The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1913-07-04
CONDUCTORS SPEAK
IN OWN DEFENSE.
Make Answer to Charges Of Walter
SiIlerS of ROSedale. A Plea
for Fairness.

The Sentinel gives space to the fol-
lowing letter which appeared in the
Commercial Appeal last Sunday
only as a matter of justice to railroad
conductors, but because of the writer's
friendship for one Of the gentlemen,
w, M. Wood, whose signature is at
tached to it. Mr.. Wood is the soul of
honor, courtly gentleman and Obliging
friend, useful citizen and an upright
man. He would not say anything he
did not believe to be true about any
matter, and such men as he are acredit
to any calling or profession. From
what the Sen incl learns of Messrs.
Beanland and Medley, they, too, are ex-
cellent gentlemen. Mr.. Sillers evidently
over-spoke himself in regard to rail
road conductors:
ITO Mississippians: The reeding pub
lie knows that on or about May Is the
Hon. Walter Sillers of Rosedale, Miss,
published an article over his signature
in certain newspapers OF the state,
which was prepared as an answer TO
| the address Of Mr.. Blewitt Lee, gen
eral solicitor of the Illinois Central
Railroad Company, delivered before the
Mississippi Bar Association at Green
wood. We would not undertake to de-
fend Mr.. Lee; his ability to take care
of himself is too we'll known for US to
even presume to interpose in his be-
half. But were this not the case, the
fact that he is native born Mississip-
plan, that he grew to manhood here and
Is a son of brave Confederate soldier,
who gave the best years of his life to
the state, would at least give him the
ear: of the fair-minded people of the
state and entitle his opinions to the un-
biased consideration of all good citi-
zens.
/. SIN the communication referred; to-
Mr.. Sillers evidently forgot who hi;
audience was and must have thought
that he was pleading a weak case be
, fore Jury when he used the following
, language in reference to railroad con
, ductors: Has he ever been 'cussed
r and kicked by conductor on one O.
; these railroads? If not, and he shoul(
, be, he will speak more feelingly thu
next time.he discusses the law of 'pu
, nitiye damages. The record of Mis-
, sissippi's brave manhood is of itself al
' answer to the above, but as honest me-
1 who have been unjustly assailed, W
!. feel that we must speak words
truth and soberness' to Mr.. Sillers
a The railroad conductors of Mississippi
r are sons of Mississippians, certainly
+ very large per cent of them are; thel
I mothers and fathers are here. Man
v of them were poor boys ard were de
. MED the opportunities of an education
4 Thew have worked their way up. The
: have their homes in Mississippi, the
= have married Mississippi girls, the
h are sharing in all the privileges and tn
n burdens of our government, they pa
their taxes here, they exercise tn
v right of suffrage here and by ever
!. rule Of justice and right are entitled
n the same fair consideration which
" accorded all other men. AS a clas
- thew have not the learning and Il
!. scholarship Mr.. Sillers has; we appr
ciate that he earns his living by h
wits and that he makes as much mons
I IN few minutes as it takes condu
tor days or weeks to make; yet we j