The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1913-10-08

penditure ever made for conducting the
states affairs for one year prior to his
administration of SO, 600.
fThese are the views of this former
governor-candidate as to state extrav-
agencies.
Il wish to know II the people of Ala
bama areswilling to have such enormous
increases made in the conducting of the
states affairs? l think not, butt do think
the candidate advocating such extrava-
gancies will never again be given an op-
portunlty by the people of Alabama to
carry out his threat of increasing the
states expenditures to this enormous
amount
Roads Ordered TO Reduce Rates
Lets see if my views of controlling
railroads are well founded. I stated. as
quoted above that an order of the rail-
road commission, in my judgment, would
be stronger before the courts than would
legislative enactments. Since making this
declaration the railroad commission of
Alabama, of which I have the honor to
be president has, after fair, careful and
Impartial hearings, made orders requir-
ing certain railroads in the state of Ala
bama to establish a passenger rate of
"a cents per mile. These rates are now
In effect on one of the most important
lines, and | have no doubt but that in
very short while will be in effect on
every line within the state of Alabama
and this in face of the fact that the
lines of railway affected by this order
went to the supreme court of the United
states in an endeavor to secure an in
junction against the order of this commits
sion, made after a full. free and inn
partial hearing. These results have been
obtained in accordance with my views
while on the other hand, the legisla-
tive-made rates. which were established
SIX years ago, are permanently enjoined
/ in the courts.
1T would appear that my views on this
question are confirmed. while in contra
| distinction to these views, the candidate
referred to insists that he must be elect
ed governor and that he must have his
| own rubber stamp legislature, that he
may control the common carriers of the
state of Alabama. He says this in one
breath. and in the next breath says that
the railroad commission of Alabama can
control the common carrier, but for all
that, that 1t is necessary for him to be
governor, that this may be done. If he
thinks the railroad commission of Ala
bama has the authority to control com
mon carriers, and thinks it is not doing
IT'S duty in view of the above cited acts
| then he would better serve the people
| OF the state of Alabama If he would wait
a couple of years and run for president
| of the railroad commission He does not
seem to be satisfied with anything that
| may be done, insofar as it relates to
common carriers of the state of Alabama
| that is done with decency and in order
The third proposition that laid down
relative to local option, this candidate
| hereinabove referred to, says is not an
| issue. In other words. just and reason
/ able taxation, with him, is not an issue,
| the control of the liquor traffic, either
| by local option or statewide prohibition,
| is not an issue neither is the control of
l common nv rail n
! sion of Alabama, which is authorized
| to control them. an issue, but from his
| viewpoint. the sole issue before the peo-
pie of Alabama is that of controlling
common carriers by the governor of the
| state.
Liquor Question Before People
| The liquor question is before the peo-
+, pie of Alabama, and 1t is an issue that
| they are Interested in. The people of Ala
bama are interested In this question as
| to whether the traffic shall be controlled
under the local option laws authorizing
each county to stipulate whether it shall
sell liquor, or whether it shall be con-
| trolled by statewide prohibition bill.
regardless of how the Individual county
| anected may regard such an act. The
| candidate above referred to says he would
sign statewide prohibition bill If it
were passed. No one in the state of Ala
hama, that we have ever heard of. with
the possible exception of the Mobile Reg
| lister, has been advised by this candidate
whether or not. he favors statewide
prohibition act, or whether he favors the
present local option laws It does not
satisfy the people of Alabama to know
that he would sign a statewide prohibi-
ton bill, without knowing whether or
not he favors the enactment of such a
| bill.
mo one has advocated more zealously
than has he, that the chief executive of
state had the right. and that it was
his duty to initiate legislation that the
people where interested in. and we all
| know that his previous record would bear
| this out. Therefore, let him saw to the
people of Alabama whether or not. if
elected governor. he would use his hest
endeavors to maintain upon the statute
books the present local option laws gov
erning the liquor traffic, or whether he
would advocate and aid the passage of
a statewide prohibition bill These are
plain. pointed questions. and the people
| desire an answer thereto.
] 1T will not do for this candidate
| through certain influences. to endeavof
| to reach out for certain local option senti-.
ment, and advise them that their saliva
ton depends upon their securing the SEN
ate SO that the present local option laws
| cannot be changed while his campaign
manager, is writing letters to strong
| statewide prohibitfonists over the state
advising them to keep their eyes on the
! Senate and be sure that the combined
interests do not capture it.
1T must be patent to the people of Ala
| hama that this candidate is trying to
dodge real issues, and that he is irving
| to create an issue suitable to himself:
viz, that no one can control common
carriers in the state of Alabama not
understanding the laws that are on the
| statute books. except the governor. and
| that he should be the governor for that
purpose. What excuse has this candidate
| got to make to the people of Alabama II
there are not proper laws on the statute
he oks to control common carriers? The
very minute that he has the ten,erity to
| say that there are not proper laws on
| the statute books of the state of Alabama
to control common carriers. he then and
there declares himself an incompetent.
1t is well known to all men in the state
that this same candidate was governor