The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-09-23
CONFER THOMPSON LETTER
AS QUOTED BY HARTWELL
HAS STIRRED THE STATE
Quotations From Hartwe Original Interview and His
The Herald Contrasted Show Mobile Regards Pro
hbton Question Settled ard is Therefore Favorable
TO Corner's Candidacy Since He Does Not Regard
Prohibition As An Issue in Campaign
By HUGH W. ROBERTS

port, Mobile would support Mr.. Conner
The impression was also gathered and
$50 reported that Mr.. Conner had de-
clared himself for Temperance. and
| that f the local optionists thrust the
fight upon him he would stand for
temperance"
it is quite possible that Mr.. lIartweu
did not intend to convey the impress
sion which the reporter gained and
published, although the seeming cor
rectness of the reporters interpreta-
,tion is borne out in the fact that he
was not the sole individual who gained
similar impression. The interview
was not dictated and was reported
from memory. as the majority of in
terviews are reported. No effort was
made to do the impossible and report
the statement verbatim. If Mr.. Hart
well was misquoted, the error was, of
course. without intention. If the i'm
preston gained was erroneous, or IL it
was not the impression which Mr. Hart
we'll desired to convey. then the mis-
take was an honest mistake, and one
into which the reporter was not alone
in falling.
Regarding the Ledger
Mr.. HartWell, In his statement to the
public published Sunday, did not declare
that the reporter had misquoted him
through intention, or to serve an Interior
purpose, ar to contribute an unsound
sensation to the political campaign.
There was, therefore, little apparent
far
the Birmingham Ledger of intimations
and lurking charges which tended
whether through intention or not, to re-
fleet on the honesty of purpose of the
political reporter of The Age-Herald lit
tie apparent reason for the publication
of an unsigned news item containing
editorial deductions and observations
ba xDd entirely on ex parte testimony and
startling ignorance of the matter under
discussion.
Inasmuch as the man responsible for
the article as it appeared is evidently
lacking in that nicely of refinement
WHICH permits the average individual to
differentiate' between very bad humor and
matter which might contain a serious
reflection. and is therefore lamentably IL
responsible or as Nellie. the Sewing
Girl more to be pitied than scorned, it
is highly probable that his contribution
to the present situation will appeal only
to that element which rejoices over the
miscarriage of fair play, and revels in the
indecencies of journalism.
How About the Letter.?
In the meantime, the letter which Mr..
Conner is alleged to have written to Mr..
Thompson is still unpublished
1t is the key which will Unlock the
door behind which the truth is concealed.
1t is probable that the letter contains
nothing more or less than what Mr.
Conner has declared from various plat
forms specifically in his Tuscaloosa and
Northport debates with one of his op-
ponents, Mr.. Seed.
However, inasmuch as it had been dis
cussed in practically every newspaper of
the state. and inasmuch as concerning
that letter every man aware of the ILL
concealed excitement with which the sit
uation is surcharged, has speculated, it
should be published, every line of it, every
word of it.
Mr.. Conner has declared his willingness
that it be published, He .has raised the
gate of the rabbit-pen. VIII the hare
lean forth2