The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1907-08-16
SOUTHERN SEEKS PEACE
Executive Officers Call Of Fight in Ala
bama and Submit Proposition to
Governor Conner.
Governor Conner

The executive officers Of the South.
ern railway, who have ben in confer
ence in New York, for several days.
have, according to report. reached the
decision that it viii be the part Of
wisdom TO abandon the litigation in
stituted in the federal courts for The
notification OF reduced passenger
rates in several states of the south
President Finley and other execu-
tive officers Of the system went from
Washington to New York, and they
were joined by Colonel A. B. Andrews,
the first vice president 1t is generally
understood that this conference took
place at the metropolis so that the
officials could keep in touch with
those who have the largest financial
interest in the road.
A high official Of the Southern rail-
way frankly admitted in the course OF
conversation that appeal to the feder-
al courts in all of the passenger rate
cases was mistake.
Those who prompted this course ar.
gusd that it would be bes. for the
railroads to 90 before the supreme
court OF the United States with IA
vorabie decision, and the position was
taken that such decision would be
the most likely given in the federal
than in the state courts The railroads
recognize that they have lost any ad
vantage they might have obtained from
the federal injunctions given them,
and what is still worse, they have
aroused the hostility Of public opinion
This. they fear, will be reflected at
sessions OF the legislatures in the va
rious states.
Southern Makes Proposition.
A proposition of settlement has been
made by the Southern railway Off
Gals in Montgomery, Ala, to be sub
mitted to the governor. 1t has been
wired to President Finley in New
York and awaits his action.
Vice President e. L. Russell Of the
Mobile and Ohio, representing Presi-
dent Finley, and Attorney Weatherly
81 Birmingham continued their con
ference with Governor Conner Wednes-
day regarding the controversy between
The state Of Alabama and the South
ern.
That it was not the intention Of
the officers of the Southern railway
To defy the state of Alabama is con
veyed in statements made by Vice
President Russell. He declared that
the removal OF the case from the state
10 the federal court was in regular
order of business, and that 1t was not
so removed in time to come under the
provisions Of the new law.
Railway officials discuss with con
Germ the finding of an indictment at
Marion, Ala, fearing that it may cause
complications. The Southern was in
dicted there for violating the law in
doing business without a license.
Gov. Conner, after the consultation
gave out statement in which he
says he is standing out for the 2h
cent fare BILL saying:
Every time a ticket is sold for more
than two and a half cents mile, the
roads violate the law and the person
selling the ticket commits misde.
meanor. 1t is the duty Of every court
to SO charge the jury and the duty
Of every solicitor to make out a case.
! have told Colonel Russell that with
his reputation for fairness, l shall ex.
pect him to realize and concede that
the railroads must obey the laws the
same as any other person"
With regard to the removal of the
case from the Talladega court to the
federal court, over which the license
Of the Southern was revoked and
which the railroad people admit was
hasty and not intended, the governor
says:
The administration understands
that the offense was committed against
the state laws by the removal of the
suit. regardless OF the motive which
prompted it. The laws are made for all
alike and to be observed by all and
enforced by the administration impair
tally"