The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-04-27
EDITORIAL SUPPORT
 MONTGOMERY PAPER
 OFFERED FOR SALE
-GOYERNOR KILBY
Journal Proposed to Support Him in Campaign for $5, ,000 in Advertising, Governor
 Says in Statement
By FRED II. GORMLEY Montgomery Bureau. The Age-Herald 221-2 First National Bank Building

league, Governor Kilby Tuesday night issued statement in which he charged that the Montgomery Journal, which has made the campaign of the or ganization, offered him it's editorial support for $5,000 in advertising space during his campaign, and then the editor, Horace Hood, proposed that his son be named state insurance commissioner in order that the Mont gomery Journal Twill be in position to get the facts and keep the public in- formed as to the true conditions"
 GoVernor KiIby took his cue for the statement from an editorial in this news paper which announced that it could neither be bribed browbeaten nor black mailed into silence during the anti taxation campaign. The governor said the proposal of editorial support for a consideration of 5000 spent in advertis- ing space was made by the general man. ager in the presence of the advertising manager and Capt Harry M. Ayers, editor of the Anniston Evening Star. In corroboration of the second charge, Gov ernor Kilby quoted a letter from Horace Hood. dated August 21, 1918, which said the Journal desired to be in position to get the facts and that his son, Horace desired to be insurance commissioner so that newspaper could keep the public informed as to the true conditions"
 ADVERTISERS POLICY
 This letter mentioned that the Adver- tiser had always abused and criticized any administration which it opposed in the primary and that T do not suppose yours will be an exception"
 After detailing the letter of MT. Hood, Governor Kilby closed with the follow ing question:
 Will the taxpayers of the state fol- Tow the lone leadership of this newspa- peAr, which placed a price on it's editorial support and which assessed it's property foif taxation at $2S TO and valued it as a. basis for credit at $1930O0 and insured it for $S0,000. in a movement the only ef- feet of which would be to destroy the states eleemosynary institutions, hope lessly cripple it's educational system, re- duce the pittance now allowed the old soldiers and widows of soldiers, and re- tard the progress of the state in count less ways?"
 The statement was signed by Governor Kilby and was addressed to the people of Alabama.
 TEXT OF STATEMENT
 Governor Kilby's statement follows:
 "To the people of Alabama: The Mont gomery Journal confesses leadership of the Tax Dodgers league, which fact makes important the question of the value of it's editorial opinion. Tn re- cent editorial that paper stated that it could neither be bribed, browbeaten nor blackmailed into silence.
 'It was not always so. On two occa- sions at least within my personal knowl- edge it's editorial policy was subject to influence. First, during my candidacy for governor the editorial support of the Journal was offered me for a consdera- tion of $500 spent in advertising space. The offer was made by the general man ager of the Journal in the presence of the advertising manager and Capt. Harry M. Ayers, editor of the Anniston Evening Star. I did not receive the support of the Journal.
 Second. failing to sell it's editorial support through the business manage ment it would appear that the effort was again made by the editor himself. I quote verbatim a letter from the editor:
 QUOTES ALLEGED LETTER
 Montgomery, August 21 1918. <Hon. Thomas E. Kilby, Anniston, Ala My Dear Governor: have the great est confidence in you and your ability and know that you will make the state one of the best, if not the best gover- nors it has ever had. The people of Ala bama made no mistake in electing you On account of i'll health, and upon the advice of my physician, I have not had anything to do with business affairs for about eight months, and I am now with Dr. Yarbrough at Columbia and expect to be in active service again within two or three months. shall watch your ad- rninistration with considerable interest. You know the policy of the Advertiser is tp abuse and criticize the administration of every governor 1t opposed during the urinary. and do not suppose yours will be any exception.
 CT would like to have my son. Hor- ace a member of your administration, 50 the Journal will be in a position to get the facts and keep the public in formed as to the true conditions He is an applicant for insurance commissioner the place now held by Brooks Smith He is at present secretary of the board of city commissioners, and is popular and efficient and will always be tound true and loyal to you and your admin istration. His pastor, the Rev. k. II. McCaslin, pastor of the First Prespyte- rian church, will testify as to his good moral character, and as to his standing in this community. Mayor Robertson and Commissioners Tyson and Stough will testify as to his ability and high standing in Montgomery. MT Charles F. Anderson, chairman of the Montgomery county Kilby committee, will testify as to his good work during the campaign. and will also recommend him for the place pr. Brooks Lawrence will also tell you of the good work he did in Montgomery. I do net care to worry you this early but wanted to get his name before you for consideration. l hope you will give him the place he seeks
 ...With high regards and best wishes for most successful administration, l am very truly yours.
 '"HORACE HOOD
 twill the taxpayers of the state ioiioW the lone leadership of this newspaper which placed a price on it's editorial sup port and which assessed its property for taxation at s23,17O and valued # as q basis for credit at si9s0o0 and insured 1t for sSO,000. in movement the only effect of which would be to destroy the states eleemosynary institutions, hope lessly cripple it's educational system, re- tuce the pittance now allowed the old soldiers and widows of soldiers and re- tard the progress of the state in count less ways? THOS. E. hiLbi,
 Governor"
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