The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-01-27
AT TER CARNLEY FOR HAVING TEMER|TY ID . BECOME CANDIDATE
But He Insists He Will Wear No Mans Collar"
 While Running
By l.. $. RETTY

Montgomery January 26 26-(Special.)-J.
 A. Carnley of Elba, member of the leg islature of 1915, now candidate for pres ident of the state public service commits
 sion, has demonstrated beyond all perad- venture of doubt that he does not belong
 ! to that class of week-kneed politicians
 sometimes referred to as "quitters." On | the other hand, Representative Carnley | has given abundant evidence of the fact
 I that he is fighter, and a fearless one
 ! at that.
 | All of which is preliminary to the tell l ing of a very interesting report that | has become current in official and polit-
 I ical circles. Representative Carnley, as
 | may be known, belonged to the prohibit
 tion faction of the house, the faction that
 was said to have been hand picked" and
 which, in the main, responded to the dic- l tates and wishes of an all-powerful "out- | side lobby.''
 But, be that as it may Representative Carnley was member of the leading party in the Alabama legislature, and | that he did not yield implicit obedience | to certain of his political confreres was no evidence of the fact that he was not at heart prohibitionist, and a loyal one | It proved beyond all doubt that Represen- tative Carnley held convictions of his own, and that he was unwilling, in his own language to wear any mans collar This latter quality, which evnced it. self to so pronounced a degree during Mir Carnley's legislative career, should have forestalled all future attempts to | force him into a state of subservence but l it did not, as will be hereafter seen few days ago Mr Carnley announced his candidacy for nraSidaOt of ha Sta to public service commission. He did this 1 in face of the fact that a day prior to his announcement his political friend and colleague in the majority faction of the house, Henry P. Merritt of Tuskegee, had been designated by a coterie of prohibi- tionists at Birmingham as their candidate for president of the commission
 With the announcement of his can didacy, Representative Carnley issued vigorous statement condeming the action of certain members of his party in trying to force a candidate down the threats of the voters of the state," disclaiming all connection with the ''self-styled prohibition leaders" and denouncing their "behind the door, | methods of "hand picking a candidate for an important state office
 Following this statement, which rang
 throughout the state, Mir. Carnley sat down and waited. He did not wait long, loI Soou, IL IS TSpOIteu, lie was Cdlleu to answer a long distance telephone message from Birmingham. Then fol lowed other telephone messages. MT. Carnley's announcement had ruffied the placid waters upon which the prohibition ship had sailed so peacefully and gracefully and undis- rurbedly since the beginning of the year 1915. it had struck a discordant note where before all had been har- mony, it was a serious affront to the Headers" who held the partys wei fare at heart and who wished to pre- serve undimmed and unsullied the year. -olG traditions of the party. It is said, and on most reliable au- thority, that a former governor Of Alabama was among those who up braided Mr. Carnley for his temerity to oppose the candidate brought out by the leaders, and forgiveness was promised him if he would withdraw. Figu~atively speaking, MT. Carnley was taken up on a high mountain. shown the kingdoms of the earth, and offered his choice. But the Elba can d,date was not to be tempted-it was all too remote-and, again asserting that he wore mo mans collar he politely and emphatically declined. end Moreover, he declares he has a fine chance of winning. He asserts that he has received considerable en- couragement since announcing his can didacy for president of the state public service commission and believes he will be rewarded with the office he seeks.