The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-04-16
Insists That Gaping Rus
tics" Know Whitewash Is
Being Applied at Capital
O'NEAL WOULD LIKE
LET GO, BUT CAN'T
Says Attempts to Browbeat Witnesses
and Hear Only Those With Money
Enough to Pay Expense Are
Whitewash Evidences

when Governor o'Neal said that If
mission would have been the 'servile
representative of special interests who
would have betrayed without quiver of
conscience the state which he represent
ed he was guilty of such a slanderous
untruth as cannot be described in a COM
munication intended for general publica-
tion," declares Tom L. Long of Jasper
in his answer to the statement of Gov
ernor O'Neal, issued Monday night
Mr. Longs statement, made yesterday,
Is as follows:
Governor O'Neal promised at Mont
eomery Monday afternoon that he would
take my hide Off. He Kept this promise
with about the same fidelity that he
has kept his other promises. His wordy
statement in regard to my charges mere
lv scratched his own skin. 1t is OBJ
served that his excellency says. I have
dismissed Mr. Long from further consid-
Grafton or notice. We will see how well
he Keeps his promise before l get through
with rubbing the whitewash from the
different scandals which have made the
o'Neal administration disgrace to Ala
.bama's history. He would like to turn
loose. no doubt but can he?
Has Not Disproved Single Statement
with all of his sophistry Governor
O'Neal has not disproved single state
ment that / have made. His charge that
have sought the 'plaudits of gaping
rustics is worthy of further consldera-
zion.
.sWho are these rustics to whom he
reGers except the plain people of Ala
bama-the men who elected him to the
office which he has held with SO little
regard for. it's duties and responsible
tiles.
g Gaping rustics,' indeedl He did not
call the people of Alabama by such names
when he was running for office, with
whisky money behind him and local op-
ton pledges in front of him. The ma
tional democratic platform has pro-
nounced in favor of the referendum and
recall and it is we'll for the governor
that these principles have not been put
into practice in Alabama. or these rus
ties to whom he refers with so much
contempt would certainly pun him down
from the high seat where he presumes
TO rule as though by divine right. and
assumes that the king can do no wrong
The 'rustics' will have no voice in the
farcical examination of the convict de-
partment that is now in progress at
Montgomery. The governor has said
that there is no money with which to
pay the witnesses attending that investi-
@l,o
payment of the travelling expenses of
such witnesses. Only those who can af-
ford to so TO Montgomery at their own
expense will be heard. How many for
mer convicts who We're overtasked and
: mistreated will be given an opportunity
TO testify before the whitewash board?
II He Would Submit
''rhere is no provision for an election
to determine if a governor should be
permitted to continue to hold an office
which he has filled to the discredit of
the state, but if the governor is willing
to submit the question of his conduct in
office to the people in a special election,
| am certain that the expenses of such
an election will be cheerfully paid by
public subscription. | will pay my share
of this expense and will undertake to
raise the balance, provided he will agree
TO abide by the decision of the people,
His Excellency' refuses to call an extra
session of the legislature. fearing that
his conduct in office will be investigated
by a committee not of his own appoint
ing. SO he might at least agree to sub
nit the question as TO his fitness for his
position to the people of the state.
"rhe statement that my evidence be-
fore the whitewash board was as
barren OF results as expected Is about
I. as near the truth as anything that the
governor has said lately All of the
evidence taken by that board of ex-
aminers of the governors appointing
Is as barren of results as could be
expected. The only result expected Is