The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-16
GOVERNOR PLATED | OVER RESULTS IF RECENT PRIMARIES Against His Will He Was Made an Issue in Both
 Campaigns BITTER CHARGES IN BOTH BIG CONTESTS State Administration Was Vindicated to Extent to Which It Had
 Been Made an
 Issue
B, HUGH w. ROBERTS


 There is probably no man in Alabama
 more elated because of the defeat of B.
 B. Conner than the governor of Ala bama.
 For against his will the governor was made an issue in Alabama politics. Cap tain Hobson, believing the present admin istration unpopular. attempted to make the governor sponsor for Oscar w Un- derwood Conner leaders, believing the present administration unpopular, at tempted to make the governor sponsor for Charles Henderson.
 The governor, as matter of fact, was
 not sponsor for Underwood and he was
 not sponsor for Henderson He supported Henderson because he was against Conner. The state administration was vindicated
 as result of both elections to just that | extent to which it was involved The people of Alabama. as was published yes- terday, are to be swayed no more by pas sion. They heard the charges listened, thought over them, and voted without con- sideration of or for the present adminis- tration.
 Governors First Choice The involving of the governor was one rf the interesting features of both cam paigns The governors first choice for senator was not Underwood but Henry II. Clayton. The governors first choice | for governor was not Charles Hender-
 son. Four years ago, Henderson broke With the governor when, on retiring from the gubernatorial race, he declared the liquor forces which had financed the strug- gle against constitutional prohibition, were | demanding pay on their investment And
 after retiring from the field Henderson
 supported H. & D. Mallory of Selma. | Further proof that the governors first choice was not Henderson is offered in
 the fact that last fall he desired to call a convention of local optionisfs for the
 purpose of bringing out a candidate with
 whom to defeat prohibition candidates. Had that convention been held, MT Hen derson, it is generally believed, would not
 have been the choice of the delegates. Despite thes facts. the governor was
 made an issue. He was bitterly antagon- ized by Hobson orators and Conner ora tors. In the senatorial campaign he is sued statement in which he sensationallv asasiled Captain Hobson. In the guberna- torial campaign he was orator of a mass meeting before which he bitterly assailed Mir Conner.
 It is believed that had the governor not been mentioned in either campaign he would have taken no unusual interest in either. That he was mentioned is due to the fact that the candidates. like many others throughout the state, had reached the. conclusion that no man of whom the governor had expressed approval could win before the people The anti-admnis- tration newspapers attempted to injure Underwood by coupling his name with that of the governor, and attempted to injure Henderson by coupling his name with that of the governor
 In the senatorial campaign Captain Hob
 son was especially prolific in his refer ences to the chief executive. At Dade- vile, toward the conclusion of the cam paign, he declared that the governor was an applicant for the federal judgeship then occupied by the late Judge Jones, and that MT. Underwood had agreed to secure
 the berth for him. Neither the governor nor MT. Underwood replied to the asser- ton, though both knew that it was not true. Following the death of Judge Jones' Henry D. Clayton was appointed, and if the governor desired the place, he cer- tainly made no effort. at least no patent effort, to secure the place.
 That MT. Underwood and MT. Henderson were nominated vindicated the governor and his administration to that extent to which both were involved. The governor is naturally elated.
 The People Unperturbed The above is another evidence that the political conjurers have lost their art to sway the people by appealing to their
 passion, to their hatred and the baser side of their natures.
 The people realized that the governor had nothing to do with MT. Underwood and nothing to do with MT. Henderson The people knew that neither wanted the governor to take part in the campaign,
 and they knew that the governor did not desire to take a part in the campaign The people knew that the governor could have no more influence over Mir. Under wood If he was senator than any other Alabamian could, and that Mr. Tender sons election would not mean within itself either the continuation, perpetuation or conclusion of the present administration. The people have acquired the habit of electing the men whom they think most able to serve the needs of the state. Dem- agoguery in Alabama politics has taken