The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-04-15
TIE AeE-HERAID, TUESDAY. APRIL Is, 1913

mis- testimony before any jury OF his fell
low citizens II was right and proper
that the value of his testimony should
have been demonstrated to the people of
Alabama. This investigation is a pub
lie investigation because 1t was desired
that the people of Alabama should un-
derstand the facts from the testimony
of the witnesses sworn and examined In
the open, and thus enable them to Judge
for themselves. In any case where the
committee has impeaching testimony it
will proceed to use 1t In order that the
pc ople OF Alabama may have the oppor-
tunity to know what credibility and
weight to give it.
MIR Long is impeached, however, by
other written testimony. Ills written
statement shows that he was an abso-
iutey unfit candidate for appointment
on the tax commission, because IT. shows
that he desired to he thereon not as a
representative of the state of Alabama
but as special representative of the
mineral district of Alabama. IL which his
property lies and which is the habitat of
a group OF large corporations, for the
purpose of reducing the valaes at whic,
their property was assessed fer taxation.
He was probably unconscious of the effect
of this statement, but the expression of
his reasons for desiring the appointment
as shown in the paper read by him is
conclusive as To his infitness for the Of
flee.
Confirms Reports
This admission confirms the reports
made to me as to Mr. Longs unfitness
for that position when | was consider
ing his candidacy for office. on the
commission he would have been the
servile representative of special inter-
ests and would have betrayed, with
out CULVER of conscience, the state
which he represented That is why in
pressing his application for the position
in letter to me of date January Is,
1911, he says: My head is set on being
member of the state tax commission
and | want you to put me there
Recognizing the duty which | owed
tc the state and being determined to
perform it with fidelity and all the
Intelligence at my command. even
though ii involved the denial OF the
office hunger of a supposed friend, |
declined to put Mr.. Long on this board
because | did not intend that the states
interest should be confided to treach-
orous or unworthy hands.
THAT I arrived at this conclusion
was probably the genesis of the pres-
ent animosity which Mr.. Long so de-
lights in expressing toward me- This
was accentuated by my refusal to APP
point him as purchasing agent for the
convict department. In the written
statement read by him Mr.. Long says
Then he voluntarily suggested and
stated that he had a better place in
store for me. one that he thought
would fill with credit and had the nee
essary experience in the purchasing OF
supplies and goods, and he then Of
fered me the place of purchasing agent
for the state convict department.. Short
ly thereafter he explained to me that
he was embarrassed about this APP
no tf1f1 ha Caf
man, whose name ii is not necessary TO
mention, claimed that the governor had
promised him this position before he
was elected governor.
The governor stated that he thought
| was better fitted for the place and
that to relieve matters of this embar-
rassment that he thought he would let
the impression go out that he would
refer the matter of appointment to
MIR. Oakley and that Mr.. Oakley would
appoint me. The governor stated fur
ther that this would take very little
of my time and that / would have an
office in Birmingham with a clerk and
only a few days in each month would
be required of my time away from my
business in order to make the different
purchases. Thereupon l saw Mr.. Oakley
and told him what the governor had
state. Mr.. oakley said that it would
be all right, that there was not man
in Alabama he would rather see get
the appointment than myself and If it
was left to him l could count on the
place, or words to this effect. The next
heard about the matter was that Mr..
Oakley had appointed, or caused to be
appointed. Mr.. Huckabee, who / am in
formed and believe had very little or
practically no experience in the buy
ing OF supplies and merchandise, Mr.
Huckabee being a mining engineer at
the time. The governor or Mr.. Oakley
never afterwards mentioned this ap-
pointment or explained it in any way
/, of course, was unable to explain
their action
THAT Mr.. Longs testimony that 1
voluntarily offered him the position of
purchasing agent for the convict de-
partment is false in toto is conclusively
shown by the letter above quoted in
which he applied for that position. Why
should any man make an application for
a position which has been voluntarily
offered to him? The truth of the matter
is that never promised Mr.. Long vol
UNFAIRLY or otherwise any position,
which is undoubtedly the cause of his
present bitter animosity. My informa-
tion derived from people who knew
him well was that he was unfit for ap-
pointment to a position of trust. He
came to see me at Florence prior to my
appointment on the tax commission. 1
then told Mr.. Long that l had pub
licly stated / would enter upon my term
as governor unhampered by any pledge
or committal to any person whomso-
ever, and that | would not relax the
rigid application of this rule in the
case of any applicant.
Most Friendly Feeling
81 stated to him ] had a most friendly
feeling toward him and that it would be
a pleasure to me If | found 1t consistent
with my duty to appoint him, but that
would make no promises and that in all
meters of appointment | should always
reserve the right to exercise untrammeled
Judgment in selecting my appointees
until their commissions were delivered to
them.
MIR. Long suggests in his writing that
told him on account of promise to