Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-08-17
Governor Brown Has Promised To
Name Successor to McLendon
Some Time During the Present
Week at Latest.
MANY ARE WAITING
TO BE STRUCK BY
POLITICAL LIGHTNING
In the Meantime, McLendon Con
tinues to Pay His Daily Visit to
Railroad Commission and Plans
Court Case.

1t is scarcely probable that the public.
and incidentally some score or more OF
politicians who have been waiting for
the political lightning to strike them. VIII
have to wait much longer to learn who
will succeed s. Guyton McLendon as rail-
road commissioner.
II has been a long, weary wait for the
several politicians. for there is no one
thing that is more trying than hope de-
ferred
Each morning since the general agseu-
bly, formally dismissed Mr.. MeIendou
from ONCE, office seekers from Rabun
Gap to Tybee Light, and horizontally ana
diagonally across the state. have been
waiting and watching for the news They
needed to enJoin no "eall me early. moth
er, dear" One and all have been up aud
about, and none of them loafed on the
Job of getting Endorsements. All KINDS
and conditions of men have been after
the Job. Men who scarcely Know the diff
ference between a cow-catcher and
coupling pin. or a port rate and the bat
ting average OF Ty Cobb have brushed
aside all consideration of such trivial
technicalities and are willing, yea, pinfng
ard positively peevish in their desire to
serve the dear peepul"
A TANTALIZING DELAY.
All of which may or may not account
for the fact that Governor Brown has
so long delayed making an appointment 10
an ONCE which has been as prolific Of
sensations as the inner circle of the Rus
sian socialists during recent years. It i
a serious thing, this appointing Of rail-
road commissioner. Naturally, a gov
ernor stops and weighs the matter care
fully before taking a man out of the quiet
OF private life and putting him in a posi-
! ton which. in the light of recent events.
is apt to cause him to change his precon-
ceived opinions and bring upon himself
a political cyclone. No man wants t.
place friend IN such position. and
, naturally no one would want to tive the
/ position to a person who was not
| friend.
But the suspense is about to be ended
Governor Brown has stated that he Is
not waiting on any action of Mr. McLan-
| don and has intimated that the appoints
ment is now not far of. From now on
until the time the news is flashed over
the state, there will be deal of specula-
| ton.
number of names have been sug-
gested.
OF these, that of ]. r. Smith refuses
to down. Mr.. Smith was largely respon-
| sible for Governor Brown entering the
race and managed his campaign. He il
a man of varied interests, but II L.
thought he would accept the position IL
offered to him.
r. A. Broyles, an experienced railroad
| man Of Atlanta ana a close personal
friend Of the governor, is another name
| mentioned. Mr. Broyles knew and work
ed with Mr.. Brown when the governor
was an obscure employe of the Western
and Atlantic railroad. and their friend.
ship has extended up to the present time.
He is said to be well equipped for the
place.
Still another name mentioned Is that OF
George f. Montgomery, of Marietta.
| who is thoroughly equipped for the duties
of the position, IT is said, and 10 very
close to the governor
SOUTH GEORGIA INTERESTED
All of the men mentioned, however.
are from north Georgia, and the Commits
sion already has two members from this
immediate section, Murphy Gambler, or
Decatur, and Judge George Hillyer, Of
Atlanta Mr.. McLendon was the only
member from the extreme southern part
OF the state and that section viii un-
questionably feel hurt IL II does not re-
ceive recognition. Judged purely In the
| light of political expectancy IL would
seem that the new commissioner would
logically be a south Georgia man. How
ever, Governor Brown has shown con-
siderable independence in making ap-
pointments and has named more
one politica. opponent where the sue
cessful applicant was opposed by one Of
HIS warm Supporters
McLENDON STILL SILENT
In the meantime Mr.. McLendon is stu
silent He continues TO visit the railroad
commission each morning and chats
pleasantly with the commissioners and
visitors on all subjects save the one up
permost in the minds of the public--his
future course regarding an effort TO re-
tain his place on the commission. Touch-
ing this he will say absolutely nothing.
To every question he merely replies:
II do not care to discuss that at the
present time ="
Then he changes the subject and one
cannot get him to revert to II.
READY FOR THE COURTS.
AS soon as Governor Brown makes his
appointment, however, it is said that Mr..
MeLendon will file quo warranto pro
ceedingS to retain his position. He has
already made formal demand on the state
treasurer for salary from the time Of his
suspension and has daily been at the Of
nee OF the commission ready for work.
His attorneys, Gambler. Thomson and
Hirsch, also refuse to discuss the case It
the present time.