The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-09-03
Submits Court Records to
Show Activity of L. & N.
Railroad in Alabama
Politics

b. B. Conner, former governor and
candidate for governor. issues this
morning a formal petition for federal
investigation of an alleged 'insidious"
lobby alleged to be working in Ala
bama at the present time.
The petition is addressed to the peo-
pie of Alabama, to the federal Con-
gress, to the Attorney General of the
United States, and to the interstate
commerce commission The petition is
the vehicle for a review of the charges
which Mr.. Conner has hitherto made
against the Louisville and Nashville
railroad, and the proof which he Of
fers to sustain his charge that the
Louisville and Nashville railroad is at
lthe present time maintaining a lobby
in Alabama. is based on the testimony
aduced in libel suit brought by the
former governor to the effect that the
agents of the railroad spent over $142,-
900 and organized the other employees
of the railroad in futile effort to de-
feat Mr.. Conner in 1904 for the presi-
dency of the railroad commission.
Mr.. Conner will give his petition wide
circulation He states that it will be
placed in the hands of every voter of
the state The people will await the
reply of Congress with interest
The formal petition is as follows:
To the People of Alabama, to the Fed
eral Congress, to the Attorney General
and to the Interstate Commerce Com
mission:
| respectfully call your attention to the
facts submitted in this address, and
earnestly appeal to the state and national
governments to redress the wrongs herein
set FORTH Nothing can be more lsubyer-
sive of independent government than the
corporate political activities herein de-
scribed and proof of the existence of
which is herein established. I ask the
cooperation of every citizen and every
arm of the State and national govern
ments in our efforts to compel the Louis
vile and Nashville railroad and its allied
forces to withdraw their baneful influence
from the politics of Alabama.
Exposure in Court
1t is true that the court exposure of
the political activities of the Loupisville
the political activities of the Louisville
is repeatedly made, Is of several years
standing. This exposure came because
of libel suit, not yet finished, but the
verify of which the state supreme court
has fully sustained in three decisions.
While today there Is no new libel suit,
brought, and should be brought, to bear
OH its present conduct, would show. either
in process or in actual fact, the same con-
ditions, VIZ: The Louisville and Nash
vile Railroad company's attempting con-
troll of the government of Alabama and
its effort to regain complete domination
of the state and the people.
At all times the Louisville and Nash
Vile rairoad has maintained in Montgom-
cry. the seat of the STATE government,
a skilled political manager not. for his
legal services, but as a political lawyer,
who was charged with unsleeping care,
to nip in the bud" every independence
of thought or action.
How 1t Was Done
Its potentiality to control was accom-
plished by financing leading papers, by
specious advertising. by retaining many
important citizens in varied employment,
by the use Of free passes distributed
where they would contribute most to the
environment of the beneficiary, thus
creating a powerful lobby state wide in
its extent easy of assembly, even on teie-
graphic notice-alI at the expense of the
people,
| With the above conditions as a predi-
cate the Alabama freight rates and
freight rate conditions were made by q
| foreign traffic manager, unchallenged by
the interest of the people
| Since the beginning of, state or nation
building, 1t has been recognized that true
political economy demands that those
agencies which contribute to local and in
dividual prosperity shall have first place
| Every policy of the Louisville and Nash
| Vile road has been adverse to local up
building, even to the extent of hog-tieins
cities and communities and industries
Rivers and Ports
| The freight rate conditions at every
railroad crossing of the Tennessee, of she
Tombigbee, of the Warrior. and of the
| Alabama, compared with any railroad
river crossing in the world. and the
! freight rate conditions of Mobile com.
pared with any freight conditions of ans
port in any civilized country evidence 4
condition which should, by the nationa
| government, through its interstate com
merce commission, be declared intoera.
| BILE and speedily relieved.
| The Louisville and Nashville railroad
great IN its construction and manage
ment. impatient OF control unhesitatin,
In its purpose to dominate. regardless o
| thes peoples rights. has written in tn,
Journals of three states Its bullying meth
cd OF coercion. bribery. even assassina.
tion. Watterson, through the Courier
Journal, charged this relentless corpor
alton with numbering Governor Goebel
l-shooting him from the window of th,
Kentucky capitol. just as much so as Ma
(Centlnued on Page Ten)