The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-10-11
ATTACKS ON
 COURTS AGAIN Governor Conner Renews
 Wordy War. TELLS OF HIS RECENT TRIP Conferred With Attorney General Bonaparte and the President. MentIoa Also Made of Judge weakiey's Trip to Lenox, Mass, to see
 Bonaparfe-Nothing Prom
 ised Definitely.
TELLS OF HIS RECENT TRIP

Tn an extended interview handed the Press Saturday, Governor Conner re- cites in his characteristic manner the history of the fight which the State administration has waged to stop the railroads from increasing the inter state rates from the West to Ala bama.
 He tells in detail the various steps that were taken by the Railroad Com mission of Alabama and of the recent trip which he made to Washington, D. c. to confer with President Roosevelt and Attorney General Bonaparte. and of the previous trip of Special Counsel Samuel D. weakley to Lenox, Mass, to consult with the Attorney General of the United States.
 Through 1t all. the Governor says it was his object and it was the object of the Railroad Commission to secure a suspension of the rates effective Aug. 1, until after a hearing to deter mine their justness and fairness. He takes his customary fling at the Fed eral courts, deploring that they exer- else supreme powers. throttling State courts, chancery courts and Legisla- tures."
 'I went from Atlanta to Washing ton to see Attorney-General Bonaparte and President Roosevelt. and laid the facts before them of how Alabama, by our inferior Federal Judge, was en- joined" states the Governor in his in- terview. How every child over six years of age was enjoined; every indi- vidual was enjoined, every court officer. every grand jury. every process of court was enjoined.
 That the State was bound hand and foot when it came to act in the en- forcement of the law looking to de- crease of freight rates; absolutely bound hand and foot. And yet the railroads without any restraint what ever. are advancing interstate charges on living and the products of tAe peo- pie. I told them that 1t is wrong and 1t is wrong. and the people should have some remedy and relief from this kind of business.
 The Governor shortly after giving the interview out left for Birmingham on the evening train to spend Sunday at his home.
 The interview in full is as follows:
 I attended the freight rate hearing before the Interstate Commerce Com mission in Atlanta, in which the tes- ttmony regarding the increased freight rates in Alabama, Georgia and the Southeast oi grain and grain products and meat and meat products, was being taken. I went from there to Wash- ington to interview Attorney General Bonaparte and the President. MT. Roosevent regarding the increased charges against the living of the peo- pie and the products of the people the railroads were fnaugurating, and to ascertain if any means could be had by which a hearing on the just ness and fairness of these increases could be had before the increased rates could be put into effect.
 In other words. when the Alabama Legislature was in session and passed laws decreasing intrastate freight rates on 110 articles to approximately the same rate which the railroads were carrying in Georgia. and had been carrying for the past twenty-five years, and notwithstanding this question bad been discussed through the State Tor years, and notwithstanding the failroads had every opportunity to go before the legislative committees and 1id go before the committees before Bhe rates were put in, after the laws were passed, they complained bitterly Shat they had not had a fair chance :. They then went before the inferior Federal court at Montgomery. presided pver by Judge Jones, and under the Fourteenth Amemndment to the Con- stitutton claimed an injunction on the grounds that their property was being taken without due process of law This injunction was granted. and inc cases are now before the courts and will in time be decided
 I wish to call your attention right here to the contention of the railroads asking an injunction that their prop. erty was being taken without due pro. cess of law. and yet here in these in. creased charges on grain and grair products, meat and meat products. and which is now being extended to cot. ton, and I understand will be car. ried still further without giving the people an opportunity to discuss the giving the people a hearing of any kind whatever. they proceed to put these increased freight rates in. and 1t simply shows the justice of the con. tention I have always made, that the State was bigger than the railroad: and should control them in thei, charges, or the time would come wher they would increase their charges anc believe 1t right to do 1t.