The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-14
Conner WILLING TO
MEET CANDIDATES
ON THE HUST|NGS
But Will Not Agree to Ar
range for Joint Debates
in Advance
WILLING TO DIVIDE
TIME ANYWHERE
Will Deliver Confession of Faith" at
Opelika-Names Nesbitt as Cam
paign Manager-Leayes
for New York

The confession of faith of former
Gov. B. b. Conner will be delivered in
Opelika during next month. He an
nounces that lie will meet any candi-
date for governor in joint discussion
at any of his scheduled addresses. He
announces the appointment of w. D..
Nesbitt as his campaign manager
Governor Conner made this statement
yesterday before leaving for the east.
My confession of faith and declar-
alton of principles on which l will stand
for election will be made at Opelika in
about four weeks.
"W. d. Nesbitt will be my campaign
manager.
IT will grant any candidate for gov
ernor a division of time at any of my
appointments at which such candidate
may be present
The last statement of Governor CO.
mer that he will divide time with any
candidate for governor does not in
dicate that there will be no joint de-
bates between Governor Conner and
other candidates. His refusal to meet
Walter D. Seed In joint debate was
taken in some quarters to mean that
the ex-governor did not care to discuss
the issue in joint debate upon the
stump. However. Governor Conner said
yesterday that he would meet any or
all of them at any of his appointments
during the campaign. lie said that he
did not evade any issues or refuse to
meet anyone in joint debate where such
a request for joint discussion was con-
sstent
Will Clear Up All Doubts
The former governor said that his
confession of faith VIII be delivered
at Opelika. on that occasion he will
outline his policies and will clear up
any possible doubts as to what issues
he thinks face the people.
AS to the railroad question, Cover
nor Conner it is believed. Will give
1t as his opinion that the issue is still
here despite the decision of the supreme
court in the Minnesota case. There Will
be, it is understood. a long legal tus-
sic in connection even with the decl-
sion if it is invoked in this state and
Governor Conner, 1t is thought, will un-
dertake to impress upon the voters his
belief that he is still needed to handle
AS for debates the former governor will
meet Mr.. Seed, Mr.. Henderson, Captain
kolb, Mr.. Long, Mr.. Wallace or any of
the rumored or avowed candidates. He
said that he was unafraid and would
divide with them his time whenever they
came across him during the campaign.
Seed Asked the Impossible
Mr.. Seed asked the impossible of me
in his challenge" said Ex-Governor Conner
He wanted me to meet him In a GER
tain number of specified cities or towns
No one could do that 1t would have
been almost impossible. However I did
not refuse to meet him or anyone in
joint discussion. For instance: If ! am
scheduled to speak we will say In Rus
sellville on August 10, and Mr.. Seed hap
pens to appear there or Mr.. Henderson
or any candidate for governor and re-
quest of me division of time / shall
certainly grant them what they ask
Il have no disposition to evade a dis
cussion of my principles following my
Opelika speech The candidates that wish
to debate with me all of them may do
SO under these very reasonable condi-
tions. intend to make my own en~rg
ments and speak where 1t suits me best
If all of the candidates are there and
want to debate with me | shall be ready
and agreeable. On the other hand / do
not intend to make any specific engage
ments to meet any candidate at any
designated place for joint discussion
Regarding Opelika Speech
AS to his Opeika speech, Ex-Governor
Conner said: when l come back from
New York | will make final arrange
ments for the Opelka speech. On that
occasion shall clearly outline my con-
fession of faith. / shall deliver my plat
form and shall leave nothing unsaid to
convince the people exactly how / stand
on the issues of the day. I am preparing
that speech now, and 1t will be delivered
some time during the summer at OpelilSa.
FOLLOWING that speech | shall launch
an active campaign. / intend to speak
III every county of this state perhaps
several times before the campaign closes.
will try to tell the people clearly and
without evasion what they can expect of
me in case they honor ME with the gov
ernor's office. There will be no room
for misconceptions OF my platform or
ideas on recent developments following
that Opelika address,"
Governor Conner left last night for New
York where he will remain two weeks.
He is going east on personal business