The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-03-10
SEARS REPORT
CONQUERED IN
3Conunued From First Page.)

Sb ~ 9lltlI0 III
Continued From First Page.)
aiyocscy: No good purpose can be sub
ssrved 10y adopting either or any report,
but, on the contrary. by stamping as
official d now unofficial report great and
frrepatable injury Will be done to the
stare. the Democratic party and the
officers and employees OF the Corporation
Commission.
As TO ths state. the adoption OF the
report will set the seal of approval on
,hc hnding ~ fact that the president, q
the great Stale Corporation Commission.
ono OF the most important departments
OF government, is a man without good
Judgment. aud Is capable of grave indLs-
Greiians' and that the clerk of the COM
mission is 81 man who Is so puffed UP
with pride and arrogance as to Impair
5iis sense OF right and wrong. The eff
feet of such a finding OF fact without
The enactment of some law TO correct the
original evil complained of. or without
Impeachment proceedings to Dust the par
tics who, by the report have at least
been found incompetent 10 ill the posi-
lions occupied by them. IS to hold out
To- the world that the adrlinistraton-the
Stately AN Investigation, finds incompe-
teucy and ineflicicncy in one of its de-
partmeuts and does nothing TO correct 1t.
.',rhe Legislature. by adopting any of
these reports, either goes too far or does
not go far enough.
Not Good Politics.
So far as the party is concerned, by
adopting this report we Will be sowing
the wind and we will surely reap the
whfrl,yind Our enemies will say: You
nave Investigated one of the departments:
sou have officially recognized that ii Is
sottcn (these matters are always eXag-
gerated by our enemies, YOU know;
YOU make scapegoats of the little fellows
and continue in office the men OF iniiu-
ence and pull. without an attempt TO
impcach them or To enact remedial legis-
5ation; you have tried to whitewash q
-otten condition. which you have officially
recognized ON the other hand if we
pass by these reports. should the conf
mon enemy attempt TO taunt our party
sbout this matter we could reply: Yes,
we investigated the commission and found
nothing OF wrong. nothing 10 threaten
the public service. Indeed. there was so
little In 1t that the House refused TO
adopt a minority report which, of the
.xo reports was most favorable to the
commission. and would not consume the
line Of the House In discussing matter
II go little public Importance. 1T is
Sc miniuus non curat lex The evidence
aas been made public; you have 1t, Mr.,
Republican,: now make the most of 1t
sou can: We admit no wrong or weak
ness in the public service
Can't Be Undonc.
Az 10 Judge Crump and Mr.. upshur and
the other employees. WfhTFT-r injury has
seen done Judge crump in PUBLIC
OPINION cannot now be undone
the moting d!Hser writes and having
,f,,,,ss IN, Nnr al yo,,r r,ra ,.ers nor wit
IAN call il back 10 change Il single line.
Sor an your tears wash ont ~crd or IL
Eii public opinion is one Thing, and
Official Judgments unoiier. Tine adoption
~ tho minority report IS as unjust 10 MI.
ItrtsluY as the adoption OF the majority
report would lbs % Judge Crunlp, Neither
report IS, IN my opinion correct and
neither 4hcna, b. any a1ton Of tnis
House be declared correct These re-
ports arc the opinions Of q fcw members
o tho two houses, ana MAJ ~ may not
be correct. Let TVS not rOnaenlH any nan
g!sIi 81 haa been tried The trial court
should al least be No poBsasSion Of the
r,iJeuee Sut one cf YOU. outside ~ siia
eonmdtter. iias read the evidence n this
Nase NOT oic of you ~ competcnL 10 pass
upon tho merits of the case nor the weight
sud effect Of tho evidence YOU aef, if
You act AZ all, upon pgejddice aud partisan
motives.
Public opinion Il one thing, but an of,l-
cish act is another \ man may BIZ ac-
Gascd Of crime. q grau Jury may ndics
him, public opinion may condemn him. II
jury may md verdict against him, but
10 is not convicted nntil the Judgment of
Tie court ig entered ON The Tsrord. Are
sou going to enter tlm judgment on the
record az a Judge. ON the yertlSct Of u
minority Of 4 iury without knowing any.
thing about the evidence In the case
You may ba c9noeuniug innocent Inen ~