The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-02-20

 standing these records, Mir. Smith said. MT. Conner had come cut in a card Tn The Montgomery Advertiser denying that ne had made such a statement, but as serting that the Alabama rates were SC per cent. higher than the Georgia rates. l Charge of Unfairness.
 Accepting the card as true Mir. Smith earnestly charged Mir. Conner with un- Fairness in circulating broadcast state ments which were not borne out by the records.
 The speaker denied that the rates of Alabama are higher than those of Geor- gia, and said they are in fact lower. He quoted figures to show that the Alabama rates on the necessities of life were actu- ally cheaper than in Georgia. The figures demonstrated, he said. that flour, grain and meats were loaded from their points of origin in the West to distributing points In Alabama cheaper than to distributing points in Georgia. Not only was this true, he said. but with local freight rates added to points within forty-one miles from the distributing points Alabama rates were tho potter and cheaper. ''Now, gentle men, asked Mir. Smith, Ifs 1t fair to sen1 such circular broadcast over the State with misstatement and then to say later that he didn't intend itf'
 MT. Smith said he understood that MT. Conner declared he would establish the Georgia rates. He asked how could man pass upon such question which he was to decide under the law and the evidence when he was now prejudiced? He denied Mir. Corners statement that the Railroad Commission had toured Cali fornia in a private car. He had gone to California as an ordinary traveller he said., and had paid his own expenses. So far as he knew Mir. Tunstall and Mir. San ders had never seen California. On the other hand, he recalled a number of in stances in which MT. Conner had taken trips in private car as the guest of rail- road officers. He denied that he had op- posed gi;ing the Commission more power. saying that he had adv ocated such law and the law was passed.
 Mir. Smith quoted from a stenographic report to show that MT. Conner had made an indictment of all the Alabama Con- gressmen, alludinE to them as ''qu e. ducks"
 "I didn't say it." exclaimed Mr. Conner. Indicted the Governors.
 Mir. Smith declared that Mir Conner had gone further and drew his indictments against all the Governors ot'Alabama.
 MT. Smith closed by saying that the lii- justice of placing the decision of judicial
 
 had announced his decision in advance is clear.
 MT. Conner in opening took up the charge that his circulars and speeches had been misleading in quoting figures. The circular, he said, had been prepared during the fight for an elective Railroad Commission.
 MT. Conner said that men hired by the railroads had made stenographic reports rzR GA C-N- ma They gave copies of 1t 10 MT. Smith. They did not give me copies Why was that?' he asked
 He reiterated his assertion that the State of Alabama had been most kind to railroad attorneys in the distribution of honors. He read from newspaper clip pings and statements as to some changes in the rates.
 But we stand on this circular" he said. Tt is true the freight rates of Alabama are 80 per cent higher. and will prove it."
 Turning to Mir. Smith, he said: "Not- withstanding this circular I had on file in the office of the Railroad Commission statement saying that the rates were 61 per cent higher in Alabama than in Geor- gia. You know 1t was there. You heard me read 1t, and you did me wrong in the statements you have made"
 Made No Threats.
 He declared that he had never said he could compel the railroads to establish the Georgia rates or other set of rates. "I never said I would take the railroads by the throat and compel them to reduce freight rates. I could not say that, so don't charge me with it," exclaimed Mi. Conner passionately, Give me credit for more sense, and when you charge me with duplicity you do me a great wrOEg Fnp Iosu rates, are you?' Mir. Conner alluded to the power and strength of the railroads. The law, ae said, was the only thing higher than tine railroads in the affairs of the State and he proposed to rely on the law and to ap- peal to the law. What have we got to do with the ln- ter-State Commerce Commisslon?" he asked "Why can't we attend to our own State rates?" In his rejoInder, Mir. Smith declared that MT. Conner had attempted to evade the issue he had started in saying that the Georgia rates were lower than the Alabama rates. Mir. Smith contended that the Alabama rates were better, and he quoted freely l from freight cards to prove that the statement was true. He said that MT. | Conner had asserted that the railroads |
 
 lslature. He knew, the speaker said | that MT. Jones and the railroads had | fought the bill drawn by President Smith | for more power to the Commission. As to the charge that Colonel Tunstall | was the father of railroad attorneys, Mir. | Smith said: 'I think that reflects great | credit on the Colonel. But how about | my friend. Conner? His brother, G. L. | Conner is division counsel for the Central | of Georgia, and Is actively supporting his | candidacy. If Colonel Tunstall is infiu- enced by his two railroad attorneys. why l can't Mfr Conner be influenced by his | railroad attorney brother?" He declared that he had been told that | the reductions in freight rates made dur | ing his term had amounted to $30o,0OO a | year. There was a small freight wreck on the | Marion branch of the Southern Railroad, | Scott Nadneaday cansad