The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1889-06-20
R AEHROAEI% AND EsAEE.ROAD
CONFESSIONS.
No. |.

~ CtOII LAND Me- r DEMOCRAT
During the session of our leg
islature last winter there was a feel>
ing Of intense excitement over the
proposed passage Of an Act creating
a railroad commission. AS q rule the
Republicans and fewS Democrats,
some Of whom were known to be IN
the employment of some railroad
company, and the great army of rail
ROAD lobbyists perSistentlv, earnestly
and b tterIy opposed and denornc>
ing the measure; and every body else,
with almost equal earnestness ad-
yocated it. During the discussion
in the Senate Of the bill creating the
commission and which had passed
the House uLder the superb Leaders
ship of that man of the people +,
Charles NJ. Cooke, of Franklin, the
lobby was crowded with farmers,
business men, lawyers, editors, pc
liticians, railroad men, and railroad
lobbyists. There were many ladies in
the gallery, among whom could be
seen the excellent wife of distin,
guished railroad president, pencil
and paper in hand ready to keep the
count Of the vote, and who, as was
apparent to the most casual observe
cr, was deeply, intensely, interested
in the discussion. The result Of
that discussion, or perhaps, to be
more accurate, 1 should say what
followed that discussion, Is well
known to all your readers.
Bat why this intense excitement?
Why was there dep!cted in the faces
of those who were there such un>
usual and great, even painful, anx
iety? The scene made a deep i'm
preston upon me; and from that
time to the present have been try
ing to ascertain its cause.
| went to one OF the many railroad
! lobbyists, hired to influence leg1s
latOrs as to measures pertaining to
railroads, whose business it was to
hang around the legislative lObbies
the hotels the boarding houses, and
everywhere else q legislator might
happen to be, and, by hook or by
crook, get control of him. l went,
[ say, to this honorable lobbyist and
asked him please to explain to ms
why this excitement, why this I'M
usual and, of course, expensive Gght
on the rart Of the railroads against
the creation of a railroad commits
sion and his answer came, prompt
and fluent:
a lot Of politicians dcslrln9
fat places for themselves ant
friends, and others wishing to re
ward party leaders, are playing upol
the crcdulIty of the honest plain peo
pie if the country and seeking t'
Fplace our properties" zone of thes'
big capitalists never speaks of "hl
property" but always says his pro
pcrt;es'') in the hands Of three II
experienced, perhaps ignorant mel
to say how much We shall charge o.
barrel If apples from WaynesVill
to Raleigh. We have invested ou
capital in purchasing, repairing an
building railroads in North Care
lima, in engines, cars, &c, for tn
transportation Of passengers an
produce. We have gwen our time
thought, experience and money t
the development Of the material III
terests of North CBrolIna and nos
this farmer legislature proposes t
= rob us of our properties by putin:
? men in office with power to say to u
where we shal! build cur depot5
how fast our trains shall run, an
what we shall charge for tie trans
portation of passengers and produce
2 The Legislature has DO more rigl
; | 20 say how We shall manage our pr'