The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1911-09-21
PLANNING
TO DECIDE SOON
FORMER GOVERNOR WILL NOT
ANNOUNCE AS CANDIDATE
DURING THIS WEEK.
AWAITING OPPORTUNE TIME
II Is Believed That Joseph N. Brown
VIII Make the Race for
Governor.
Atlanta

Atlanta.
Former Governor Joseph M. Brown
will not make announcement this
week Of his intentions regarding the
gubernatorial campaign, but those in
touch with him stated that it is very
probable that he will have something
to say next week. 1t is believed that
the former governor will make ia
vorable announcement within the next
week or ten days.
With his customary caution he is
awaiting the opportune time before
having anything to say. SO far he is
saying nothing, and is contenting him
self with conferences with friends and
inquiries as to the situation.
He will not enter the race hurriedly
nor will he hesitate too long in case
he makes UP his mind to run.
| Governor Brown is still receiving a
| large number of written and personal
appeals to enter the contest which is
coming over the seat to be vacated
when Governor Smith decides to re-
sign and accept his place in the Unit
ed States senate.
Hundreds Of former opponents have
pledged Governor Brown to get busy
in his behalf just as soon as he gives
the word, and are urging him to avoid
any unusual delay in making his an
nouncement of his intention.
The governor expects to spend most
of the next week or two at his farm
in Cherokee county.
Case Against w. g. A. Lessees.
| While no statement could be OBJ
| tanned it is virtually certain tn ethe
railroad commission will strengthen
the case against the lessees Of the
Western and Atlantic railroad along
the lines urged by Governor Brown
and again by Governor Smith.
The desire of the executive office
as expressed by the former executive
and his successor in office is to OBJ
tain consistent record before under
taking to begin action to have the
courts annul the existing lease.
1t may be stated on reliable au-
thority that the commission is Of the
opinion that it can comply with Gov
ernor Smiths request and still remain
within it's legal limitations.
| Should it do so, it is probable that
suit will be brought to compel the
lessees to adopt through freight rates
prescribed by the commission or in
lieu thereof surrender its control Of
the property.
Both Governor Smith and Chairman
Warner Hill of the commission are
out of the city this week, so that no
action can be taken on the governors
request until the early part Of next
week.
The letter which the governor wrote
the commission was dictated after he
had held conferences with members
of the commission, at which he de-
cided that in order to make the record
complete it would be necessary for-the
commission to point out to him GER
tain specific instances in which the
lessees of the state road are failing
to comply with the provisions of the
lease contract, which requires that no
higher rate per ton per mile shall be
charged on interstate shipments than
is prescribed by the commission Tor
interstate shipments.
| At the hearing which the commits
sion held on this question some time
ago 1t was charged that there are in
the neighborhood of two hundred ar
ticles on which the railroad company
is charging a higher rate than is pro-
vided for in the lease contract
judges Exchanging Compliments.
Brisk and breezy is the interchange
OF compliments between Judge Au-
gustus w. Fite of the Cherokee cir
cult and Judge Richard B. Russell,
member of the state court of appeals
bench, and candidate for governor.
"He should either resign from the
court or get off the stump" declares
Judge Fite, referring to the candidate
Judge. while the latter retorts:
why didn't Judge Fite resign from
the bench when he was a candidate
for congress?"
Thus is the ethics OF candidacy for
one office while holding another, and
particularly when the latter is within
the ranks Of the judiciary, brought
into the limelight.
1t seems to be mooted question as
to whether a Judge who is candidate
for governor, or Judge who is can
didate for congress, should first re-
sign before entering upon his cam
paign.
Judge Fite thinks Judge Russell
should resign; Judge Russell retorts
that Judge Fite evidently didn't hold
Athens. The state entomologist
! -. 49,. ooIlad ,tnon nv farmers of