The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-25
HENDERSON RAPS
COMER'S RECORD IN
ANN|ST0N SPEECH
Charges Former Governor
Used Money From In
creased Taxation to In
crease Salaries
BY HARRY NJ. AYERS

Admission, january 24-(Special)-Term-
ing legislative rates an abortion" and
pleading for a rule of reason to take the
place of a rule by passion. Judge j. j..
Willett held up Charles Henderson OF
Troy as his candidate for governor IN
introducing him to an audience In the
Calhoun county courthouse at Admission
Saturday morning. and Mr.. Henderson
spoke for about an hour along the lines
of Judge Willett's Introduction. attacking
the administration of b. b. Conner and
recent extravaganza in the states admin
istrative affairs. yet mentioning his chief
opponent by name only once when he
referred to "Comerism."
Mr.. Henderson began his address by
referring to the conference called by him
at Birmingham several years ago to in
augurate the fight ror better railroad
rates and to put an end to railroad domi-
nation In the states affairs. He claimed
that Mr. Conner Esurped the leadership
in this fight only after he saw that it
would be a success and that 1t was popu-
lar He said the state is still suffering
from the litigation resulting from Corners
statutory rates.
Referring to Conner as "he" the speak
er termed him the greatest reactionary
before the people of Alabama. At
taclxing him for alleged increases in taxes
he charged Conner with responsibility for
exempting cotton mills, and then pro-
ceeded to belabor his opponent for his
increases in taxes ana his "profligacy
in the handling of the states affairs.
He charged that out of $165,OO0 collected
under the Conner fertilizer tax, only s2O.0OO
was appropriated to agriculture and that
but a slight amount of the $lOo,oO col
lected from the tax on automobiles was
appropriated to the building and main
tenance of good roads, which he said he
favored. Similar charges were made with
reference to Comers attitude toward the
old soldiers and the common schools, 1t
being stated that the standard In the
schools had actually been lowered from
eight grades to seven.
Mr.. Henderson charged Conner with hav-
ing used the money derived from In
creased taxation to increase salaries,
create offices and build up machine.
Every officer in the statehouse. he said,
had received an increase in salary ex-
cept the railroad commissioners. An evil
dence of the existence of a Conner ma
chine was given, he alleged. at the recent
state committee meeting. when "a horde
of officeholders' appeared in behalf of
the former governor.
Temperance Record Attacked
Mr.. Comer's temperance record was also
attacked by the speaker who accused the
former executive of <.crouching in his Of
flee for fear someone would hear an ex-
preston from him ON prohibition" during
the recent campaigns in Alabama.
Mr.. Henderson dwelt at some length on
his record as a member of the Alabama
iailroad commission, stating that he had
Srafted the two laws which the courts
would have allowed to stand, but that
Conner had emasculated these laws and
taken from the. commission the power to
regulate rates and given that power to
the legislature. He also declared in favor
of giving the railroad commission control
over public utility corporations operating
in cities.
the statement that Alabama is now pass
ing through Hells Gate" and charged the
responsibility of this state of affairs to
Comerism, that being the nearest ap-
proach he made to a mention of his chief
opponent by name, none of the other
candidates being considered in his ad-
dress.
Following Mr.. Henderson's address.
Capt A. p Agee introduced Solicitor
Lloyd Tate of the Fifteenth judicial cir
cult who termed himself the Aaron
speaking in behalf of the Moses who is
to lead Alabama out of the political will
derness. He stated that in his opinion
there are only two candidates in the
field, Conner and Henderson. He admitted
that Mr.. Henderson is not an orator,