The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-09-10

which appeared in The Age-Herald a
few days ago signed by former Gov
B. b. Conner:
Smiths Communication
louisville. KY, September 8, 1913
ITO the People of Alabama:
In an address widely disseminated
B. B. Conner frantically appeals to the
people of Alabama, to the federal Con-
gress, to the Attorney General, to the
interstate commerce commission, and
to the state and national governments
compel the Louisville and Nashville
Railroad company to refrain from ex-
erting any influence it may have to pre-
vent his nomination for the office OF
governor of the state of Alabama.
HE quotes at length, evidence that
nearly 10 years ago the representatives
of the Louisville and Nashville Rail
road company did unfortunately. un-
successfully oppose his candidacy for
the office of president of the railroad
commission of Alabama. Such failure
was a state WIDE If not a national
disaster. as his election to the office
of president of the railroad commission
resulted in his being elected governor
which resulted in his inflicting meal
culable injury upon the state, involving
expensive litigation and the cessation
OF railroad development by renderin s
it practically impossible to procure the
capital necessary for such develop
ment.
sThe appeal is based upon the assump-
tion that the representatives of railway
companies have no right to be heard in
Legislative matters or administration OF
the government affecting their interests
the railways of Alabama are important
interests-next in Importance to the agri-
cultural interests-and they have as much
right to be heard as the agricultural
barking, industrial or other inter ssts, or
all matters affecting them 7't must
be conceded, put it does not ST., Mr.. Co
mer, who would have the railways roped
and tied rendered helpless-"hog tied is
the term ne uses-that he may without
opposition prosecute his efforts to de-
stroy. He reclilessly emits falsehoods
ircurs the expense of a wide dissemina-
tion, and frantically calls upon everybody
to aid him In preventing the railroad com
pany from inclrrirg the expense of dis
seminating information to counteraet his
venom.
"IIe charges that the Louisville ano
4NeGHNiit Ittb iol lIldilN
years past been active in endeavoring tc
protect its interests, and that in so doina
1t has eXerted an undue influence in leg
islative matters
Let him point to single legislative
act that may have been favored or pro-
NOTED by the representatives of the
Louisville and Nashville Railroad COM
pary that was antagonistic to the inter-
ests of the people of Alabama
Nashville Railroad company has accom-
plshed in Alabama with what Mr.. Co.
mer has done or attempted to do:
In one case, many millions of dollars
invested and facilities created and utilized
to promote the material interests of th,,
people of Alabama.
I'm the other, frantic and insane efforts
TO destroy, resulting in ncalculabe in
jury to the people of the state-all for the
selfish purpose of securing political
preferment.
"He considers 1t IA crime that the
Louisville and Nashville Railroad COM
pany has been forced to incur expendi-
lures in edeavoring to protect itself
from unjust and injurious legislation,
and from maliciously false accusations,
Vociferously made and widely dissem-
mated by him, and refers to a large
sum which he says was expended by
the Louisville and Nashville railroad
nearly 10 years ago, to defeat him for
the office of president of the railroad
commission. | was not personally con-
cerned in that campaign, but | have
since looked at the deposition he refers
to when he says. The testimony shows
that the Louisville and Nashville spent
in the. campaign to defeat me the sum
of S142, ,2S5.25.' The following Is a quo
tation from the deposition:
In the report made to the board of
directors and to stockholders of de-
fendant for the fiscal year ending June
3d. 1904, there appears under "Operat- :
ing expenditures-Gen expenses -
the item of "Other general expenses. >
Sl42,3S5.25. which item includes all ex-
penditures for the entire system of
the defendant for the fiscal year end
ing June 30. 1904
''The sum described was the total
sum expended and charged to general
expenses by the Louisville and Nash
Vile Railroad company for the entire
system for the fiscal year ended June.
1904. IN the s1S states in which it op-
crates; but /had the total amount beer
successfully expended in endeavoring to
convince the people of Alabama that
1T was unwise to prefer Mr.. Conner, 1t
would have been most judicious ex-
peiuituie e. ifie ldlluTe TO uefeat MIN
with his subsequent election as gov
ernor. has inflicted enormous losses
upon the Louisville and Nashville and
other railroads in Alabama, as well as
upon the state.
''In his rawlings, he accuses the Louis
vile and Nashville Railroad company OF
assassination and many other crimes
without the slightest evidence to sustain
his malicious and criminal libels.
He charges that the Louisville and
Nashville Railroad company prevents the
movement of traffic by the rivers of the
state. Every sane person knows that
traffic is only moved by rail between
points served by water competition be-
cause of the superior service of the rail
carriers Ever since the Louisville and
Nashville became a carrier of Importance
II has cultivated friendly relations with
the river carriers on the Ohio, Cumber-
land, Tennessee and Alabama rivers
Transportation conditions are such tina,
the traffic of river carriers is neces.
sarily confined to local traffic for which
the rail carriers cannot compete--a con.
dition that the owners of river transpor
tation lines have long since Recognized
and acted upon.
II have rot attempted to analyze and
controvert the innunerable errors in Mr.
Corners address. Practically all of III,
allegations are untrue
MILTON II. SMITH. -