The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-09-07
Joins Ranks of Those Prutest- ing Against Interference
 of Federal Courts
USES SOME HARSH WORDS
 ID SHOW HIS D|SAPPR0VlL
Quotes Judge Jones When Governor as Himself Protesting Against ln- terference by Federal Authori-
 ties With State Courts.

Equality, September 6.-(Special)-In speech before a reunion of Confederate veterans here. Congressman J. Thomas Heflin of the Fifth district severely criti- cised Judges Thomas G. Jones of the United States court, protested against in functions restraining state laws and in- veiged in d strenuous way against the corporations. He complmented Governor Glenn of North Carolina and Governor Conner of Alabama and said that if the friends of state rights did not get busy their rights would be gone before they know it.
 Addressing himself to the veterans, MT. Hehln said:
 "rhe stand you took for home rule in 1860 forms the brightest chapter in Amer ican history. You put a stress and em- phasis on state sovereignty that will live while the republic lasts. But for the sacrifices that you made and the hard ships you endured for the principles of local self government this republic would long since have become the haughtiest centralized government on the globe. God grand that we may meet the duties and responsibilities of life with the same courage and forttude that characterized yours; the doctrine of indestruetible states is still sacred doctrine to us. We believe in rendering obedience unto the federal government in all things wherein obedience is due, But we solemly pro- test against government by injunction against the exercise of power which de-
 
 and sets aside the legislative act of a sovereign state upon the invitation of a mighty corporation whose evil practices the state has sought to curb.
 Corporations Are Responsible.
 "Ihe corporations are responsible for the impatence of the people. As a rule they have gone the limit in charging for services rendered the public, and when the public decides to regulate them and registers it's will to that effect they defy the will of that public and call on the ever too anxious and willing federal judges for an injunction, and straight way it is granted Some of these judges have been and are too anxious to attract to themselves the administration that gave them appointment, and too often they have impressed the public that they
  corporate wealth. In their eagerness to display ability, to defend the federal con- sttution (especialy after long service as attorney for the road) they mistake the charter of the corporation for the con- stitution of the United States, and in the shadow of the constitution do divers and sundry things for the corporation.
 Tt would have been infinitely better for all the railroads in this state if they had said to the people of Alabama: We will operate our railroads under your new law, we want your good will, and we have the greatest respect for the regis tered will of the people of the state, and we are going to accept the law as 1t is written, and give it a fair trial, and then if we find that 1t Is to drastic we will show another mark of our respect for the state and of our faith in the ability and integrity of our states courts by in- stituting proceedings there to test the constitutionality of the acts that we claim are too severe.
 ''But the railroads did not pursue this course They ignored the state courts and applied to a federal judge for an injunction. Som, O. the railroads. and be it said to their credit, after conference with the governor, decided to withdraw from the federal court the injunction against the enforcement of the criminal statute regarding the rate, and they
 
 the last legislature until the matter could be passed on by the courts. In the case of the Southern railroads withdraw from the federal court, the judges lament was q very extraordinary, a curious and uncalled for document"
 Criticised Judge Jones.
 NJ. Hefin criticised Judge Jones for enjoining sheriffs and solicitors of this state and said he had gone beyond his power in this respect; that he had no right to interfere with the enforcement of the criminal law in this state. He favored the election of federal judges by the people, the state judges are elected, and said We now behold the civil and criminal law of this state tied up by man who could not be elected to anY office in any precinct in the state. Public opinion in this state is for the mainten- snce of law and order, but it is abso- lute.y against usurpation of power and federal interference with the laws and fms. .tutions of this state. Judge Jones reclzons without his host when he claims that public sentiment in this state Is behind him in his blanket injunction against sheriffs, solicitors and grand ju- res in Alabama"
 Mir Hehin rdculed Judge Jones for his remarks about the army and navy backing the orders of his court. He said: 'There was no occasion for such utter ances except in the fertile imagination of a federal judge. Senator Foraker found much in the judges utterances to feed on md this enemy of the south made use of the material that the judge had fur nisned him when he recently referred to the brave. law-abiding people of Ala l,anla as being engaged in new rebel lion against the federal constitution. All this ado about nothing has not helped Ala abama abroad
 Bat the judges declaration regarding peonage few years ago will cause the people abroad to view his utterances at