The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-21
Gater Euience As Propaganda Against Hostile Legislation
GOV. COMER TELLS
 HOW HE STANDS
Continued From Page D

exchanges and was part of their advantage in the fight. Am sorry to say that many southern repre- sentatives swallowed the lure.
 The freight, express, telegraph and Pullman rates are almost a the peak of the war tax and show no evidence of abating and it Is right where the farmers trouble comes in The freight on his product, high or low, is a tax and at the present time, it is at the highest point and it is up to Congress, House and Sem ate, to regulate this. 1 mean by regulating the interstate commerce commission and giving more power to the state utilities commission.
 The western farmers blocs at tacking this condition and l would join them-Senator LaFollette and others-who are attacking the in- justice of the new excessive valua- tion given to the railroads and their properties as basis for all future railroad taxation, for they are en- tirely right and every Senator should cooperate and help them. Un- questionably the country Is entitled to lower taxes along these lines. We can never prosper until it Is done. Shipping And Power Problems.
 HS sOpGHlHS anu utlilZdl1Ou OI IHo Warrior and Tennessee rivers, not only for their freight carrying proposition, but also the power de- velopment and use of same; the fight of MT. Frederick l. Thompson, mem Der of the United States shipping board, for a developed port at Mo- bile, and It's ultimate success Is of the very greatest importance to the state. MT. Fords proposition to
 
 miles in every direction, to make fertilizer cheaper than ever known, and the expose of the Secretary of War Mir. Weeks transaction with the power company. and his conduct against Mir. Ford, as made by MT. Oliver, showing his absolute petti- ness, it's philandering, was a service well rendered by MT. Oliver and should be followed up.
 q am in sympathy with the move ment headed by Senator Capper to give the farmers a better show. In an alliance with the west the south would more nearly secure an equity in our government, and would avoid sectionalism, abridge it as far as pos s;ble being in full accord with the last request made by General Lee to his shattered army at Appomatox that we should love our country, the whole country and avoid sectionalism in every respect.
 Il am heart and soul with the prohibition amendment, the Volstead act, and with such an execution of the law as would carry respect for and obedience to it in every class of our citizenship, particularly those who on account of wealth or posi- tion think they have personal rights or liberties different from the com mon law abiding citizens.
 DefIation And The Farmer.
 In 1920 President Wilson and his cabinet, particularly Mir. Houston, to reduce the high cost of living called loans on farm products and prac- tically enforced deflation which was under Governor w. P. G. Harding. l was very much alarmed at it and had an extended correspondence and both in 1914 and 1920, tried to have some wise or estopple put on cotton prices. The failure was not all the feoeral reserve boards fault, it was in u measure coming down from the President. MT. Wilson. With the purpose of reducing the high cost of living on the constant demand of Mir. Gompers, representing union la bor, and on the demands of the rail- road unions, Mir. Wilson tried to ac- compllSh this by advlSinB or sug- gesting a deflation of all loans on farm products from cotton to cattle, from wheat to peanuts. The result of this detiation was ex- oes6ingly disastrous and this dis aster, as stated was not all the fed eral reserve boards fault. But this was in 1920 and I think Senator Heflin in pitching his campaign on what was done then rather than on what is to be done in the future is making a mistake, as that is water that has gone over the dam.
 What are we going to do to help the condition of the people this year and next year and the years to come? The. honor crosses for the past may be worn but it is the promises of the future on which the faith of the peo- pie should be placed.
 My own experience in writing the above is that many people can take it as a platform but few people will work 1t out. You have got to judge the future by the accomplishments of the past.
 'I wish to take this opportunity to thank those who have so generously shown their friendship in urging me to make the race, not only for their friendship and support in tffe past, but also for this renewal of your com tinued faith for the future.
 "B. B. CONFER"