The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-09-29
ON GOVERNMENT
 IN ALABAMA
(Andalusia Starl

It would not require seer to point out to any intelligent ob- server that there is something wrong in Alabama. The fact is reflected in the news reports and in the editorial utterances in every newspaper worthy the name in Alabama. We hold no brief to defend either Governor Brandon or the members of the 1923 legls- lature of Alabama. They are truly representative of the prevailing sentiment which dominated the po- litical campaign in which they were chosen to represent the peo- ple of, Alabama. Governor Bran don went forth carrying aloft the banner of democracy upon which he had inscribed on one side Re duced Taxes" and on the other 'Increased Appropriations" par ticularly for schools and for tho old soldiers of the state. The average citizen of the state lis- tened to the oratory, smiled at the speakers wit and hoorayed for the candidate without ever paus- ing once to figure out just how the would-be governor should reconcile the proposed legislative paradox.
 The voters of Alabama took Governor Brandon at his word and they elected him to office to carry out his program. We doubt not that the governor took him self seriously and really believed that he could spend millions Of dollars for bettering school condi- tions In Alabama and at the same time reduce taxes. abolish the tax adjusters and run the machinery of government with the same de- gree of smoothness that charac- terized the administration of his distinguished and capable pre- decessor.
 But to attempt such a program was to undertake the impossible, and this fact was pointed out to Governor Brandon in the state convention by Hon. Sid Bowie, a man who knows her limitations as well as her wonderful poten- tialities. In fuller and more concrete sense was this fact pointed out early in the history of the Brandon administration by Governor Kilby. In fact, every rock that has been struck by the old ship of state in Alabama since Governor Brandon has been at .hs helm is a rock that was definitely pointed out to him when he was first mapping out his course, but he refused to heed and the legis- lature, which has done his bidding for the most part, has been as slow to learn as he. But again we say that the governor and the members of the legislature have taken their election seriously. They have believed that 1t was the will of the people that Alabama should advance backwards" And the people are responsible for just that kind of conditions that obtain at the state capital and for the kind of legislation which has been written by this administra- tion. True. the blame flor the failure of the state to function diOli6 SOllc lllltS -Nill DC Siioi e5 able directly to the Brandon ad- ministEation and to the lawmakers. But when the proposition is re- duced to its lowest terms we come face to face with the fact that we are getting exactly what maJor- ity of the people voted for. When legislation is pending, you Will find camping on the trail Of the lawmakers lobbyists from every interest except from that great body of bread winners, the com- mon people. They have no lob byists there. The only hope lies in the integrity of the men Vho hold the places of honor and of trust on the political watch tower. If they are victimized in the matter of legislation. it is be- cause their interests have been be- trayed either through ignorance or willfully by the men whom they trusted.
 Alabama needs leadership of type that will defy the wrong doers and carry the cause of good government to the people an1 point the index finger with un- erring precision at the sore places upon the body polite. Any state which is dominated by dema- gogues for the benefit of those who would prey upon her re- sources while the great masses of the common people bear the full share of the burdens of gov ernment which the favored ones escape, Is headed on a downward course.