The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-11
Tuscaloosa Man Mentions
Some Things Upon Which
He and Conner Disagree
NO INTENTION OF
ABANDONING RACE
Thinks Comer's Administration Is
Subject to Criticism and That the
Former Governor Should Be
Willing to Defend Himself

Intimating that if B. B. Conner and
Charles Henderson are consistent they
will now bend their energies toward ac-
quiring the presidency of the railroad
commission in the coming campaign.
Lieutenant Governor Walter d. Seed
came to Birmingham yesterday.
lie considers the rairoad rate issue
in Alabama settled by the decision of the
supreme court in the Minnesota case, and
that inasmuch as the decision has been
made, both Mr.. Conner and Mr. Hender-
son are deprived of the greater portion
Of their campaign thunder.
1t was the first appearance in Br-
into the gubernatorial campaign, and he
issued his first interview since his chal-
lenge to Mr.. Conner that he be met in
debate before the citizens of 30 citiees in
Alabama He spent the day here and an
nounced his prospects exceedingly fine.
He boasts that he has the logical plat
u
his rate issue and having only partially
embraced prohibition is as ship without
a rudder.
Conner and the Panic
"The newspapers" said Mr. Seed. "have
printed matter to the effect that I have
spent most of my time flaying Mr. Conner.
The reports were In error. I have dis
=
quite frankly, but have said nothing un-
kind or which might properly be consid-
| cred harsh.
For instance, I have not stated that
Mr.. Conner is responsible for the panic
of 1907. l did say however, that Mr.
| Conner and u other governors who served
at that time contributed their part to-
wards the panic, and that the panic, but
| for this contribution. would have been
| less severe.
| II was very anxious to get Mr.. Conner
| on the stump with me. He has said that
there is nothing debatable between u.s.
And yet in his other campaign, he de-
| clared Dr. Cunningham platform as
i good as his own, and yet insisted that
| the doctor meet him in debate. He aft
erwards boasted that he had run Cum
ningham off the stump.
| Some Points of Difference
ut Is probable that Mr. Conner and do
| agree on several matters. But / am GER
| tain that / do not agree with him in
! regard to child labor
| Il am out and out a prohibitionist a
| statewide prohibitionst, and Mr.. Conner
| has not announced straightforwardly for
| prohibition
"And then he still upholds his admin
] istration. think that his admin
, istration is subject to criticism. There is
| the matter of eXtravagances. And there
| is the matter of taking certain revenue
| out of the treasury and leaving 1t for
a quarter in the hands of the president
of the convict board.
"It might be stated that the governor
cannot be held responsible for every little
bill that the Legislature enacts. But this
| particular bill must have been closely
scrutnized by Mr.. Conner, for 1t made
| him the practical head of the convict
department.
Change i'm Convict Routine
Nov. l do not hold Mr.. Conner or his
son-in-law, Craig Smith. responsible for
any recent trouble in the convict depart
| ment. But Z do contend that that bill
was an unwise measure. Mr.. Conner must
have known that he could not have
been governor always. and that such
| an excellent man as Mr.. Smith could not
have always served the state as pres
ident OF the convict board. In the hands
of men truly honest, the money was
safe But then there was no way OF
foretelling whether or not all succeeding
men would be honest
MIR. Seed was in great good humor. He
has been doing considerable campaign
work, and declares that he has encoun.
tered fine success.
II desire to state" added he, THAI
no effort by the leaders of the prohibit
tionists have been made to get me tc
retire. / am In the race to the finish an6
feel confident of winning