The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-18
Riddle Says Assistants Are
Retained by Corporations
and Martin Denies It
ARE OPPONEITS FOR
ATTORNEY GENERAL
Seay, Who Is Also Mentioned, Saws
He Does Not Care to Get Into
Controversy With
Riddle

d. II. Riddle of Talladega, in public
statement, has brought the charge
against the office of the attorney gem
eral of the state that the two assistants
Attorney Genetals w L. Martin and T.
f. Seay, are retained by public service
corporations, and expressed the opinion
that the attorney general and his assis-
tants should be impeaaaed.
1t is significant in this regard that Mr..
torney general and w. L. Martin. one of
the assistants to the attorney general,
g one of his opponents.
Mr.. Riddles statement follows:
The attorney general and his two as
sistants are law partners paid by the
state to represent the state The present
attorney general has the two assistants,
clie of whom is candidate for attorney
general at the present time.
Duty of Attorney General
1t is fhe duty of the attorney generals 5
office TO represent the state in its deal
iiigs with public service corporations as
well as to assist in assessing taxes OF
the railroad commission in it's effort to
control public service! corporations Not
withstanding these considerations and
facts both of the assistants in the at
tolney generals office are retained By
public service corporations.
1T IL. Seay the second assistant, is
retained by the Atlantic Coast Line. which
owns the Louisville and Nashville, and
William l.. Martin, the first assistant is
retained and actually represents in courts
the Alabama Power company the Posta
telegraph company.
''lf 1 am elected my assistants will not
be allowed to represent public service cor
porations, and TO my mind the attorney
general and his assistants should be inn
peached when they accept retainers from
public service corporations"
MIR. Martins Reply
Mr.. Martins Statement. with reference
TO charges of Mr. Riddle, wired at the
solicitation of The Age-Herald from
montgomery, follows:
II am not retained by the Alabama
Power company or by any other power
company, and have never beer paid b.
any POWER company any compensation iel
services. | am rot retained by tla Pos
.al-Telegraph- Cable company bat have
been employed during the past year to in
stitute one suit against customer fo'
unpaid account and to defend another sal
fer damages arising from delays in trans
hitting cablegrams, which emiiluymta
cannot conflict in any way With my duty
10 the state My connection with tha
company terminated with these. two cases
and | do not represent in any way any
public service corporation.
Il had hoped to conduct my camraigr
for attorney general free from personals
ties. but L cannot pass unnoticed the
groundless charge brought by Mr.. Riddif
that / am guilty of improper conduct il
public office.
Il am confident that these WHO know
me will pay no attention to ena"ges re-
necting on my character, and | trust thal
a fair-mnded public will carefully weigl
amy charge made or report circulated
jy enc OF the reputation and character
of my political opponent, ID. II. Riddle.
His charges are false
Seay Says Nothing
r. II. Soay, second assistant sttornes
general, charged by Mr.. Riddle with beiae
retained by the Atlantic Coas. Line rail
road, was in Birmingham yesterday
When informed of the charges preferred
by NJ Riddle. he declared n. unwill
ingness to participate in controversy
with Mr.. Riddle.
He said he had heard of Mr. Riddles
charges, but despite the fact mat he l.
nor retained by the Atlantic Coast Lin,
he preferred to say nothing for publica'
ton.
He returned to Montgomery in the aft
c-noOn,