The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1891-05-01
Candidate for Railroad
Commissioner.
May l, 1891

DTS
AM A CANDIDATE FOR THE OFFICE
of Railroad COMMISSIONS for the Second, or
Southern District of the State of Mississippi,
subject to the action of the Democratic Con-
vention to be held in the City of Jackson,
July Is, 1891.
| am, and have always been, thoroughly
loyal to the white man or Democratic party of
my State, even to swallowing the "bitter pill"
of voting for Judge Dent and Horace Greedy,
knowing there was, and is, safety only in per-
feet union of our party and white supremacy.
| am willing for the Republican, the colored
man and all mankind to ride in our wagon of
State, but want the white man to do the driving.
| was never before a candidate for any office,
and am a novice in all the arts of office seek
ing. / am glad to point back to my loyalty to
the white mans party, and assure my friends
that | will ever be loyal, yet do not base my
fitness for the office of Railroad COMMISSIONS
on my political record entirely, but principally
on my twenty-five years experience and train
ing in a business directly in line with the
duties of this office. Having been born on a
farm, | spent the first sixteen years of my life
thereon. | then began an apprenticeship in
saw and planning mills. At twenty-one | began
railroad contracting. This was the beginning
of my training and education in railroad mat
tiers. When about twenty-seyen | owned and
operated saw mills and did large business
along the lines of railroads in this and other
States,a at the same time carrying on my railroad
contracting. For fifteen years | was actively
engaged and constantly employed in all capac-
tiles of practical railroading, including all kinds
of train service, station agent, express agent,
travelling agent, foreman in shops, surveying,
right of way agent and other services. For
over ten years, while doing business on these
lines, | was the largest payer of railroad
freights and buyer of railroad tickets of any
one on these roads. This necessitated my
close study of and efforts to secure low rates
and still being in the same business (though in
a small way), and receiving all my freights by
railroad, my interest continues to be for low
rates.
Under State supervision Ihave seen railroad
freights and passenger rates steadily decrease,
while railroads have as steadily increased in
numbers and value. have spent much of my
time the last five years studying the laws ofmy
State, and, though not a licensed lawyer, | have
successfully conducted causes for my own ac-
count in all the courts of the State, not excepting
the Supreme Court. Supervision of railroads
is not a creation by Congress, or of any of our
great illegal lights" but owes its birth to that
parent of all great and useful reforms, 'the
M agsas - and uhfla I fIf,L paN..oI. .la,ll |
be treated fairly and honestly, the protection
of the interests of the masses, and especially
the farming interests Of our great agricultural
State, is the object for which Railroad Com
are elected.
II would seem clear to any business man
there should be at least one practical
railroad man ON this commission, provided his
interest and feelings were in line with those of
the mass Of our citizens. If a college is to
be supervised, a scholar is selected to super
wise it. If a Supreme Court is to be held, a
is called to preside. If a farm is to be
supervised, a farmer is selected to supervise it.
holds good in all legitimate business,
and why make exceptions in the supervision
IF railroads. As | have a long expert
ence and thorough knowledge of building
and fitting up machinery, and have constantly
worked from two to FIVE hundred hands on nv
| would be "at home" as one of the
of the Board Of Control Of the Peni-
Believing that common sense, a
training as a practical railroad man,
A general knowledge of the laws of our State,
many years Of study and thorough acquaint-
ance with the duties and carrying Of freight
and passengers by railroads, and a full interest
and sympathy with the citizens Of our State in
heir use of the same, are some of the most
gifts and preparations for a Railroad
Commissioner, | submit my cause to you, and
ask that my shortcomings as a political worker
be overlooked, as | am not sehooled in the art,
and respectfully request that you give me
your votes at Jackson on July 18th and at the
in November, promising, If elected, to
serve you to the best Of my ability. As to the
herein stated | refer you to any Of the
Did citizens Of my county. I will visit as
many points in the State as possible between
now and July 18th, and expect to be at the
Press Convention in Yazoo City, May 18th, and
1t the unwilling Of the Confederate Monument
1t jackson, June Bird. | would be grateful to
any one who looks fsvorably on my candidacy
4 they would drop me a line by card or other
wise. N. A. DEES.
Moss PoIsI, April q, 1891. 10-1t