In Dixie

A complex dicker between southern newspaper publishers was dismissed last week. Hands were shaken all around. The Atlanta Constitution remained in the hands of the Clark Howell family.

In 1927, Col. Luke Lea, Tennessee hero and publisher of the Nashville Tennessean and three other southern newspapers* arranged a contract with the Howell family to purchase control of the Atlanta Constitution for $1,050,000 (in stock) plus an additional sum based on the 1927 earnings of the Constitution. A disagreement arose over the auditing of the earnings. Col. Lea and his associate bankers, Rogers, Caldwell, sued the Howell family to compel a sale for an additional $54,000. Last week both sides agreed to drop the suit.

*His son, Luke Lea Jr., 21, manages the Tennessean; is vice president of the Lea string.