats will win this fall. one gentle
man, who expressly desires to be kept
In the background of the exhilarating
controversy said that In his opinion
nothing should be done by the people of
this county which might so seriously
affect the chances of Wilson.
1T would be very unfortunate, he de-
clared without smile or the semblance
of a smile, should something prevent
Governor O'Neal going to the rescue of
democracy. There is no man who will
deny that the logic of the governor is
masterful, and that his eloauence is I'M
equslled
while the chances of Wilson at the
present moment are bright-the brightest
as matter of fact of all which have been
opened to democracy in recent years
they are not SO bright that they could pos
sibly Withstand the hook incidental TO
cancellation of the governors speaking
dates
Governor Repeats Threats
In the Montgomery Advertiser of Sun
day morning Governor O'Neal declared
that he did make the statement that he
would like to take the stump in Jeffer-
son county, that he had instructed the
state tax commission to visit Jefferson
and reassess property, the increases on
which had been dsallowed by the board of
revenue, and that 1t was quite probable
that when the appealed cases are called 4
change of venue, as "a result of prejudice
aroused might be requested.
1t is not known when the governor will
take the stump in the county, and the date
not been mentioned. 1t is not definitely
determined by the governor as to
whether or not a change in venue will be
requested.
But it is known that there is a diff
ference of opinion as to whether the state
board has the legal right to undo action
previously taken by the board of revenue
in reference to assessments. And 1t is
known that the majority OF the members
of the tax board hold contrary opinions to
those held by the governor on this very
point.