Birmingham state herald., 1897-02-19
WITH THE STATE EDITORS
CAPT. CROOKS APPOINTMENT.

CAPT. CROOKS APPOINTMENT.
 Jim Crook is the Tom Platt of Alabama
 in one respect. You can kick him out of
 office, but he bides his time and comes
 again. It is hard to down a genuine
 democrat, who does not change his views
 or desert his colors.-Selma Times.
 Capt. James Crook, of Calhoun, has
 been appointed chairman of the Ala
 bama railroad commission. Capt. Crook
 will make an active and efficient officer,
 and the news of his appointment will be
 gladly received by his friends all over the state.-Mountain Home.
 The appointment of Col James Crook,
 of Calhoun county, as president of the
 Alabama railroad commission was not
 an unexpected political deal. The retire
 ment of Uncle Henry Shorter, removes
 politician who has been quite noted
 for his talent for holding office. Uucle
 Henry was an ornament to the capitol
 Huntsville Tribune.
 Capt. James Crook, of Calhoun county.
 who will succeed Maj. H. R. Shoter as
 chief of the railroad commission. is first
 of all loyal democrat. In all other
 respects he will meet all requirements. He was an associate commissioner when the commission was first created, and gave general satisfaction. He has lnOTOuSu huOWltuSt Ol HIS uullSS dIu appointment will be applauded.-M News.-= sr-
 In appointing Capt. James Crook pres ident of the railroad commission. Gov. Johnston has made wise selection. The editor of the Times was a Crook man | for governor six years ago when Gov. Jones was nominated and we rejoice now that Gov. Johnston has put Capt. Crook back on the railroad commission. xxrftfa .1f tt, xxr1A dubbed him Honest Jim Crook" and | the Advertiser proceeded to go for him on that account. It must be a right bitter pill to the old lady to see Capt. Crook
 come back into power again. Here's to you, Captain, long many you liye.-Sel-
 ma,Tines. - --
 Gov. Johnston has and will make no better appointment during his term of office than when on last Saturday he ap- pointed Hon. James Crook president of the railroad commission.
 In giving to Capt. Crook the best .ap- pointment within his power to bestow, Gov. Johnston has honored one of sthe best men in Alabama and one of the truest men who ever fought for the cause | of democracy.
 | Capt. Crook is a native of Calhoun I county, and has lived all his life within | ten miles of his present residence. The 1 people of Calhoun therefore have had
 
 political life, and it has been such as to gain for him confidence and respect of the people and to cause them to appre- ciate the recent honor conferred upon him.
 The older men of Calhoun county will
 never forget the day when this county was under military rule, when the rights of the people were being ruthlessly trod den under foot, when the cause of democ racy needed a champion, when it required To ulyn hi iC ffa tf1 h ic hoT1 dc to go before the people and defend the principles of the democratic party, that James Crook, then a young lawyer, re- sponded to the demands of the occasion, risked his life in the defense of his party and country, and went before the people
 to preach pure and unadulterated democ- racy When he reached DeArmanville, a beat near AnniSton, he was notified | not to speak, and during the midst of
 his speech an effort was made to take his life. A pistol shot was fired at him, but he continued to defend the princi- l ples which he thought best for the people. 1 The result of his canvass was to encour- l age a people who were in the low ground
 of despair; they rallied and turned out | the raScalS who were holding high car nival with the affairs of Calhoun county | and placed the offices of the county 1 again in the hands of honest democrats. l Capt. Crook was sent to the legislature | and represented this county and section with honor to himself.
 1 Since the days of reconstruction Capt. l Crock has been prominent as a party 1 worker and leader.
 | Capt. Crook has always been a man of | the people. a commoner. and as a mem- l Der of the first railroad commission he was true to the people and never failed to defend their rights; and when, in Feb | ruary, 1885, he went off the commission. | itis believed by many that chop ax fell | upon his neck because he was too earnest l in demanding the rights of the people. I The first commission, composed of Bragg. | Crook and Ball.. exercised all the power l the law gave them to correct evils which l then existed. Capt. Crook, as president l of the present commission, will still be | true to the people.
 We congratulate both Gov. Johnston l and Capt. Crook.-Anniston Hot Blast.