The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-07-18
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GOrefnOf Conner As m DemaEoxue, Bessemer Weekly.
 If Governor Conner Is amenable tc the ordinary feelings and influences Wnicn ahect men he must have felt
 much disniay and modification at the outcome of what he had evidently in- tended as an effective and unanswer. aoie exposition and review of his great gubernatorial work. He unquestion. ably considered that It would be an unanswerable pronouncement of great statesmanship and insure him place in the highest niche in the states his tory.
 We have read with considerable care and likewise with a great deal of dis- gust his long speech at Samson, on the 4th, inst, an advance copy of which he had furnished The Birmingham News which reproduced it in full. His dissertation on American independence. the federal constitution, rights of the people. etc, would be creditabIe enough to any common 4th of July orator and his iaudation of the farming classes was perhaps appropriate to ths place and the occasion.
 But In the list of acts passed Governor Conner can rightly take to himself the credit or the tgnominy. certain railway legislation which he reviews. What there Is of him pub licly he built by this crusade against the railroads and public utility cor porations of the state. arousing and appealing to prejudices and melting suspicion and distrust. He would place restrictions on the conduct of corpora ticn affairs that no private business could tolerate or endure. He would subject them to conditions that made them the mere creatures of political manipulation and destroy all stability in their values.
 Fortunately. for the peoples interest there was higher power than him his legislation came to naught and yet he boasts loudest of it.
 Governor Corners wanton attack on the United States Judiciary is without parallel. His attempted arraignment United States District Court. widely known and distinguished predecessor of his in the gubernatorial chair, with a talent, ability and high character, that Governor Conner can never reach, was simply disgraceful efnanating from one whom the people had placed at the head of their state government. Judge Jones occupies a pedestal in the pco- ple's service and estimation that Gov ernor Conner never can obtain. He IS so far above him, so superior in ability and unassailable reputation that 1t Is almost sacrilige for one like Governor Conner to assume to assaH him. His aspersions on his record. his assault upon his consistency, his reflection on
  of the commonest demagogue.
 What if as Governor Conner states, twenty five years ago Judge Jones was an attorney of the Louisville and Nashville railroad? That only demon- strated a superior ability which can only command corporate service. What If as Governor Conner states. when a member of the legislature and when governor Judge Jones was opposed to railroad control? In all candor we ask what had Judge Jones' past employ ment or his political or civil beliefs to do with his duty on the bench where he sits to administer law and justice? The statement of Governor Conner that such past environments should pre- ciude him ever afterwards from judi cial service Is a reflection on the gov ernor's intelligence and manhood. IL is a strong implication, if not admts- sion. that Governor Conner, would be amenable to ulterior influences; that his mind was so dwarfed and controlled by his beliefs and prejudices that he was incapable of dispassionately slt- ting In Judgment.
 No right minded man, knowing Judge Jones, will ever accuse him Of that i'm becility or draw the slightest infer ence of a want of the highest rectitude.
 Judge Jones when governor of Ala bama. recommended the enactment of an anti-pass law, a law to prevent the issuing of free passes to any official or legislator. because of It's effect in pre- judicing their service Governor Co., mer in his malice and resentment de- manded that railway corporations be prohibited from making legitimate business arrangement regarding trans portation with members of the press. That act has been in force for more than year. There Is not a rail- way in Alabama that will acknowledge any benefit from its enactment; that finds in results eny increase in receipts or any diminution in expense and none can distinguish the slightest benefac- tion, except 1t may be in the gratfica- tion of Governor Corners malice and enmity.
 Judge Jones's recod is above attack, and above criticism. He has disclosed statesmanship. the highest civic vir- tues in the dispensation of equal and exact justice and of law. He is way beyond the reach of such persons as Governor Conner.
 As the latter grudgingly admits the same federal judicial action was taken In Minnesota on similar railway leg islation that was taken in Alabama. Did Governor John A. Johnson of that state de1ounce and demaan the federal judiciary of that state as Governor Conner has done the federal judiciary of this state? Not at all. Governor Joh nson is a broad minded and able statesman, who respects the Judiciary of the land and is sensitive to the hon- or and credit or his state. Would to heaven that Alabama was favored and blessed with such an executive as John VahaGnn nf AFiuposofa