Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-07-09
Political Platforms
and Mr.. McLendOn
Elberton Star.


Someone has claimed that Platforms
were made for politicians to get into Of
fee on"
And there are people who seem to think
anything is fair in politics" These con-
ditions may have existed in the past, but
&things have been and are still changing.
Men cannot hop up in this day and time
and run for office, succeed in being elect
ed and thereafter repudiate every promise
made, verbal and written, to his con-
stituency. candidate found guilty OF
such conduct will sooner or later be
thoroughly condemned by the people.
Deposed Commissioner McLendon is
daily making out his case" through the
columns of the Atlanta newspapers He
claims that he has not changed his views
on port rates" he admits that he did
ride over the West Point road on spe-
cial train and DID NOT PAY HIS FARE,
yet the state had $4,000 set aside for that
purpose alone-to pay commissioners ex-
penses while examining railroad prop
erty. -.s
McIendon, in one Of his contributions,
with which the voters of Georgia are 50
familiar-to his hurt-calmly makes the
statement that Hoke, Smith is the one
who has changed, and not Sir Guyton.
His entire defense can be summed up
in the song OF. "Katydid and Katydidn't,
which would amount to about the same
thing with the people Of Georgia
Mr.. McLendon now says the port rate
business is a gold brick gotten up for
the nurpose of benefting a few Atlanta
hardware jobbers, and also that his at
+itude towards the railroads has under-
gone no change. Still he claimed rev
DAVIS ago that all he had written prior
to becoming commissioner, had been
''written on assumption" Is the Honor
able Guyt. playing to the galleries? IL
he is sincere TODAY was he slhcere
TWO YEARS AGO? If he has not
changed his views why did ne say re-
Gently that his campaign letters "ele
written on assumption
II is not a question as to whether port
rates are lust or unjust; it is not ques-
tion as to whether Atlanta would OF
would not get an advantage over her
neiehbors because of port rates; II Is not
q question as to whether or not Hoke
Smith or Joe Brown is correct but
When is Mr.. McLendon sincere!
We are informed that some members
of the legislature claim it would De q oeo
nrecedent to sustain Ex-Governor Smith
an the McIendon matter. There is no
precedent to go by! When Hoke Smith
was defeated for governor OF Georgia IN
June of last year, Democratic precedent
was cast to the four winds.
If riding on free passes by state OF
1cials is wrong-and Mr.. McLendon
claimed this two years ago-he acted IN
bad taste and with poor Judgment, when
he used Mr. Wickersham's private car
to go over and inspect the West Point
road.
Then again, II McLendon did change his
views after June. 1908, and could not CON
scientiously vote according to the dc
tates of the Macon convention, to do the
manly thing, just as soon as he discovered
himself, he should have resigned his po-
sition on the commission.
A man elected to office to carry out spe-
cifics instructions has no moral right 10
vote contrary to those instructions, even
IL he does change his mind.
But It is very peculiar, to say the least
that Mr. McLendon changed his views on
port rates and his attitude towards the
railroads almost as soon as Hoke Smith
was defeated by Joseph M. Brown In the
last primary election.
The Star sincerely hoped that this year
would be a quiet one in politics in Geor-
gia, but Mr. Smith could not have acted
with sincerity and candor, and at the
same time kept faith with the people had
he allowed McLendon to remain at the
head of the railroad commission.
The Star does not believe the rank and
file of the people of Georgia can be led
to believe otherwise.