The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-09-13
In Scathing Terms He Alludes to Course
 of Executive. CIVIL WAR NARROWLY
 AyERIED IN RATE CASE Famous Letter Which is Nov Published For First Time
 Conveys Startling
 News. win Dieniaed, But Bitter Phrases, Federal yuase Breaks Iesg silence and Defe.ds Himself Against Repeated vexbai Assssits
 of Governor ef

Tn a history making interview. Hon Thomas e. Jones. former Governor or Alabama, now Judge of the uniteo States Court of the Middle District or A,abama. answers the bitter attacks made upon him by Governor B. B. Co., mer. because of his orders in tpe rate cases and Judge Jones. giving the nis- tory of these cases. makes public some of the correspondence which shows how narrowly civil warfare in Alabama was avo,ded. when Governor Conner was urging state authorities to violate the orders of the Federal court.
 For many months Judge Jones res'e' .,,..,, ,,nder the vituperative attacks made upon him from the stump out f.,sa statements made in order 10 in' r.m. the minds of the people and re- c.ated several times in the past ten 
 a.v. nave called from him an able ana forceful reply to the assaults or 'ns Governor.
 Tn his interview Judge Jones poinss out that he was compelled to sit upon the rate cases when they were brought : s.n,. oourt. and that the atternexa eor the state Admittsd that the action ,,. tsss wss the only action that could be taken. He makes public for the f,rst time, a letter from Judge Dayia shelby of the United States Court of A nnaals. in answer to e letter from him ,n which he asked Judge shelby to come to. Montgomery and sit in the rate cases in view of their importance. rhis Judge shelby was unable to do. sisniaoa5t staeements.
 rha most significant feature of the interyiew.. however, is a letter which Judge Jones wrote Attorney General A. M. Garber. containing a quotation from the Attorney General of the tynitaa states. At this time public sentiment had become unframed by the Governor and his political allies. The Governor was urging State officials to violate the order of the court and there were semi -oficial publications that the State military would be called put to interfere with the orders of the court. These semt- -ofleial statements were never denied.
 Judge Jones at this juncture wrote 10 the Attorney General of the United states to ascertain what resources would be put at his assistance If the Governor overrode the orders Of the court. He was assured that the strength and resources Of the entire executive department would be at his service. This meant. If the Governor had made good his threats, there would have been strife and bloodshed in Ala bama. Judge Jones conveyed this in- formation to Attorney General Garber. But the Governor took 1t out in talk ing.
 Judge Jones alludes to the famous interview Governor Conner had with President Roosevelt. in which the Gov arnor told the President Unless you call down the Federal Judge in Ala bama there will be trouble. He reeeiv- ed the characteristic reply from Roose- welt:
 
 be stopped mighty quick"
 Governor Finally Silent.
 After his return from Washington the Governor talked no more of armed resistance.
 Having reviewed all the facts in the rate litigation, Judge Jones says in his interview:
 with this review of the facts, con- hdentIy leave to my fellowmen to de- termine which was the truer son of Alabama and most devoted to her in- terests and honor-the Federal Judge who stood for the Constitution and laws. amid storms of detraction and passion, directed by the chief magis- trate of the State against the judge and the court; or the Governor, who. in State papers and public utterances. inveighed against the institutions of his country. denounced citizens of this and other States as lawbreakers and criminals for exercising a constitution al right, and constantly fomented ex. |, citement and passion, persuadIng the people that their rights were being trampIed upon by the ordinary opera lion of the laws of the Union, and In. citing citizens and State officials to resist the orders of a court of his country by fierce, at 6 time of great popular excitement, inviting riot and sedttion, and consequent shame to the good name of its people"
 Judge Jones speaks with some feel ing on the vituperative attacks made upon hls good name. In worldly way 1t is known that Judge Jones is a poor man. and the attempt made to destroy the sole heritage which he will leave to his family-his good name--has been resented not only by the Judge. but by many of his friends. As he says In his interview, he has lived In Ala bama since he could walk, the ashes of his dead are here, and he expects to repose in the soil of Alabama when his own life IS ended. His father was distinguished builder and developer who came to Montgomery in It's earlier days. The future Governor and Fed