The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-24
Candidate for President of Public Service Commits sion Tart in Answer
 to Allegations
FAILS TO DISCOVER
 OPPONENTS REASONS
Makes Reference to Merritfs Record as Member of Lower House and
 SO-Called "Hank-P -Picked' Legislature

Sam P. Kennedy, president of the Alabama public service commission, is in Birmingham getting his political fences in order. MT. Kennedy spent most of yesterday conferring with To- cal shippers and with political friends regarding his campaign. He stated last night that he was we'll pleased with the situation as it now exists
 MT. Kennedy was rather tart in his reply to the recent statement of Henry F. Merritt of Tuskegee, who is op- posing him for the presidency of the commission. 'Yes, noticed the req sons of MT. Merritt why he should be chosen head of the Alabama public service commission, as published in The Age-Herald Saturday, said MT. Kennedy, when seen at the Morris last night
 The public may be more discern ing than l, but I must confess that after reading the headlines of the article, Merritt Tells Why He ought to Win Commission Place. I failed to discover the reasons
 One of these so-called reasons is that l, as president of the commission, have at times differed from my as- sociates Ergo. MT. Merritt will never differ with his associates, if he is chosen. Some qualification?
 He omits specific reference to the cases in which l am supposed to have differed with my associates. The min- utes of the commission are open to the public, and 1 suggest he point them out. The commission has handled for mally something over 15O cases in the past 12 months.
 SMELLING" COMMITTEE
 "NEr. Merritt Is apparently much dis turbed because I failed when before his smelling committed to comment on the action of the former railroad com mission in such a manner as to furnish campaign thunder for him on which to make this race
 MT. Merritt says that from my home, Anniston, has come criticism of certain jobbers of Birmingham for in dorsing his candidacy and that my rep resentative had endeavored to secure the same indorsement. MT. Merritt, apparently, cannot differentiate be- tween an organization and the individ- ual members thereof. The Chamber of 1 Commerce of Anniston condemned the action of the Jobbers association of Birmingham; it did not condemn any individual in the slightest degree and as matter of fact, I am quite con- fident that I will have as many ship pers supporting me in Birmingham as will MT, Merritt. It is true that I am not hand picked but I am home in dorsed
 LEGISLATIVE RECORD
 q believe these are all the req sons Mr. Merritt gives why he should be chosen. I will give one more that he probably overlooked, which ought to be just as potent for him. MT Mer- ritt began his legislative service in 1907 in the Conner legislature which continued in session off and on for four years, and which found sur plus left over from the Jelks admin istration of $2,000,00 It took this leg islature four years to dissipate this surplus and accumulate a big deficit MT. Merritt was a leader of the ma jority faction in that legislature His further service was in the recent hand picked legislature. This legislature failed to do anything for the financial relief of the state, which had been brought to the verge of bankruptcy, primarily through the acts of the 1907 legislature. Mr. Merritt was floor leader of the house in this last legis- lature."