Birmingham age-herald., 1895-02-13
AN OPEN LETTER.

Ald. ESOs ASs Aooos B. B. Conner. Esq. Bir mingham. Ala
 SIR; have delayed until now answ er- ing your late card in the AeE- H ERALD be- cause 1 understood you would shortly be here, which would afford au opportunity to express views 10 you in person.
 In that card you speak of the ''recent scandal in the legislature, wherein certain sworn officers of the state, incongruous as it may appear, at the same time attorneys for railroads, forgot their sworn fealty to the state," and did certain things in the interest of tbe lobby, etc. You do not even intimate that I was in any manner con. nected with any of the things you allege; and yet, for purposes best known to your self, you attempt to draw noe into the circle of your condemnation in this wise: "Our late governor was a railroad lawyer before and after his official term, and, notwith- standing that, when freed from railroad in- huence he did well, and particularly his conduct here in time of riot was splendid, yet there is no question but what he was in the hands of the railroads. Why did he commissioners who in the hands of these gigantic corporations were as Gulliver, etc. They are kept in office by railroad influence, because it was suf- fciently well known they were content to draw salaries and accept courtesies. These
 
 hands to control the judicial ermine, as was witnessed in the appoin tment of city court judge at Anniston.
 When l was struggling last summer un- der manifold difficulties to prevent the reign of dagger and torch in Jefferson county, and to save to the people of this state the use of their highways, there were many who, in the madness of the hour, passionately denounced me as being lin the hands of the railroads,' and for no II T the attorney for a railroad and would not allow strikes to succeed by the overthrow of all law. Every decent man in Alabama revolted at the charge, and you defended me. Now, with less reason, you repeat the stale falsehood which you then de- nounCed.
 Your purpose is to charge that in exer. cising the appointing power of a great of- flee l subordinated my conscience and judgment to the behests of corporations and betrayed great trust In the interest of those who had been and might be again my clients. The issue demands plainness of speech. A blacker charge could not well be made against an honorable man. answer that you have willfully and mali cously borne false witness against me. You made the issue, and you must either support 1t by proof or stand forth self confessed libeller of your fellow man. Who were the men whom I appointed railroad commissioners? What were their histories and characters7 Who stood sponsor for them?
 When l became governor the commissi6n consisted of the Hons. Henry R. Shorter, Levi w. Lawlor and w. E. Tunstall. They were originally appointed by Governor O'Neal. That wise and brave old man thought the commission would best sub- serve it's purpose by putting upon it law. yer, business man and @ farmer. The gentlemen he selected were all men of the highest character for integrity and capac- ity, and were generally esteemed by the people of Alabama. Was Governor O'Neal 'sin the hands of the railroads' when he appointed those gentlemen2
 Governor Seay reappointed each of these gentlemen after their terms under Gov ernor O. 'Neal's 8 appointment had expired. Was Governor Seay "in the hands of rail roads' when he reappointed them7 When 1 became governor these gentlemen had each served six years in the office. and the manner in which they had discharged their duties had been thoroughly understood by the people and authorities of the state. Their administration of the cono mission had given general satisfaction, though there were not wanting, complaints and criticisms which are incident to the exer. else of public duty in any capacity. re. appointed Messrs. Tunstall and Lawlor be- cause believed that the public good and sound party policy alike demanded it. These offices are largely in their nature judicial. They have never been treated as opportunities to reward men who had been partisans of the appointing power, or who might make extravagant promises as to what they might do for given localities if afforded the opportunity. Neither of these gentlemen originally supported me in the contest for the nomination in 1890. Had been actuated by desire to reward politi- cal friends or to punish political enemies, regardless of the public good or sound party policy. neither of them would have tnto EhA of kl commission was rssppointed during my second term. He then had no opposition, and the consensus of public opinion, 50 far as could gather, was that his services de- manded that recognition at my hands. In- deed, since then his name has twice been presented to the president of the United States for appointment on the interstate commerce commission, backed by the in. fiuence and recommendation of hundreds of our fellow citizens. When General Lawlor died he was replaced by Gen. James T. Holtzclaw, and when General Holtzclaw died he was replaced by the Hon. Willis G. Clark. These five gentlemen are the ap. pointees during my terms of office.
 Two of them, after long and useful lives, have gone to their graves enjoying the es- teem of all good men. General Lawlor was long known and greatly trusted by the people of Alabama. He was man fster. ling integrity, great good sense and re. markabie business qualifications. Gen. J. T. Holtzclaw was a gallant soldier, a law yer of ability and noted for his impartial ity and fearless discharge of duty. It is the thrust of coward, after these men have gone to honored graves, to charge that either of them discharged his high trust by surrendering it into the keeping of any one. The Hon. Willis G. Clark is a man o. large experience and intelligence, who has been prominent in public affairs in Alabama for many years. His name is known beyond our borders because of his unselfsh devotion to the cause of educa. tion. He is universally esteemed for his honesty and conscientious discharge of duty. The Hon. W. c. Tunstall is a fit representative of the farmers of Alabama, Il gentleman of intelligence and honesty and of fine business attain ments. have heard complaints against the commission, but never a whisper against the honesty or in. tegrity of its members or of any purpose to discharge their duties otherwise than with an eye single to the best interests of Ala bama. Ignorant men often complain of them for not regulating evils, real or fancied, in interstate commerce, but in- telligent people know they have no power. Greedy men sometimes complain that thsey
 r--- L ~