The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-09
Final Rally of Forces Held In Birmingham Last
 Night
PROMINENT MEN ARE AMONG THE SPEAKERS
Prohibitionists and Local Optionists Both Represented Among the Supporters of the Former
 Governor

there will be in the future fair elec- tions. There will be laws written If Legislature can write them which will forever guarantee to the people the right to express themselves in free dom. There will never again be a l double barreled' primary in Alabama There will never again be a campaign manager who will go to Nashville to secure funds from liquor interests for the purpose of debauehing an election There will never again be a governor elected by anybodys money. l pledge my word to this"
 l Thus spoke B. B. Conner at the Co., mer rally last night. And he added
 Word has just reached me that the railroads have today deposited in one bank in neighboring city the sum of $15,0e0. a fund with which to aid the Henderson forces In carrying the election Monday. This sum was de- posted and will be. spent for the pur- pose of debauching the people and per- l petuating the rule of corporations, evil forces, in this state. If l am governor, the legislature will make laws which will end forever such mal- practice
 l Final Formal Blow l The Conner rally represented the final formal blow of the Conner forces
 in Jefferson county. It was held at the Bijou theatre. John w. O'Neill, local optionist. called the meeting to order. Culpepper Exum a local optionist, pre- tct1 1nI T1a ,lr, ID ID. Watt T. Brown of Ragland, Walker Percy, Frank $. White and Samuel Blackwell of Decatur. MT Conner, an swering to calls for him, responded with an address of five minutes. The rally thereafter was a matter of his- tory
 mer were Mir. Exum, MT. O'Neill. Cap l tain White, Captain Blackwell, MT. Brown, MT. Percy. MT. Burr, A. M. Gar I ber Judge c. c. Nesmith, W. A. Kay and c. P. Beddow.
 The lower floor of the theatre was comfortably filled. Those who attend . ed the rally were In the main support CTS of MT. Conner. At times consider able enthusiasm prevailed. That the i applause at all times was not spon- taneous and general was due to the fact that different speakers used different arguments. MT. Percy, for instance, declared for local option. Captain White declared for prohibition Cap tain Blackwell repeated the splendid ad- dress which some weeks ago he deliv- cred throughout Alabama for Oscar w. Underwood.
 Conner leaders were delighted They declared that the speakers. differing on factional matters and uniting on MT Conner, indicated the situation I Q Garber expressed 1t: "The people have i forgotten factional politics and are standing now for man.
 Local Optionist Speaks
 In calling the meeting to order MT. l O'Neill stated that he had always been l liberal in his views and that in the primary election of April he had sup ported MT. Henderson. MT. Exum, when called to preside. declared that he had always been liberal in his views and 1 that he, too, had supported MT. Hem derson. He declared that he had de- 1 cided to vote for MT. Conner because l of his belief that the success of Hem , derson would perpetuate in office the | present administration. He scored what he termed the railroad surrender" of MT. Henderson his associates and the 1 governor.
 Mir Burr was the first speaker. He l caused amusement when he offered the reas son. as he saw it, for the double pri- mary.
 .The second primary, he declared, furnishes an opportunity for repentant sinners to come home.'
 He was followed by MT. Percy MT. Percy declared for local option. He ad- vised the man who will be elected gover nor not to tamper with the liquor ques- ton, and declared that in his opinion present conditions were as good as could be had.
 1T am not opposed 10 the. railroads. T ! added Mir. Percy. 'I believe that if the interstate commission should give some 1 recognition to the eastern railroads, busi- : ness would immediately leap forth. The railroads need have no apprehension If MT. Conner is elected I am for MT. Co., mer because we are in need of a business administration. The taxation system al the present time is chaotic
 He produced vociferous applause when in concluding he said. And in the fu- in vogue. for the purpose of beating a democrat"
 Capt. White Next Speaker
 Captain White declared that he was for Conner because he (White) had good sense.
 We must consider" he added, mot only the candidates but the forces behind them. Now I do not believe that MT
 Henderson is bad man. But look al the influences behind him. The railroads the liquor forces and the selfish, self. seeking politicians. And the forces be-
 hind the candidate will almost invariabl, control the officeholder
 Behind MT. Conner are the people And do you know who will control MT. Conner Why, the people"
 Captain White urged the keeping out of campaigns of all >xtraneous matters
 He urged that the liquor question be left for settlement to the prohibitionists and the local optionists He referred te the visit of Sam P. Kennedy. Tender. sons campaign manager. to Nashville.
 Why did he go to Nashviller' he asked his audience
 voice replied, ITO get money" There was much laughter and applause. 1 Captain White agreed, and added, s.And he got it.
 The speaker declared that 1t was no, to the interest of Mir. Conner that he be
 elected governor. "He has already had
 that honor,' he added. Tt will not be
 to his gain. It will be to your advan. ! tage. your interest. and your gain.' l Capt. Blackwell Introduced Captain Blackwell was introduced as the