Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-05-26

] Keeping Up with the Procession.
/ our esteemed contemporary, the AT
lana Constitution, thinks that the MORN
ING News j. not keeping up with the
procession because, IN asking Gen. COR
don and Mai. Bacon 10 discuss various
! Important otate questions instead OF each
others records. it did not notice the fact
tnat Gen. Gordon had already declared
himself squarely IL favor Of the Railroad
Commission law. The MORNING NEWS
is weH aware that Gen. Gordon has said
on the stump and elsewhere that the
Railroad Commission law. Just as 1t
stands, is entirely satisfactory to HIM
bus tbe MORNING NEWS would like him
TO give his reasons for opposing any modi-
hcatious Of it. and point out wherein
the arguments Of the newspapers in
different parts OF the state and OF the
members OF the Legislature at the last
session Of that body VINO advocated m0di-
dcations were erroneous. Gen. Gordon
has had great deal to do with railroads
within the last few years and, doubtless,
has given railroad problems much
thought. 1t would be eminently salts
factory to the people, therefore, for him
TO take up this Railroad Commission ques-
ton and show, if he can, that II is better
for the people, the State, and the railroads
that there should be no changes in the
Railroad Commission law that would give
the railroads wider discretion In the man
agemeBt of their affairs.
If we are not mistaken our esteemed
contemporary, the Constitution, advo-
Gated notifications OF the Railroad Com
mission law, and, although it now APP
plauds the position which Gen. Gordon
takes with respect to that law, we are not
entirely certain that it has changed its
views with regard to it. If it has not,
then the arguments which Gen. Gordon
may present against any changes in the
law may convert it, and relieve it of any
seeming Inconsistency in being the organ
OF a candidate who holds position on
very important State matter directly OPP
pOsite to that which it occupies.
The main purpose. however, which the
MORNING NEWS had in suggesting the
discussion of the commission and other
Slate questions was to raise the cam
paign speeches to a higher plane than
they could possibly occupy as long as.
they dealt almost wholly in personalities.
1t is certainly more important for the
people to know Why the candidates oppose
or favor notifications of the Railroad
Commission law, whether they think the
presentcon let system "A good one, whether
they favor an assessment law that will
make every Ome bear his proper share of
the burden OF taxation, and whether they
think the State road ought to be sold, or
again leased, than it is that they should
be told again and again that Maj. Bacon
resigned his position in the army, or that
Gen. Gordon resigned his seat in the Sem
ate. under circumstances that were not
entirely creditable to them.
Maj. Bacon gives a very salts factory
reason why he resigned, and it is evident
that the people do not believe that there
was anything discreditsble connected
with the resignation of Gen. Gordon.
That they do not put any faith in the
charge that Gen. Gordon resigned in pur-
suance of a bargain with Senators
Brown and C@quitt is proven by
the fact they have honored the
Senators since then with the great Offices
they now hold. Let, therefore, the can
ddates drop personalities and discuss le-
gtimate issues, ifthere are any on which
they differ to an extent worth noticing,
and if there are none they will act wisely
by getting off the stump and adopting the
still-hunt tactics.