The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-27
Conner BACK FROM
HIS F ANGUS TRIP
Will Spend Most of Week in
Barbour County
DISCUSSES HIS SPEECH
Requests That Some Minor Correc-
tions Be Maze Regarding Ger
tain References to Well
Known Men of State

After visiting Cedar Bluff subsequent
to his memorable address at Gaines
chapel, which has placed that locality
upon the map of Alabama. B. b. Conner,
former governor, has returned home.
After resting today he will leave for
Union Springs 1GO miles from Blrming-
ham. Tomorrow he will speak from the
same platform as John H. Wallace, and
whether the two candidates will make the
trees bend with their oratory is specula-
tive. The affair is not joint debate, but
one of those singular coincidents that will
occur in politics from time to time.
The former governor met the newspaper
correspondents yesterday who reported
his address at Gaines chapel, and out
of a speech of 25,O00 words-estimated by
the official stenographer-the former gov
ernor requests only three minor correc-
tions.
The reporters in referring to the Alamo
gas deal, which electrified this state for
the time being, but which resulted in the
exoneration of those involved, quoted the
governor as saying 'steal" instead of
deal" He said yesterday: 1.-THE quo
tatons as to that passage of my speech
were correct excepting that l did not say
steal but did say deal p"
The reference to e. A. DeFuniak, as
sistant general freight agent for the
Louisville and Nashville, was inaccur-
ate, he said in one particular, and the
former governor wanted that cor
rected.
Governor Conner says: You made me
say that DeFuniak made the affidavit
connected with my alleged cousin on
which I sued the papers, the Louis
Vile and Nashville and B. NJ. Starks,
general manager. AS a matter of fact,
said DeFuniak was an easy swearer
for the Louisville and Nashville He
assisted in the frame-up but did not
make the affidavit.
The former governor pointed out an
other discrepancy and that was in ref
erence to the Howard Douglass-Ja
Weatherly-J. S. B. Thompson aband-
oned fishing trip. In explanation of that
he said last night:
1T was great honor to be asked
to Howard Douglass place. 1t was
fine hunting and fishing ground.
Weatherly presumed to ask me because
he was a brother-in-law of Douglass
When I learned that ]. S. B. Thomp-
son, political manager for the South
ern, was going, of course | declined
to go. I mentioned that incident and
the New man incident of Atlantic City
to show the processes of environment.
I meant no reflection on the late Mr..
Thompson or the late Mr. Douglass or
Mr. .Weatherly. As a matter of fact,
Thompson was a very smart man and
earned every cent he was paid. SO
was Col Jeff Faulkner, for that mat
ter"
Governor Conner 1aughingly remarked
that his speech as reported seemed to
have "stirred up the animals" He said,
however that his real big speech had
not been delivered. 1t is expected that
he will make that address within the next
few weeks. Governor Conner will go to
his Barbour county plantation Tuesday
and remain there several days
The speech delivered at Gaines Chapel
was extemporaneous. He had no writ
ten speech, but overflowed with pent up
resentment over the alleged action of the
Louisville and Nashville railroad in this
state. The former governor, 1t is said.
did not have the remotest idea of deliv-
ering such a speech until he saw the
spreading branches of the oak tree. He
started calmly enough but soon began
to take the hide off.