Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-05-09
Beware of L. g. ". Candidates.

If the L. & n. Railroad has spent money and
influence to control politics in Kentucky and Ten
nessee and Alabama, there is good to sus-
pect that it will do likewise in Georgia If it has
had its candidates for the Governorship and the
Legislature in those States, it will have it's candi
dates in this State whenever occasion requires and
circumstances permit If it has gloried in the role
of a Spanish conquerer regarding the commercial
interests of the South much Mexican treasure
be parcelled out and exploited seeking to absorb
or crush its small competitors, despsing public
sentiment and defying national laws, it will not
hesitate to go any possible length to rule or ruin
the Western and Atlantic Railroad which is
Georgia's richest material possession.
The investigation which the interstate Com
merce Commission is conducting into the affairs
of the L. and N. has disclosed many interesting
facts, and it promises to disclose many more. At
the hearing in Washington last week, Counselor
Folk representing the Commission, asked Mr.. Mil
ton H Smith, president of the L. and N. just how
much money that corporation had contributed to
political campaigns last year? And before his
counsel could interrupt, Mr. Smith quickly replied
~ don't know" Thereupon, his counsel
toned him not to such questions explain
ing that while the L. and N had nothing to fear,
"such disclosures might embarrass many of their
good friends in the South" Counselor Folk con-
tinued his Interrogation, making it more specific:
What funds" he asked, has the Louis
vile and Nashville Railroad expended . in
Georgia for political purposes during the years
1912, 10, IA and 1852" ....
If no such funds had been spent, IL the L. and N.
had been innocent of efforts to sway the elections
and dictate the government of this Commonwealth,
could not President Smith have spoken without
hesitation restraint? But he offered no dis
claimer He merely said:
s"By advice of counsel, refuse to an
swer"
The Commission, it is announced, will appeal
to the courts for an order compelling L. and N. Of
fcials to testify concerning campaign contribu-
tions. Aside from the outcome of that procedure,
however the suspicious silence in which President
Smith took refuge speaks plainly and loudly of the
ugly facts
According to the records of the Interstate Com
merce Commission, the l.. and N with its subsi-
diary the N. c. and St. L., issued In the course of
a single year twenty-five thousand, eight hundred
free passes, representing cash value of approx
mately two hundred and seventy-six thousand dol
lars. These passes were scattered among legisla-
tors, newspapers court officials and even among
witnesses and jurors. In applying for passes for
members of the family of certain Kentucky judge,
an employee friend, of the road appears to have
written
HE (the judce) has decided practically
every case in our favor that has come before
him. and we have a great many small ones.
| think perhaps, will be in position, by get
ting this favor for him, to get better class
of jurors"
The record of the L. and n speaks for itself 1t
reveals a corporation at once high-handed and in
sidous in its schemes to get what@it wants, wher-
ever and whenever it wants it, regardless of law,
or Justice public interests; corporation. that
cleaves to the old order when corrupt business
and corrupt politics stood hip to haunch and went
cheek by jowl. ~. ."'
If the. State Road is to be protected the people
of Georgia must beware of that corporations
schemes they must beware of its candidates for
the Legislature and the Governorship; they must
determine whether they themselves shall choose
their officials and shape their policies, or be ruled
by the Louisville and Nashville Railroad.