The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-27
UNST|NTED PRAISE
GIVEN HENDERSON
BY Conner IN 1912
Strong Endorsement Con-
tanned in Letter to Ken
nedy, Who Managed
Henderson Campaign

Montgomery. July 6.-(Special) )-strons
Endorsement of Charles Henderson by for
mer Governor B. B. Conner is contained
in a letter which the latter wrote Sam
p Kennedy in 1872 during Mr.. Hender-
sons campaign for reelection as presi-
dent of the railroad commission The
text of this letter was made public to-
day by Mr.. Kennedy, who was Mr. Hem
, derson's campaign manager in his race
for reelection to the office of president
of the railroad commission
In this letter of Mr.. Conner, made pub
lie today for the first time, unstinted
praise is given to Mr. Henderson for his
efforts in the freight rate reform fight.
Thes former governor declares that Mr..
Henderson was IAN active co-worl<er in
/ the securing of the present law making
the commission elective and giving them
mere power" and asserts that mir. Hen
derson understands the question and has
been fair and would be of material use
to the producers, consumers and mer-
chants of the state, both as to express
and freight rates and rules of comfy
between these corporations and their pa
irons.
In giving out this letter to the press,
Mr.. Kennedy adds that it is rather singu-
lar how Mr.. Conner has changed in his
view of Mr.. Henderson since 1872 Mr..
Kennedy declares that Mr.. Henderson is
bringing about rather startling results
as "one of the Louisville and Nashville
cattle" lnasmuch as he has been largely
responsible for establishing a 21k cents
passenger rate on that road
The following is the full text of Mr..
Comer's letter in 1912 indorsing Mr.. Hen
derson, together with brief statement
by Mr.. Kennedy:
In letter addressed to me in 1912 while
I was managing Charles Henderson's
campaign for reelection as president of
the railroad commission, and with the
request that l publish his letter Mr.. Co
mer speaks of Mr.. Henderson in the fol-
lowing commendatory terms
Mr.. Henderson has been in the freight
rate reform fight for more than 20 years.
He was an active co-worker in the secur-
ing of the present law making the COM
mission elective and giving them more
power Southeast Alabama, largely
through his active work and influence,
stood solidly that these important policies
should be enacted into the law and car
ried out
1.-THE commission composed of Charles
Henderson, w. d. Nesbitt and John A.
Lusk, was one of the best that this state,
or any state ever had.
'Messrs. Henderson. Nesbitt and LuslS
established for Alabama an equalized and
reduced express tariff, which has greatly
benefited every shipper of the state, par
ticrlary the Mobile fish, oyster and truck
business and the intrastate truck and
produce business everywhere.
Mr. Henderson understands the ques-
ton and has been fair and would be of
material use to the producers, consumers
and merchants of the state both as to
express and freight rates and rules of
comfy between these corporations and
their patrons.
''The railroads have a mark for their
cattle. The Louisville and Nashville mark
is both ears cut off close. Go down to
Montgomery and you will find that both
of Charles Henderson's ears are off.
"Mr Henderson is bringing about rather
startling results as one of the Louisville
and Nashville cattle. viz, the establish
ing of a 2h passenger rate on that road.
1t would be natural to infer that from
the point of net results, that the Louis
vile and Nashville railroad would prefer
Mr.. Conner as the leader of their herd
rather than Mr.. Henderson.
Mr.. Conner now asks that Charles Hen
derson resign as president of the rail-
road commission. Can it be possible that
Mr.. Conner is disturbed over the results
that Mr.. Henderson is bringing about that
he. Mr.. Conner, was unable to accom-
plish?
''The people of Alabama will rightly
corstrue Mr.. Comers right about face in
reference to Charles Henderson"