The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-14
GOV. COMER THINKS THAT ALAbAMA|SAT HEART PROGRESSIVE Formal Statement on Elec- tiOn Result Issued by De-
 feated Candidate
DOES NOT GRIEVE
 OVER THE RESULT
Regrets That Cotton Mills Were Raised as Issue Because He Says State Needs More
 of Them

B. h. tomef, despite hls defeat Mon day, believes that Alabama "at heart Is progressive" Because he holds that belief. he says that he does not grieve because of his defeat
 The former governor issued a formal statement yesterday afternoon. He de- clares that with one reversal great principles do not die The principles enumerated are regulation of corpora tions and the right of the people to maintain a clean electorate
 significant feature of the state ment Is the regret expressed by Mir. Conner because cotton mills were rung into the late campaign. made an issue of that campaign. as he expresses 1t. He declares that Alabama, third cot ton producing state. has too lew mills | should have more and more until Ala bama was able to spin all the cotton that 1t produces
 In regard to child labor. he declares that children who work In the mills are often better paid and better pro- vided for than children who labor in the planting and growing of cotton.
 His statement complete follows;
 "On reading the election returns I telegraphed MT. Henderson, wishing him a successful administration.
 Before dismissing the campaign and resuming my business. I wish to ex- press to Col. A. M. Garber and Gen. Bibb Graves, my campaign manager and assistant manager. my sincere thanks for their faithful friendship and self sacrificing service. They gave their all of time and energy and shall cherish them gratefully. My thanks and appreciation are extended to all my friends and supporters. both individual, organizations and press l am sure they are abiding the results as cheerfully as l am and with the same determination to be always ready to contend for the public good as they see it when the fight Is on. l have no doubt our friends. the travelling men, who so promptly organized and who did such earnest and effective work, will set us all a good example in cheerful acceptance of results and a happy spirit of willingness to co- operate with whoever and whatever cause promises best for. the state and the people in the future.
 "Our purpose in this campaign was to sustain a great principle of government which we sincerely believe in both then | to stand for. All statements made in our literature were intended to advance this principle, and we believe them to be cor rect In all their facts and deductions
 Death of Principles
 Great principles, like the regulation of public service corporations, and the duty as well as the right of the people to regulate their politics uninfiuenced from the outside, do not die with one reverse.
 "M thought the people believed any of the many stories told about me as burgers to frighten the vote. would view the result less contentedly. l am sure they do not, for at no place l have ever lived and in no business have ever fol- lowed, can any improper transaction be traced to me. Nor can anyone trace to my administration governor one single act with motive of personal gain be- hind it.
 One matter that was dragged into the campaign had no proper place there. It will be unfortunate if the cotton mills as an industry shall suffer from hav- ing been made an issue. No industry fin the state lives closer to the law. Child bor laws and child labor conditions are improving so far the cotton mills are concerned. as fast as the conditions of the people who supply the demand for mill labor will permit.
 Defends Cotton Mills
 we must not compare mill people with those of the best circumstances but with those whom the Great Naaarene said, We will always have the poor Alabama Is the third state In cotton production but we have only few mills It is to our interest to have more and more and still more until we shall spin all the cotton we grow. This is not the interest only of the farmers. of the merchants the business men and real estate men. but of the laborers In the mills. The children who spin cotton In Alabama are better off than many of those who raise 1t. Their earnings are very greatly in- creased and their educational advantages are the best of any children in the state whose parents depend O. their daily labor for support
 TT have tried to be progressive along all lines both in my private life and my public career. I have tried to do my part to keep the democracy of Alabama in line with the democracy at Washing ton as represented by Mir. Wilson lIf thought my defeat meant the slipping back for any long period of time of our people of Alabama into old grooves and channels. I would gricve over the cleo ton. I am strong in the faith that this state as wall as this nation is at heart 1rogrssatva B. B. CoHuR."