The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-06-11

eleCIOTdCe.
 | Alabama can stand more and worse
 liquor and higher freight rates, but Ala
 bama cannot stand to have the votes Of
 it's citizens not counted as cast"
 SPENT OVER $47,O00 IN
 | VARIOUS CAMPAIGNS
 The former governor points out that
 he spent s22127 in the recent campaign
 and $25, 900 in his previous campaigns,
 making altogether more than s47,000 spent
 in his purpose of serving the people" | While stating that he accepts the count
 in the recent primaries he says the con
 duct of the election was so debauching
 that I am calling the attention of the peo-
 pie to some of the monstrosities and urge
 that they be corrected" His statement in full is as follows:
 l My campaign expense was large $22.- 127 In my previous campaign for presl- | dent of the railroad commission and gov ernor it was also large, amounting to S25,oO0-altogether $47,0o0 This large amount was used with the press in adver- tisng and in literature. trying to reach and inform the people.
 My activities in politics have been for the purpose of serving the people trying | to secure for Alabama a government by
 the people and for the people, rather than one dominated and controlled by the rail-
 road and other interests
 Invested for States Good This money and my 10 years service l have invested for the states good, and trust it will bear compound interest. In ion I trio be fair, stating facts, charging truths never committing libel or using ibelous matter. and tried in my private and offi- cial conduct to incite toward higher ideals and higher citizenship. While accepting the count of the recent primaries, the conduct of the election was so debauching that I am calling the attention of the people to some of the monstrosities and urge that they be corrected. Otherwise the effect on our state will be inconceiv- ably bad.
 Governor Took Charge
 Governor O'Neal took charge of the ex- ecutive committee and so influenced it's or derings as to make the primary absolute ly partisan, and destructive of that fair ness which the people should expect and demand. Governor O'Neal and the editor and proprietor of the Birmingham News and Montgomery Advertiser, in room at the Exchange hotel in Montgomery, cor raled one by one the members of the committee, using the power of the gov ernor to force them to order a primary plan unusual and avowedly against the interest of one man. On the day the com- mittee met the governor sat in their pres ence and personally supervised the con duct of the committee. This was bad and we should have a law fixing that date on which the primary should be held and firmly fixing whether it should be a
 plurality or majority plan. destroying the possibility of using the committee for partisan effect The executive commit tee should not attempt to force the cleo ton or defeat of any candidate
 "The registration preceding the first primary manufactured illegal votes. In Birmingham 4500 new registrations were made in the two days prior to the primary. No poll tax receipts, no habitat proof was required. In the election the name of the voter on the official poll list was not required. Willingness to sign a ready prepared affidavit completed the qualifications and made easy illegal voting.
 Affidavits From Haleyville sworn statements by reputable citi- zens from Limestone and Butler ooun- ties, published in the Birmingham News, showed that votes cast in the last pri- mary for Conner were counted for Hen derson and from Haleyville, Winston county, the affidavits of such reputable citizens as C. l.. Webb, John s. Bris- COG, R. L Blanton, Dr. R. J. Barnett, Dr. R. w. Woods and Rev. s. s. Puckett. showed there were 13S possible votes in the precinct, and between 50 and 70 will swear they voted for Conner. Thirty four were counted for Conner and 112 for Henderson; eight more votes than they had and more than 26 of the
 y<>v~,, trtx fn
 Mr. G. w. Pratt. who helped man. age Capt Kolb's campaign. said in a letter to Capt. Kolb after the first primary that If decide to make the fight for MT. Henderson l expect to be paid for the services rendered and we'll paid. but I don't want you to ob- ligate me to MT. Henderson until I see you and talk matters over with you The fellows that beat you with MT. Henderson spent lot of money, they are going to have to spend great deal more if they beat MT. Conner
 He further said: While we have TO direct proof, 1t Is true. at least 2000 illegal voters voted for MT. Tender son in Jefferson county and I doubt not that those same 2000 illegal voters voted for Mir. Henderson in the last primary. MT. Pratt. after this letter, 1 did work for MT. Henderson. Was he well paid? The crowd to which he l alluded. that if they did beat MT. Co., mer they would have to spend a great deal of money--did they spend 1t? Did | the allied interests with Mir Henderson beat Mir. Conner. or did they beat the people?
 More Hurtful Than All "Alabam stood four years of Conner | Ism and prospered. Alabama survived 1 four years of O'Neailfsm and Charles | Lewisism. and humiliating rate case | surrender, and Alabama can stand four years of rule of tho big fcur-Frank olasA ooveEnor o1eal, ChArles Lewls