The leader-enterprise. [volume] (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1912-1915, 1912-08-13
TO SUCCEED
!. HIMSELF ON RAILROAD
COMMISSION
JUDGE HlLLYER RESISTED ALL
!, SPECIAL PRIVILEGES - LET
McLENDoN EXPLAIN THE
ATHENS BOND DEAL.

should not be dragged into any per
sCnal 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
Hillyer voted for ever been reversed
or set aside by any court. 1t is a
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 conven-
tons, none of which had salaries. To
call him an office holder is unjust and
unkind.
Commissioner Fillyer worked and
voted aga INST any increase in rail
road rates on necessaries of life-hay,
grain and packing-house products !;
and made a long and hard fight on
that issue, in which the commission
got no help from IcLendon, who is
now opposing Hillyer.
OQi -IlS Wv ifiCl hO1I1lIA . GUN iAAo
tration Mr.. McLendon was suspended
by the governor, and removed from
office by the Legislature afterwards,
upon a public trial Governor Brown,
when he came in, might have restor-
ed Mr. McLendon, if he had thought
it right. But he did not do so--he ap-
pointed Mr.. Gray to the vacant Nc
Lendon 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 a
candidate for 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
Comm. ssioner 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. Nc
Lendon, on the last day, finally ad-
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 con-
mission had jurisdiction, and this
feature OF the trial was one which
execised a 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
iority and is we'll known throughout
his long life, as successful in his own
business, and in public business con-
sistent, faithful and we'll qualified.
It 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 a written opinion filed at the
time, Commissioner Hillyer said
" X X whatever order we make,
or is ever made on the subject,
should have it's benefits spread out
and made to apply everywhere and
to the whole state, and would new
err 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 fled. re-
viewed the whole matter again, and
the reductions original
" contended for by Commissioners
HilIyer and Gambler were put into eff
feet, October 81, 1910, and made state
wide.
The only charge that Mr.. Bankston
brings against Judge Hillyerfis his
age, and Mr.. Bankston grossly exag
gerates that. The truth is, HAiysr
is young enough and strong enough
for every duty. His health and ha5-
it's good. In any test for uniform
poiiteness, or ten mile walk, Hill
yer would distance Bankstcn. Judge
Hillyer is a Confederate veteran and
is proud of it, but he is fifteen years
than General Pettus wss
when Democratic leader in the United
States senate.
If any other argument against Hill
yer has been kept back and conceal
ed until too late for reply; let all
lust men say ''that is not fair and
-~gVY I~worx ,