Birmingham age-herald., 1895-05-26
IN THE RANDOLPH MATTER
The Shafts of Captious Criticism Turned y
 Truths Bucklcr.
GOVERNOR JONES IS DULY ExoNtnaIED
And His Successors Broad and Manly Shoulders Bear the Whole Affair Bogi- cal Statement That Honorable Men
 Will Admit Is Unanswerable.
Age-Herald Bureau. Exchange Hotel,
Montgomery, May 25.

Age-Herald Bureau.
 Exchange Hotel Montgomery, May 25.
 GovernqP Oates has furnished your correspondent with the following:
 To the ge-Herald
 Since my inauguration as governor l have made no reply through the press to any criticism of my public acts. be- cause I recognized legitimate criticism of public servant as being one of the rights of the people But the following from the Tuskaloosa Gazette, repro duced by the Birmingham State of the Eth instant, with It's comments. Is so un- friendly, unfair. utterly unjust and false in several particulars as to render the same a source of surprise to find such an article in democratic newspapers. say this particularly as to the editorial comments of the State. I would not have been surprised to have seen such articles in a populite or republican news paper. The tone Is not that of friendly criticism but sounds as if read from the columns of a political enemy. They are as follows:
 "No Discrimination"
 Governor Oates and Governor Jones both did wrong in their action towards Randolph, and the impeachment of Rob- inson is perfectly proper. Of course the populist is singing this kind of a strain to prejudice the ignorant against the OSI1OCTdtlC party, anu lOI HO OlucI Pui pose.
 "We cannot and will not countenance any kind of action, whether negative or positive, that Is calculated to bring re- proach to the party and we know that the Randolph example will prove val uable lesson to all parties who have the states interest at heart, and venture the suggestion that no more governors will be guilty of such neglect of duty."- Tuskaloosa Gazette
 nou t.o ~.,< 1;e crimination should be shown in execut- ing the laws of the land. That there was neglect, and serious neglect not only in- volving loss to the state, but to the bondsmen of Judge Randolph, and to men who are required to pay their H. censes again, admits of no denial. The Advertiser says Governor Jones knew of this default on the 9th of November. 1894. Section 633 of the code required the governor to immediatly cite Judge Randolph to show cause why he failed to pay over the money, and if he failed to show sufficient cause then the gov ernor was required to direct his impeach- ment. No sufficient cause was shown and no impeachment ordered; and Gov ernor Oates knew all these facts and did not enforce the law. He allowed Randolph to remain in office and increase the default from an alleged $6000 to what Is now admitted to be more than $25,000.
 Neither Goveror Jones nor Governor Oates had any right to give, Randolph time. The law said if he had no suffi- cient cause he must be impeached - The Daily State.
 The Gazette contents itself by stating its conclusion that myself and Governor Jones both did very wrong and that our conduct is such a lesson to all governors in the future that none of them will neg feet their duty, as 1t alleges we did. It also assumes that our action was q d ds- crimination in favor of Randolph on account of his politics. Both these con- clusions are wholly unwarranted as will be seen by the following plain statement of the facts. which think is due to the public:
 On the 28th day of November last Gov ernor Jones, when discussing with me in his office the condition of the state treasury, remarked that Randolph was behind in the payment of his last quar- terly return, and that he had notified Randolph that if he did not settle by the last day of that month he would order his impeachment, for said Jones: 'I in- tend to give you elean bill of health and not leave to you the discharge of any disagreeable duty. which devolves upon me" I expressed my surprise that Randolph was behind in his payments to the state. Nothing more passed between us on the subject at that time. As I walked down to the Excnange hotel an hour later Messrs. V. M. Elmore and John G. Winter stopped me on the street and made an appeal to me to inform Governor Jones that I would agree to give Randolph further time to save him from impeachment. They assured me that Randolph's shortage was caused by his carelessness and mismnnagement and not by dishonesty, and that If lit- tie indulgence were granted him he could pay up and all would be we'll I told them to tell Randolph himself to see me about it.
 He soon after called at my room, seemed deeply mortified and pledged me his honor that if he were allowed until January 15 that he would pay every dol lar he owed the state and that he had perfected arrangements to get the money by or before that time. He said that the hard times had caused him to in dulge people who had not paid him. He said if his impeachment were ordered he would never live to see It, that he could not suffer such dishonor. had known him, not intimately, but moderately we'll ever since the war. knew him to have been brave Confederate sol dier, and while regarded him as some what cratic, somewhat addicted to intemperance, and of high temper, and would fight when assailed. I always thought him an honest and honorable man. He had often been elected to of