The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-03
Executive Thinks, However,
1t Will Not Be Necessary
to Name Candidate
for Governor
VERY NECESSARY
TO HAVE THE ISSUE
CLEARLY DEFINED
Governor Says no Matter How Situa.
ton Is Viewed There Are But
Two Parties in the State
Local Option and
Prohibition
BY L. S. nETTY

That the present gubernatorial race is
identical in many respects with the old
amendment fight between the local option
lists and the statewide prohibitionists is
the opinion of Governor O'Neal who gave
The Age-Herald a brief statement while
in Birmingham yesterday relative to cali
ing conference of local option leaders
for the purpose of drafting a party plat
form.
Governor ONeal believes that the local
option party in the state should determine
upon certain issues to be presented before
the people and should ask its candidate
or candidates. to abide by that platform
So far as l can see, we are having the
old amendment fight over again., said the
governor. There is little doubt that if
prohibition candidate is elected governor
the next legislature will re-enact state
wide prohibition laws and we will have
conditions similar to those in 1909 and
1910 when the state was torn from end
to end by liquor agitation"
Governor O'Neal declares that he has
talked with only a few prominent local
option leaders, but that they have all ex-
pressed the belief that the party should
hold a conference either In Birmingham
or Montgomery for the purpose of agree
ing upon certain important issues
Only Two Parties
mo matter how we view the situation,
there are only two parties in the state
the local option and the prohibition"-said
the governor. 1T cannot be doubted that
the prohibition party is preparing to make
the greatest fight it has ever made in this
state, and it is certain that the prohibi-
tion candidates will be pledged to re-enact
statewide laws.
whether or not the local option lead
ers would attempt to name a candidate
for governor should they meet in a cou-
ference, | cannot say. Nor do ] think that
would be necessary. The principal uues-
tion to be considered would be the plat
form, as well as the discussion of certain
plans looking to the defeat of the state
widers.
Il believe we should have a conference
similar TO that which met in Montgomery
in September, 1863 when local optionists
from all over the state assembled in the
capital city, organized their forces, dis
cussed plans to defeat the amendment,
and drafted a local option platform. 1t
would not be necessary to attempt, to
name a candidate at this convention,
though it would be highly essential that
an organization be perfected, and that
platform be drafted
Governor O'Neal declares that those
with whom he has talked on the subject
of calling a conference of local option
leaders are in accord with him to the
Importance of such a movement. During
the past few weeks he has seen prominent
local optionists from all parts of the state,
and he declares that many of them have
asked him to issue a call for convention
some time during the fall.
Whether or not the governor will do this
will depend upon the unanimity with
which the plan Is viewed by local option
lists as a. whole. If sufficient pressure is
brought to bear upon him he will un-
doubtedly issue the call and he will ask
that the local optionsts organize their
forces and prepare for the contest against
the prohbitionists.
What Candidates Think
The local option candidates for governor
have had little to say on the proposition
of calling a party convention though it is
not believed that they would oppose the
movement. So far as they are concerned,
it would be a splendid idea to organize
the local option forces for the purpose of
defeating the old amendment crowd
though they think it would be unwise to
attempt to name candidate.
All three of the local option candidates
would unquestionably attend such a con-
ference if called, and would undoubtedly
agree to abide by whatever platform
should be drafted They, too, consider
the present fight similar to that in 1909,
and as loyal local optionsts would pledge
themselves to adhere to the principles of
the party.
However. they have apparently given
little thought to the convention plan.
Each candidate is conducting a vigorous
campaign in the advancement of his par
ticular interests, and each is more or less
confident that he will secure the nomina-
ton
Charles Henderson is talking less than
the other candidates. a characteristic of
Mr. Henderson, though he is unqueston-
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