The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-09-08
PORT EDITORIAL
 STIRS SENATOR'S
 FROM LETHARGY
(Continued From Page onel


 liberate lie, and no gentleman will permit a lie to be told on him" But the lieutenant governor failed to point out wherein the facts were not as stated.
 Senator Joe Johnson, ono of the four members of the senate seaport committee which prepared the sub stitute for the original seaport bill, expressed the belief that the. writer of the editorial was influenced by persons who have been seking & fa- vorable report on the original bill by the committee. He expressed con- fidencs in MT. McDowell and declared that he was not consulted by MT. Senator S. M. Adams, another member of the seaport committee who favored the substitute, said he had heard rumors that an effort would be made to increase the per sonnel of the seaport committee sof as to get rid of the four 'obstruc- tionists" as he called them. He charged that a lobby had been main tained at the capitol in the Interest of the port bill and that efforts to obtain information regarding the cost of the construction work at the port of Mobile had been met with vague and indefinite answers.
 
 May Fight Bill.
 It was reported in circles consid- cred authoritative that the lieuten- ant governor threatened privately to fight the seaport enabling bill If the Mobile delegation did not disclaim re- sponsibility for the editorial Tn the private conference MT Mcdowell was joined by several friendly members. Discussing the editorial with later, Governor Mcdowell said he appointed the senate seaport com mittee at the beginning of the ad- journed session in July ana at tllIs when he did not know there would be any opposition to the seaport act He said when he learned that the majority of the committee was opposed to the bill which passed the house he discussed the matter With them and other members or Ihe SCI ate and appealed for & favorable re- mort on a bill which would proV1de for the adequate development Of the states seaport.
 What Editorial Stated.
 What Editorial tsated. The editorial under a caption or Mcdowell Did It." follows:
 "It is peculiar beyond mere coincidence that the personnel of the senate committee on sea port legislation should comprise a majority of three senators who have been opponents of seaport development. The recommenoa- lions of the committee, with their ridiculous substitute for the orig inaI act. prove beyond a doubt that the majority is still inspired by hostility to the seaport pro gram, which received such hearty Endorsement by the voters Of Ala bama.
 These opponents of the sea port amendment did not be- come members of this vital com mittee automatically or by ac- cident On the contrary, they were appointed by the presiding officer of the senate, who Is Lieut.. Gov. Charles :. Nc Dowell. It is matter of record that Lieutenant Mcdowell was elected on a platform of seaport development and that because of that assurance he received decisive and cordial majority in Mobile. It is doubtful if the peo- pie of Mobile or the friends Of seaport development anywhere in Alabama can reconcile MT. Nc Dowelrs prediction professions of ardent support of the seaport with his choice of appointees for the committee which has the most to do with the elaboration of the legislative port policy
 If MT. Mcdowell had been loyal to his supporters and to his pledges would he not have made visible and successful effort to safeguard the program in every possible manner, and would he not above all have appointed men to the port committee who were unmistakably and unequivocally in hearty sympathy with port de- velopment To ask the question is to answer it. The people de- mand an accounting of the lieu tenant governors stewardship of the peoples confidence. There Is only one way in which he can regain that confidence, and that is by repudiating the attempt to delay and throttle the port en- abling act and by demanding of the senate the support of an act designed to further and not to impede the undertaking.
 The people have not forgotten that Governor Brandon was elected also on the same program of port development, and that he received the overwhelming ma jorty of the votes of Mobile and of the rest of the state. because he took firm stand in favor of the seaport expansion. The peo- pie expect Governor Brandon to step Into this breach and to res- cue the rt-enabling act from its enemies, the three appointees of MT. McDowell."