The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-11-07
An Epoch of History Making.

An Epoch Of History MMhkhnBs
 This is a history making epoch in Alabama. The personal and ofncial | course of Governor Conner, m originat- ing, propagating and effecting d~T2s.ic ~ of the railways of the state, iegisla. tion that has brought embaFrassm and injury to every line in the state ably depreciating their value and en- I forcing a suspension of their improve ments betterments-ande extensions IS a prominent feature Hf tnat mnt,ns nes51r of Sover l nor Conner, or charges him with dis. | honesty, insincerity or malice, put many challenge his wisdom, his Judg- ment and intelligence and attribute to him d stubbornness, an ohlivousness or or aH indifference to the consequences of his acts that most seriously detract and from his high official obligations They instinctively recognize the great | injury to the commonwealth or a per sisteaee in his th 8s1 of the State | in endeavoring to force upon them species of imbecility that would most 1 seriously mar their standing and apl- | ity as great business undertakings, ] whose substantial operations and ser vice are of such vital concern to the State and people. , | people of Alabama with the purpose | and threat of more serious attacK upon the integrity and rigBts of these 1 great public service corporations TOT | the sole reason that they have not | abjectly submitted to his super ofhcial, | illegal, unjust and improper demands | to forego their constitutional rights or | appeal to the courts and meekly ana | humbly yield to his requirements. This unprecedented exhibit of executive or. | ficiousness and imperialism IS part of the sdt refGr1 tbe wsest ane most timely and during history making of today Is the strikinglE convincing review and un- answerable exposition of the facts and merit of the present controversy re- l garding the application and constitu- tionality of late railroad Legislation 1 by President Milton H. Smith of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad Com
 This important and serious question to the people of the State is not treat ed in thts presentation in sPirit or bravado, fwhimsicality or vindictiVe- ness, but in a broad spirit of common sense business and statesnanship with a conservative but vivid comprehension l of great public needs and the measures essential to meet them.
 President Smith presents case @ Governor Conner and to the people or Alabama that Is simply unanswerahle and a conclusion that is irresistible. l He recalls and briefly enumerates the l investments and work under his direc- of the great railway system of. which he is the head. Thirty millions of dollars invested in railways in Ala bama; over 300 miles built by his com l pany to induce and assist in develop | ment and to accommodate the people, adding millions upon millions of tax j able values to the wealth of the State and making possible the great pros- perity that we have had and are now
 f' in contrast to fpesident Smith what has Governor Conner done for Alabama? Where are the monuments to his in- terest or zeal in behalf of the State, ! or in behalf of public prosperity and advancement? Oh, yes: ae, itsis said, ' was instrumental in securing the erec- tfon of a cotton mill at Avondale, where low priced men and women aud little children are worked, 1t is said, at incident of his election to a term as Governor of the State. What sensible Alabamian would put him in the scale l or comparison with President Smith in the light of great service to the State or of ar abiding and profound regard for it's interest and advancement. Is there the slightest question as to which has the most at stake in the veal and prosperity of the commonwealth, or ot the utter futility as well as absurdity
 of the lesser presuming to dictate to
 That 1t is Governor comer's duty and obligation to execute the laws of the State, however unjust, or objection able they may be. there is no possi-
 ble question. That it is his duty tc respect the courts and obey their man
 dates if possibly more distinctively and faithfully than the private or or dinarys citizen there can be no doubt
 But Governor Conner as well as all in-
 telligent citizens know that legisla.
 tion is not law If those to be affected
 by h challenge it's eonstitut1onality and
 promptly appeal to the courts for con
 struction and judgment and Governor
 Comsr knows that it is tyranny, per
 secution and cowardice for an execu.
 tive of a State to attempt in contempt
 and defiance of the courts. a co-ordinatt
 branch of the government with the ex,
 ecutiVe, to use his official influence ana
 vent citizens or business interests iron
 the exercise of their normal and con
 stitutional rights.
 This is exactly what Governor Comei
 has been doing. a persistent. defiant I conseienceless effort and determination
 to force the Louisville and Nashville
 Railroad Company to abandon the pro