The Marietta journal and courier. (Marietta, Ga.) 1909-1918, 1910-03-25
MCLENDON HAS LOST.

The Supreme Court of the State hal
at last decided the case of 5. Il. Nc
Tendon, the Railroad Commissions
who was fred by Governor Hoke Smith
/ McLendon loses at every point.
The court unanimously holds thai
| Governor Smith acted within the Law
and that the Legislature was within it'
power when it sustaire ed the Governor
ALI the hair-splitting technicalitiei
Matched up by the lawyers employed tC
re.instate the Commissioner av c
amounted to nothing. McLendon il
out-out for good-out for keeps-and
the decision is handwriting on the wall
for all public officials who misuse the
trust reposed in them
We rejoice in the fact that the Su'
preme Court has refused to reinstate
a man whose further connection with
the office would have been reproach
to the people Of the state and a most
woeful example to set before the rising
generation.
MeLendon was for many years rail-
road lawyer, representing the Plant
System of railroads. His home was in
Thomasvile and he was one of the in
huential men in South Georgia. After
severing his connection with the rail-
road interests he began an attack upon
the Louisville & Nashville which he
charged intended to ruin the State
Road. Hoke Smith mistook him for a
real reformer, caused him to be nomi-
mated for Railroad Com missioner, APP
pointed him to the place made vacant
by the suspension of Hon. Joseph Nj.
Brown, and McLendon became Chair
man OF the Commission at a salary Of
81 900 year. He speedily became the
whole thing. He was the railroad die
tator of the State, and 80 continued
until Governor Smith was defeated.
Then he turned a summersault, pro-
nounced port rates gold brick, and
it later developed that he had been
trading in Athens street railroad bonds
contrary to his oath and the law, care
fully concealing the fact that his pock-
cts we're lined with a profit of fifteen
hundred dollars in that transaction.
He was fired.
He lost his 81 900 job, which he could
have held indefinitely if he had been
true to the people and true to his oath
We do not wish to rejoice at the
downfall of any man We pity Nc.
Tendon that he was lacking in the
qualities which the occasion demanded
But we do rejoice that the Railroad
Com mission is spared the situation
that his reinstatement would have
caused. What young man, with g
clean heart and high purpose in life
would not have looked with astonish.
ment to see in that important tribunal
man who had gone back on his cam.
paign utterances, gone back on the
people, gone back on his oath and the
law to gain profit of fifteen hundred
dollars and to make peace with hit
political opponents
We hope Mr.. McLendon will find
congenial employment and do we'll fol-
the rest of his life. We would throw
no obstacle in the way of his success
and happiness. He is man of brillian
mind and possesses some engaging
qualities. Butwe cannot refrainfrom ex
pressing the deepest gratitude over tn,
fact that the Supreme Court has re
fused to put its sanction on such con
duet. Our public officials represen
our ideals. Let us ever and Away
honor those men who are moved b,
lofty purposes; who can stand s.ead
fast i'll the storms OF adversely. and t.
whom no form of graft in office cal
ever be temptation.