Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-02-06
RY. MRS. w. Il. FELTON,

The attorney general of Georgia resigned
his position a few days ago 10 make the
race for governor. The clamor is loud for
another ofhcial to resign his office of rail-
road commissioner If he intends to enter
himself for the same race for the same
office. .gst
1t will be doubtless pleasing to Messrs.
Estnl. Query and Smith to find all the
pronounced candidates appearing in the
ring without any surplus appendages and
with no monthly checks from the treas
ury to aid in campaign expenses.
Now. If all these gentlemen were judges
| of supreme or superior court holdings, i
would say. Yes, resign quickly" be-
cause the idea of using official authority
/ to compel the support of a litigant for an
other political office is monstrous. No
judge should be permitted TO. allow his
name presented for another office so long
as he wears the ermine. That very pre-
sentation by his authority or consent
| should represent disqualification for the
| judgeship, in a legal way.
Whenever the judicial branch Of our
government cannot be protected from lust
| of Office or greed Of gain. the doom OF this
republic has been sounded.
And no judge should ride on free passes
| presented by a railroad which has litiga-
! ton I'm his court. Public opinion is against
| the use of free passes for judicial officers.
| There may be men who can accept such
favors and keep conscience void OF Of
| Tense but they are scarcer than hens
| teeth and about as hard to discover.
It is hardly necessary to mention names
| when the public can call to mind for itself
| how often the bench has been used to
| step into more lucrative political offices,
/ as a result of political influence used by
| political judges over persons who were
| afraid to antagonize the judge when life
! and property were involved before his
honor in litigation.
/ Therefore decency demands that judge
who desires to run for congress shall get
| away from the position he holds before
| he announces or permits his name men
toned for the better paying office In the
| newspapers.
But no such reason attaches to some
| other offices in Georgia, and to an out
slider It seems that these designations are
| not demanded by the people, but by other
candidates who are impatient and who
| are kinder showing the old birds out Of
/ the nest. that they may occupy at once.
| I never could see why lightning could
not strike person at work as well as at
play, and If 1 was Railroad Commissioner
| Brown 1 would say. Gentlemen, the state
has placed an important office in my
I hands, and aim to discharge that trust
to the best of my ability. 1 am only a
| servant of the state, and 1t is not my
province 10 SHONe dIOlHeI man AhlO my
shoes until the voters have been con-
| suited
| 1t does not sit well en- the mind Of the
! general public to witness office swapping
| It smacks of, a good understanding" If
] there is no barter and traffic exposed on
the surface There have been designations
and sudden appointments before now and
| there is never complete and perfect salts
| faction then or afterward with such ar
| engagements.
Neither Mr.. Query or Mr.. ,Estill or Mr.