The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-23
Understood All Litigation
Now Pending Will Be
Withdrawn From the
Various Courts
LACY'S CASE WILL
GO TO TRIAL AT THE
CAPITAL TOMORROW
Montgomery Thinks Underwood Is a
Landslide Winner, Conner Will
Get Plurality and Charles
Henderson Will be the
"Runner-Up"
By HUGH w. ROBERTS


Montgomery, February 22-(Special J
The railroads have surrendered After
the first Monday in March,, the differ
tnces which have long existed between
the state and the common carriers will
exist no more. After that date. the
railroad rate issue on. which in the
past candidates achieved positions of
honor and trust, Will be eliminated
from Alabama politics.
h These are conclusions reached by we'll
Informed people in Montgomery as a
result of the conference held yester-
day between officials of the state and
attorneys of the Louisville and Nasn-
Vile, the Western of Alabama, the
Central of Georgia, and Nashville. Chat
tanooga and st. Louis railroad.
Between the officials and attorneys
1t is generally believed that an agree
|, ment was reached, and that after this
! . greement has been officially approved
by the railroad commission on the first
Monday in March, its provisions will
be made public. As to the terms. no
statement can be procured. From what
Is commonly believed. however the
surrender of the common carriers was
complete. 1t is understood that they
will put into effect the 26-cent pas
sanger rate and the 10 commo odity bill
amplified to include many necessities
OF life which that famous bill does
got contain. that they will yield any
II protection which certain injunctions of
federal judges might have afforded, and
will withdraw from the courts all APP
pealed litigation.
al this triia--aud TINT :
everyone here believes-there will be
no longer ground for contention that
railroad rates furnish issue in Ala
balusl politics This will ttsect. natu-
rally. the platform on which Ex-Gov-
crnor B. r. Conner Is attempting again
to acquire the chair of governor His
friends contend, however. that despite
Nthe elimination of that issue. the for
mer governor will not be handicapped
IN his race
On the other hand, the friends Of
Charles Henderson, president of the
railroad commission, and a candidate
for governor, are jubilant. They point
out that Mr. Henderson. by diplomacy,
has accomplished without furore and
unnecessary expense to the state all the
results which Mr.. Conner, after long
trawn out and expensive litigation,
|. failed to accomplish.
In the trial of Theodore Lacy. Mont
h gomery is deeply Interested
1t is learned that, in all probability,
whAn the case is called Tuesday morn
Ing. both sides will answer ready
What will be developed is matter
of speculation entirely. The plans of
the defense have been concealed with
remarkable success
Some declare that Lacy Will confess
and ask for the shortest sentence. 9th
ers contend that he will fight bitterly
every inch of the way.
There is no question but that the ma
. iority of people believe that sensational
evidence will be introduced. From the
iii suppressed excitement prevalent
here. there is no doubt but that the
courtroom will be packed every hour
of the trial
IN regard to the Lacy case, it was
reported today that Ex-Governor B. B.
Corner will be summoned to appear as
witness. & ESQ
rhe candidate, has been quoted as
having said that during his administra-
tion. mo one took the money of the
state behind the capitol and divided
It up"
This is construed by certain local at
torneys as an insinuation that someone
during the present administration did
take the money behind the capitol and
|. divide it among certain people. These
attorneys consider it possible that Mr..
Conner has certain information Wnlch
might prove of value.
II case the ex-governor is placed on
the stand. he will be asked to explain
the reasons for the change made in
the law during his administration as a
result of which the president of the
convict bureau may retain in his pos
session a quarter of a million of dollars
without protecting the state in the
way of bond.
As concerns politics the Montgomery
OPINION comedies with that of Birming-
ham.
Underwood will win by a landslide
(Continued on Page TyvO)