The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-21
Says O'Neal May Have Com
mitted No Crime But Was
Grossly Careless
GAVE HIM WARNING
JUST ONE YEAR AGO
Does Not Advocate Impeachment, But
Says Present Praiseworthy
Investigation Is Trifle
Too Late

| Tom L. Long, who was seen at his room
| in the Morris hotel last night, said that
| he has not ISSUED CALI for an extra
session of the legislature, as reported,
though he did assert that were he a
member of the legislature he would be
willing to sign a call for an extra ses-
sion if the governor continues to refuse
| to do so.
| Mr. Long further said that he does not
| advocate the impeachment of Gov. EN-
met O'Neal, though he declares that the
governor has been guilty of gross care
| lessness in his management of affairs
connected with the convict department:
i that Governor oNealis present investiga-
ton. which is altogether praiseworthy,
comes a trifle too late
One Great Physician
| There was never but one physician
who could successfully walt until his pa
tient was dead before paying the visit
said Mr.. Long. you recall that when
Lazarus lay at the point of death Mary
and Martha, his sisters, sent for the
Savior, but He was three days late in ar
riving at their humble home. Lazarus
hath been dead three days and stinketh,
He was Informed, but when the stone was
rolled away from the tomb Lazarus
walked forth alive and whole, and the
| stencil was removed
| but Dr. ONeal cannot bring the dead
| opportunity to life, with all his skill, MOI
can he Danish the stencil from the con-
vict management under his administra-
tion.
Many Good Men in Department
! 1t is lar from my purpose to say or te
infer that all is rotten in the convict
department. There are a number OF goot
| men in that work in this state [ coult
name many of them, like Lon Greer, Boi
Coleman, Warden Johnston and DR.. j. II
Fowler, at Wetumpka, Mr.. Trawicl an,
others, who are honorable, capable men
and who are my friends
| 1T is about one year ago since l frs
called the attention of the governor t.
certain Irregularities in the convict de
partment that had come under my notice
| Had the governor shown some of tn,
same zeal at that time in his investiga
lions that he is now displaying the stat,
| would have been saved many thousa nd
of dollars, and the governor would hav,
! been spared the embarrassments whicl
must now be his.
Demanded an Open Hearing
| Il refused to be a party to sta
| chamber investigation of the charge,
| had made, but demanded of the gov.
ernor an open hearing, where the pub
lie would be given the opportunity t,
learn and to judge whether or not | hae
spoken the truth. This was denied
me-
"Over my protest an alleged inves.
| tigation was held behind closed doors
| The defendants only were heard anf
| on their denials of the charges / hac
| made the governor reported that m,
| charges had no foundation In fact.
1T is so easy to mistake ones mean
| ing in an informal interview that
| feel certain that those who have quoted
me as issuing a CALI for an extra ses-
| sion and favoring the summary i'm
peachment of the governor honestly
| misunderstood what / may have said
in discussing this unpleasant ques-
ton
Legislature Should Investigate
| Il do not charge that Governor
| O'Neal has committed any such crime
| or felony as to merit impeachment
| but l do say that the legislature and
not the governor and his associates
should be charged with the duty and
responsibility of making complete
investigation of the scandal in the
convict department. and of enforcing
such precautions for the government OF
that department as to make impossible
a repetition of such disgrace to Ala
bama."