Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-09-20
BROWN ASKS CHANCE
To MEET ACCUSE:RS
BEFORE PROBE BODY

Inc joint legislative COlIlIl1CIee COll-
missioned to investigate his depart
ment, demanded that all persons
who have made charges against the
department be brought before the
committee to face him and repeat
their accusations.
Senator George w. Landlord, of
the eightee. tn district, chairman OF
the mmittee. assured the commls-
sioI~, that all these persons would
be subpoenaed and that if they did
not show up imm 2diately a sergeant
alarms would be designated to com
pei their attendance.
Commissioner Brown asked the
committee to subpoena Walter
Vance, former warrant clerk in the
governors office, and his predeces-
sor, Sam Askew; Representative
Charles E. Stewart, of Atkinson
county, who has led the fight against
the department; Grover G. Edmond
son, a former editor of The Column
bia Sentinel; Gaz Vason, former
doorkeeper of the house of represent
atives, who has been active against
the department, and DR.. c. II. Kit
treIl, Of Dublin, former representa-
tive from Laurens county and a
member Of the state port terminal
commission.
Former Governor Thomas w.
HardWick, j.. M. Hilburn, a farmer
employee of the farm department,
and Representative Parker S. New,
of Laurens, were other witnesses
ordered subpoenaed.
Attacks of Long Standing
Commissioner RrONVn said lPpiSl9-
tive attacks had been made on his
department for the last six years
and that he hoped the present probe
would be the means of ending this
agitation. He explained that his
department is very large, and well
coined suggestions from the COM
mittee as to changing the laws I'M
der which the department operates.
eff all of these witnesses are sub
poenaed," Commissioner Brown said,
1.-The committee will be able to get
at the real facts without delay. Rep
resentative Stewart said on the floor
Of the house of representatives last
sun mer that he had documentary
evidence in his possession that would
prove me to be a thief, lair and a
perjurer. want Mr.. Stewart
evidenced L want the opportunity to
meet him face to face and have a
showdown. want these other wit
nesses to bring with them the evil
dence they have claimed to have
against me and my department.
want Dr.. Kittrell summoned to re-
flute published charges that l., as q
member of the port terminal COM
mission, approved a private hotel
bill for him while he was serving in
the legislature.
eff the department is guilty of
wrong-doing [ am ready to pay the
penalty. I have been diligent and
up to this minute know of nothing
wrong. Let this committee do its
duty in a fair and impartial way
without fear or favor to anyone.
That is ali 1 ask"
+ The only witness present at the
opening of the hearing was Gaz
Vason, and he informed the COM
mittee that he would be present at
all sessions until he was put on the
stand. He also STATED that Repre-
sentative Stewart probably would
reach Atlanta during the day ready
to testify.
Chairman Landlord announced
that he would have Mrs. Alice Louise
Lyle, editor of the Columbia Sen
tinel subpoenaed. Representative
Dykes, of .Dooly county, secretary of
the investigating committee, imme-
diately dispatched kilograms to all
witness es asking them to be present
at o'clock Wednesday morning. At
the same time, he sent subpOenaes to
the sheriffs in the counties where
the witnesses reide with the request
that they be served Immediately.
Attack to Be Answered
Sam l.. Olive, of Augusta, former
president of the state senate, ap-
peared as attorney for Commissioner
Brown and the department of agri-
culture. He said the department was
ready to answer fully the RECKLESS
attacks" on the department, and
that technicalities would be waived
in order that. the committee could
sift the charges thoroughly. The
only request the department. of agri-
culture wanted to make, he said,
was to be allowed to confront its
dccusers before the committee.
All members of the committee ex,
Cept Representative Galloway, Ot
Putnam county, were present when
the hearing opened in the senate
chamber at II o'clock. Chairman
Landlord, declared that published
statements, to the effect that the
committee was hand-ptcked and
biased in faVu" of the department,
we've without foundation, and that,
on the contrary, the committee was
onX.ous to get at the facts Ind lat
the LeOple of Gee rgia know what IS
happening in the farm department.
Representative Dykes, Davis and
Mccarthy and Senator Greene also
denied that the personnel of the COM
mittee was biased, and promised a
full and fair investigation. My Dykes
declared that the people of Georgia
were watching the committee and
were expecting thorough and inn
partial report, based on the evidence.
Publicity Asked
The committee voted to ask the
newspapers of the state to broad
cast the fact that the committee is
in session and desires that all per-
sons having evidence pertinent to
the investigation come forward at
this time. Chairman Landlord eX-
ptcted that the investigation could
be completed within a week or ten
days by holding morning and after
noon sessions daily. After organic
ing and hearing from Commissioner
Brown and his attorney the com