Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-01-19
EDITOR RESERVES RIGHT
TO EDIT U. S. JUDGES COPY
T. j. Simmons, of Macon
News, and Judge Speer
Have Controversy
cspeeial plgpatoh q rhe Journalo


MACON. Ca, Jan. 16-The controversy
between the Macon News and Judge
Emory speer. resulting from the lat
ter's criticism of the paper and its man
aging editor. has caused a profound stir
in Macon since It is the first time in 20
years that any newspaper in the judges
extensive circuit has taken direct issue
with him.
Judge speer was alleged to have pre-
judged every issue of the C. s. Henry
OF New York. VS.. E B. Harris. of Ma
con, litigation in that he wrote an ar
ticle for the Macon News which was
published as a news story, the author
ship not being disclosed, regarding the
case.
Attorneys for Henry swore that this
article indicated his bias and prejudice
and took it up to disquaiify him, call
ing T. J, Simmons managing editor Of
the News, to swear that Judge Speer
wrote the story.
In handling the matter in court over
the protest of Henry's attorneys, who
claimed that he was a mere automaton
and had no right TO inquire into his
own alleged disqualification, Judge Speer
took occasion to severely criticise Mr..
Simmons.
He said that the latter had altered his
copy after 1t had been furnished him
for publication and that the same melo-
dious voice--that Of Mr.. Simmons-which
was heard over the telephone when
the Judge called UP to ask IL the News
would publish his article, had persistent
ly and frequently been heard in the So
licitation of the advertising of the
bankruptcy court.
Judge Speer said that Mr.. Simmons
had even asked him TO divide the adj
vertising between the News and another
LOCAL paper. The complete account of
what Judge Speer said has never been
published because he refused to give
out copy of his opinion. The reply,
Mr. Simmons said, in part;
REPLY OF MR.. SIMMONS.
''The judge is right. have frequently
asked him to divide the advertising of
the bankruptcy court with the News; in
other words, give 1t to the News one
year and the Telegraph the next. I
thought it was only a fair proposition.
as we printed almost as many articles
with reference to the judge as the Tele-
graph did. He thought it was fair also,
for he frequently said so, but always
added that he feared he might incur
the wrath of the Telegraph If he divid-
ed It,
"Just why the Judge should take a
shot at me I can't understand. I didn't
think 1t crime to ask him to divide
up with advertising nor to change his
copy to make the newspaper style a lit
tie better. For either of those offenses
have no apology to make. i know moth
ing about the merits OF the case other
fhuv vsyhn hoe haa M cd cff- fyIr
he ought to divide up the advertising,
and reserve the right to edit his copy
when II Is furnished without solicitation
on my part.
1.-THE attorneys for Henry asked me
who wrote the article. declined to give
the information until conferred with
Judge Speer, and he said he was per-
fectly willing for them to know that
he furnished Il. then made an aff1-
davit that he had furnished the ar
ticle."
The News also printed the following:
what do you think2 Judge Emory
Speer for the first time on record, has
refused to give out for publication a
copy Of an opinion rendered by him in
his court. He instructed his secretary
not to give copy of his opinion to
the Macon News.
"This is such radical departure from
Judge Speer's custom that II is worthy
OF comment Heretofore he has always
gladly furnished copies of not only his
opinions. but his alleged Yitticisms from
the bench, and in nine cases out OF ten
1t was not necessary to ask for them,
either.
1.-THE Judge either called on the tele-
phone or sent his secretary around with
them. He would point out how impor-
tant and faF-reaching they were, and
how they settled great questions OF
law. Especially is this true when TIE
supreme court happened to affirm one
nf his dacfsions -