The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-11-18
SMITH QUITS OFFICE
issA B. MILLS PRESIDENT OF RAIL-
 ROAD COMMISSIONERS.
New Executive a Citizen of Minnesota Mine Superintendent Lang of BloctOn, Dies of Shot Fired
 From Ambush,

Birmingham, Nov. 17.-(Special )- The sixteenth annual convention of the National Association of Railroad Com mtssioners came to a close today and the delegates and their ladies left on a special train southward, their destina- ton being Mexico. They will stop in Montgomery, Pensacola, Mobile. New Orleans ana other points on the way.
 At the closing session a report was received from the Committee on Rates and Rate Making. Tn retiring from the office President John V. Smith of Alabama, made an interesting address. He told of his defeat for reelection on the Board of Railroad Commissioners in this State. A vote of thanks was rendered him by the Association for the work in behalf of the organization in
 Deadwood, s. D.. was selected as the next place of meeting and August Is, 1905, as the time for the convention. The delegates will take in the Lewis year.
 The following officers were elected: President, Ira B. Mills, of Minnesota; First Vice. President, James S. Neville of illinois; Second Vice-President, pr. W. G. Smith, of South Dakota: Secre- tary, Edward A. Moseley. of Washing ton Secretary of the Interstate Com merce Commission; Assistant Secre- tary, Martin s. Decker, of Washington, D. C. Resolutions of thanks were adopted by the convention to the retir- ing president and individual members for efforts given in behalf of the organ ization.
 The speech of the retiring President, John V. Smith, was as follows:
 Tn parting with you officially I wish to express my sincere appreciation of the loyal support accorded me in my earnest efforts to make this meeting a success in every sense. To say that l part from you with regret Is but to speak the simple truth; but it Is not o orsafa fn 4hnt a. --t.. en me to go over my official life as President of the Alabama Railroad Commission, my course would be the same. have DO regrets thereat or apologies therefor. The people of my State desired a change of policy in the admtpistration of the Railroad Commits sion laws, demands were made upon me which I could not, from my standpoint conscientiously perform. I saw the storm arise, heard its low mutterings Of thunder, saw the vivid lightnings Hash, but duty as I saw it command ed me to bare my breast to the storm and go down in defeat. the victim of my own conscientious convictions which stood in the path of the peoples desires.
 T have no cause of complaint, for having deliberately taken a stand in opposition to the wishes of a majority of the people-nothing was left but to become Vicarious sacrifice upon the altar constructed by me in the dis charge of my duty in manner be- lieved to be right. Without a murmur: with nothing but love in my heart for the people which I have served for the past four years, and with an earn est desire always for their welfare, I shall on the nrst of next March, lay down the duties of official life and as sume for the first time in twelve years the duties of an humble and private citizen. Whether right or wrong I re- tire with the approval of my own con