The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-01-31
Former Governor Claims It Will Be Sharply Drawn
 Fight for Supremacy
MENTIONS DENSON
 AS LIQUORS FOE
Says If a Liquor Man Is Elected Governor It Will Mean Liquor
 Government for Four Years at Least

Former Governor B. B. Conner in second letter to the editor of The Age Herald expresses the belief that in Ala bama's next political campaign the dominant issues will be liquor" and "anti-liquor"
 He contends that only the liquor ad- vocates claim the liquor question is set tied but that they continue to suggest strong liquor men for the governorsnip,
 The former governor also gives an intimation of his own choice for the next governor by his complimentary references to Judge N. D. Denson of Opelika. He closes by saying " the people of Ala bama have had two liquor administra-
 tions with all of its trimmings, and surely that Is enough He writes:
 To the Editor of The Age Herald: Quite a bit is being said about the can- didates for governor and all the pro- posed platforms of the liquor interests are fully agreed that the prohibition question is settled; that there will be no discussion of that question in the next campaign The liquor interests then pro- ceed to suggest strong liquor men as can didateS for governor.
 The Mobile Register states that the campaign will be pitched on state eco monies and observance of the law. The Register is one of our very best papers and stands for high ideals, and take off my hat to the Register, but they are only partly right.
 A liquor man elected means liquor
 
 men mentioned as probable candidates for governor would disinterestedly stand for strict maintenance of the prohibition statutes a strict observance of the pro- hibition law The serpent in Eden was not more beguiling than the protestatfons Of the liquor crowd. That the prohibition question is settled, we have only to re- member that congress of citizens assem- bled at the statehouse to commence the amendment campaign on the call of Gov ernor O'Neal, with Governor Jelks in the chair pledged no liquor changes, pledged no return of the saloon
 BANE OF CIVILIZATION Governor Henderson said 1t was the bane of civilization. His words were correct His conduct has proven them correct. As governor, insofar as he could. he has given us a liquor administration. His conduct at Girard is a bane to the shame of the state A liquor man elected governor of Alabama will use his in fluence toward liquor legislation, will use his influence toward liquor domination, and in making appointments will make them that way; will wink at the viola tion of the law. In other words, you cannot have law enforcement with a liquor governor. In spite of creation he will make it "a bane to civilization Calling attention that when candidate for governor, I tried to divorce liquor from the campaign. I was most anxious that the railroad question, the question of state control, the question of people s government, the liquor people to a man united on a liquor candidate. He was called local option, but it was thoroughly liquor The fight in the next campaign is, in my opinion, going to be first liquor, anti-liquor. Let not the phrase, local option" fool anybody; it is straight liquor and straight anti-liquor, and the question is going to be whether we want the re- turn of liquor again and whether again l it shall be sold through the state. CANDIDACY OF OTHERS Take the candidacy of Col. John Wal lace, MT. Charles Mcdowell and others of higher or lower type, as the case might be,awho proposed them? The liquor i crowd, and they clalm these men as thelr own, and their candidacy, any of them or all of them. would draw the liquor | crowd to them, draw them whether they i would not, and they would. and whether they would or not. they would, 1 if elected, be liquor governors, and we | would have the bane.
 | The name of Judge Denson means anti ] liquor. It also means the enforcement of
 the law, and again it means the -abate-
 ment of the foibles and follies of the pardoning power. It means that because
 liquor man has been convicted that is l no good reason why he should be par | dored. It also means an economic admin | istration. It means the full protection and carrying out of our civic and benevo- l lent policy; it means above everything else higher ideals, not only in platform | but in conduct.
 l You could not surround his name with
 anything else. The campaign will be as
 clear as day; there will be no mistakine
 the question. The people of Alabama 1 had two liquor administrations with al of it's trimmings, and surely that is | enough. B. B. COMER.