The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1912-08-15
TO SUCCEED
! HIMSELF ON RAILROAD
COMMISSION
JUDGE HILLyER RESISTED ALL
/ SPECIAL PRIVILEGES - LET
McLENpoN EXPLAIN THE
ATHENS BOND DEAL.

plicated difficult duties. requiring 80
much OF knowledge and experience,
should not be dragged into any per-
sonal quarrel or bitterness. but the
people should select the man who will
be best for Georgia and the public
interest. In no single instance has
any rule or order that Commissioner
HilIyer voted for ever been reversed
or set aside by any court It is q
good rule to let we'll enough alone.
For nearly twenty-five years Judge
Hillyer held no public office, except
such as president Of the water board,
trustee Of colleges and much hard
work on church boards and conyen-
lions, none Of which had salaries. To
call him an office holder is unjust and
unkind.
Commissioner Hillyer worked and
voted against any increase in rail.
road rates on necessaries Of life--hay,
grain and packing-house products
and made long and hard light on
that issue, In which the commission
got no help from McLendon, who Is
now opposing Hillyer.
During Governor Smiths admins
tration Mr.. McLendon was suspended
by the governor, and removed from
Office by the legislature afterwards,
upon q public trial. Governor Brown,
when he came In, might have restoE-
ed Mr.. McLendon, II he had thought
it right. But he did not do so-he APP
pointed Mr.. Gray to the vacant Mo
Tendon chair. Mr.. McLendon brought
suit for the office against Commits
sioner Gray, and in March, 1910, the
supreme court, by unanimous opinion,
decided in favor OF Mr. Gray's title.
Mr.. McLendon did not then run for
commissioner. when the facts were
all fresh in the public mind,
Recently he has been known as
candidate fer United States senator
against Bacon. But. at the last mo-
ment, comes again into the field Of
railroad commission election, and In
stead Of running against Mr.. Gray
for his same old chair, he picks out
Commissioner Hillyer for his adver-
sary.
1t would be an outrage to lynch
Commissioner Hillyer for anything
that Governor Smith or the legisla-
ture or the supreme court did.
In the hearing had before the joint
committee Of the legislature, Mr.. Mo
Tendon, on the last day, finally adj
mitted that he (Mr McLendon) had
dealt in securities Of the Athens
street railway company--same being
one Of the corporations over which,
with It's securities, the railroad COM
mission had jurisdiction, and this.
feature of the trial was one which
execised powerful effect, no doubt,
in the result.
The house of representatives and
the senate, solemnly acting under
oath, voting separately, decided
against Mr. McLendon, and the SUI
preme court unanimously upheld what
the legislature did.
Commissioner Hillyer had been
elected to the chair he fills, by the
people, and by an overwhelming ma
jority and is we'll known, throughout
his long life, as successful in his own
business, and In public business con-
sistent, faithful and well qualified.
1t has been charged that Commits
sioner Hillyer voted for special rates
to Atlanta. This is exactly contrary
to the truth. Commissioners Gambler
and Hillyer both voted to make the
lower rates in question applicable to
all the cities and towns in Georgia
equally and alike Mr. McLendon
voted against these amendments and
thereby defeated the reduction Of
such rates to all Georgia points and
cities. The public minutes Of the
commission show these facts. They
are signed by Mr.. McLendon him.
self; he being then chairman of the
commission.
In written opinion filed at the
time. Commissioner Hillyer said :
" Y u whatever order we make,
or is ever made on the subject,
should have its benefits spread out
and made to apply everywhere and
to the whole state, and | would new
er sanction any provision or order
which does not do So
After Nc McLendon had been re
moved by the legislature. the com.
mission, upon new petitions aled, re
viewed the whole matter again, and
substantially the reductions original
" contended for by Commissioners
Hillyer and Gambler were put into Of
feet, October q, 1910, and made state
wide.
The oAly charge that Mr.. Bankston
brings against Judge Hillyer Is his
age, and RIr. Bankston grossly exag
gerates that. The truth is. HillyeI
is young enough and strong enough
for every duty. His health and hab
its good. In any test for uniform
politeness, or ten mile walk, Hill
yer would distance Bankston. Judge
Hillyer is a Confederate veteran and
is proud OF It, but he is fifteen years
younger than General Pettus was
when Democratic leader in the United
States senate.
If any other argument against Hill
yer has been kept back and conceal