The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1907-1917, 1911-08-10
PAGE NINE


utmost authority to bring about proper reduc-
ton Of rates TO and from the ports to the Interior
we'll as rates within the state
eve demand the issuahceof general interchange
able mileage books at price not exceeding $40
per thousand miles and urge upon the rail-
road commission an immediate and thorough in
vestigation of the question to whether or not
the passenger business of the railroads does not
now justify the adoption of a general passenger
rate of cents per mile.
I'VE favor the adjustment of the present re-
qulrement that each CT the commissioners shall
be skilled in particular line of business thus
restricting the choice of individuals for the office
of railroad commissioner to comparatively few
people. We favor opening this high an drespon-
s1ble office to all men who have the necessary in
tellgence and determination to compel the rail-
roads to accede to our reasonable and just de-
mands.
1--WE favor increasing the powers of the COM
mission to such extent that it can enforce it's
orders, by suitable swift and certain procedure.
we also favor the enactment of such laws as Will
make the wilful refusal of railroad corporations
or any of their agents to obey the orders of the
commission, penal ohense, to be punished by
hne or imprisonment or both"
That reads WE'LL doesn't it? From the res
olute tone and the fervid words one would
infer that Smith meant to 90 right to work,
as soon as he was lnaugurated Governor, and
dO the thing so urgently demanded. The
word Immediately" means much-if any
thing at all.
In June, 1907 Smith was inaugurated.
Let us say that it took him to the first Of July
to warm the Gubernatoral seat" Did he
then begin to try to do that which he had said,
IN his speeches and his PLATFORM must be done
''immediatey?" No; he did not. He made
no attempt to get either the Legislature or the
Commission to do anything on that line He
did nothing in 1907, nothing in 1908. His
term was about to expire in 1909, when Clark
Howell published an editorial, in the COnstj-
tuition, calling attention to the fact that Smith
had failed to do, or to say, single thing to-
ward carrying out the most emphatic pledge
In his platform.
Then Smith suddenly realized that he must
do something, ito save his face" and he laid
before the Commission the old Hardware Job
berS' petition for special favors to themselves
there IN At1anta. Smith had been die attorney
of these jobbers on a previous application to
the Commission for special rates, and had lost
his case In deciding against them again,
McLendon followed precedent and was right,
for the two former decisions against those
JObbers were Just.
But Hines says a motion was made by Muir
ply Gambler to extend the reduced rates to
other jobbers, in those special wares through
out the State.
H0eo does t1ot help Smith,? The applica-
ton made by Smith was for special rates to
his Atlanta clients.
Even with Candler's proposed amendment,
the reductions asked for ought not to have
been granted, because they would have been
special favors to few iobbers dealing in cof-
fee and certain kinds of iron-ware
Let anyone compare Hines statement Of
this case with the broad demands of the Ma
con platform, and he will have a clear con-
ception of how Smith fooled the people in
1909, and how Judge Hines is trying to fool
them, m01O.