The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1916-12-22
THE CUSTER DECISION.

| From the LlIn6 lhoe
charges of graft and misapproprlatloh
of finds and bad management OF coun,
~ finances we're first made The Herald
has insisted that if there had Deen
any violation of the law they were at
!. most technical and that it did not be,
Iiave that a single dollar of graft could
ha found at the doors of the otnclals
Of Maury county. 1t insisted then 1nat
this was one of the best governed anu
/ hast managed counties in Tennessee.
A rigid investigation before a splen,
did committee has confirmed this opln'
ion Now comes a judge, beholden 10
no political interest, Impartial anu
wholly disinterested, in a opinion that
ia a model for lucid and clear express
,ion. for clean out statement OF tact
and for legal construction, VINO os'
clares that not only is there no EVIL
dence of graft, but under the facts
adduced in the case decided there has
! not been even a technical violation OF
| the law. t'o
Although the prolonged investigator
and custer suits have been quite a Dur
don to a number Of citizens it may De
IT,. !, tho ond they will prove protlta-
ble They will dispel any Suspicion
.bat those who are not familiar with
,ha county's affairs might have hao
concerning the honesty and fidelity OF
,uhlic servants. A great deal OF eVll
advertisement was sought to be given
Maury county through the institution
# these proceedings. The NashVilie
Banner seemingly lent itself to cam
naign of this character and opened
both it's news and editorial columns
10 those who sought to create the In
preston that the county's affairs were
honey combed with graft and faVorlt
ism. From the time, however tha'
The Banner was induced to SEND one
# it's own representatives to the coun
~ to get the facts it has been silent.
The Banners editorial OF Wednes
5ay shows a disposition on the par
# that great journal to do justice tt
the people of this county
The investigating committee, whose
nersonnel no man can truthfully chai
,enge, found that there was no graz
: in the county. 1t found that Roae
| Commissioner Clay e. Hight had no
: v;olated the law. This report was re
ceiyed by the county court ana the
good roads association. Later the IN
vestigation became an issue in tht
democratic primaries with the resul
that in every district the county al
, ministration was sustained Slmllal
, findings have been made in the clrcui
court. Thus as political issue ant
as a legal proposition the attacks upor
the county administration have beer
doomed to failure.
It is. as Judge Turner said in MI
learned discussion of the facts in tn
custer opinion, an easv thing some
times to attach suspicion to an official
No case has been found where mer'
1 suspicion has been held sufficient u
I condemn an official. Designing indi
viduals, personal and political enemies
often distort facts and point the tinge
of suspicion cruelty and un1ustl.
: against the honest and faithful official
a Assuredly Judge Turner is correct Il
! his Interpretation of the law that thi
. ought not to be sufficient to disqualif.
any official from the American priv
lege OF holding public place.
Clay Hight has been indicated
9 The courts opinion is to that exten
/ a personal triumph. But more 1mpor
! tant than that it is victory for tn
, county administration. 1t is prett.
complete refutation Of the charge
that Maury county's administration
: has been extravagant and wastefu
and honey-combed with graft and fav
oritism. 1t is really splendid tri
umph for Judge Mcknight who ha
been made one of the targets of thi
investigation The decision will b
gratifying to the patriotic citizens o
: Maury county who have no interes
, in government save that which come
9 from desire that it be honestly. faith
9 fully and fairly administered. 1t viii
, be gratifying to them to know tina
9 their officials have not violated thei
y obligations nor proven recreant t
. their solemn trusts.