The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-13
Charges Are Denied

plurality plan. and that the object o.
Charges Are Denied
Colonel Greene's statement follows:
solicitor Tate, while delivering an ad.
dress at Cullman last Saturday in tht
interest of Charles Henderson. a candi-
date for governor, charged. according Il
newspaper dispatches which have moi
been questioned up to the present time
that one of the attorneys or the powei
company, a candidate for attorney gen.
eral and a member of the state demo-
cratic executive committee. fought 70.
Mr.. Conner at the last meeting of the
committee, fought for the p.urality plan
in the interest of Mr.. Conner. whereas
resigned from the committee.
MIR. Tate did not call my name. but
he described me. and in view of the fact
that | am the only candidate for attorney
general who.is a member of the commit.
tee, there is no question as to whom
he meant.
Il desire to say in reply. f1rst, that
am not an attorney of the Alabama Power
company. I have served that company
in special litigation but have never beer
retained by that company. Secondly. !
did not fight for the plurality pan in the
interest of Mr.. Conner. I fought for that
plan because I thought 1t right. be-
cause the majority of candidates for
minor office. and the majority of the
people, demanded that plan. fought foi
it because I realized that were the effort
the cry of ring politics would rever-
berate throughout the state As to wheth-
er or not | was guilty of an mfractioa
of ethics in remaining a member OF
the committee, that is Il matter sub
iect to a difference of opinion. | will
say, however that before | concluded
to remain a member | acquired the con-
semitic approval-of my three competi-
tors for the office of attorney general.
SHene in Room 514
'I went to Montgomery with a deter
mination to resign. Why I did not dc
so is rather a long story. but had
followed the course of least resistance
and yielded the principle | knew to be
right. | would have resigned. For un-
pleasant pressure was brought to, beai
against me.
"On the evening before the meeting OF
the committee, when there was reasonable
doubt as to whether or not the majority
plan would be successful, Col. John Mof
fatt, recording secretary of the governor
Informed me that the governor wanted
to speak with me. 1 was directed tc
rooms 514-515.
When I entered rooms 514 / found
the governor. Frank p. Glass, an editor
strongly opposed to Mr.. Conner. and 9TH
ers. The governor wantes to know il
it was true that ] favored the plurality
plan.
When I told him that his information
was correct, he replied
" Then you are for old Conner
Il answered In the negative When he
pressed me to give reason, I told him
that in my opinion the success of the
effort aimed at Mr.. Conner would give
substance to the cry alreaGv ringing
throughout the state in regard to ring
politics, and that the success of the plan
would tend undeservedly to hurt the
cause of Oscar Underwood.
"The governor. whereupon exclaimed.
What to h-ll has Oscar Underwood to
do with it or To h--ll with Underwood.
or words to that effect
Scene in Room 515
Il decided that it was time for me
to say goodby, and | did SO. Later, |
was called to room 5l5 ana there wa :
renee Cooper in regard to my probable
successor for ii was then my determine =
ton to retire from the committee
told them the name of the man whom
desired to succeed me, but was unable
to tell them whether or not that man
would vote for the majority plan. I
learned afterwards that an effort was
afoot to defeat the man for whom | had
agreed to stand, and that the effort would
be successful. Whereupon, ! determined
to hold my position. and in this determine
ton, secured the approval of the candi-
dates for attorney general VINO are my
opponents.
Il regret exceedingly that | have been
dragged into the guberna torial campaign
| am candidate for attorney genera
and am neither actively supporting nor
opposing any candidate for governor 1t
occurs to me, however thar when Mr..
Tate. seeking to discredit me, uses the
word duty he should remember tha
he Is in the service of the state and
that the state does not rem;nerate him
to Indulge in political campaigns out
of his districts. or to make gratuitous