New-York tribune., 1895-02-14
HONESTY the BFST POLICI


4 business man. after thanking The Tribune
warmly for the recent SERIES "t l'l'rH Oh l'"-
u,ic,l and economic conditions in the Sodih.
gives a practical illustration of the results "i
olocti,n trickcrv For several months he has
been employed in negotiating the sale "i 4 lArs'
coal and timber tract in Tennessee To Il Nyndi-
cate Of Ncw-Nork capitalists Ihr Investors
after painslaking and thorough investigation
were convinced that the property was exceed
inclv valuable the price moderate anu lh' p'I-
cain a good one The transaction was ABOUT I"
be closed 10 the satisfaction of all Interested III
II when the complications over The tennessee
Govcrnorship arose ~ soon ~ II became "Nl-
dent that the Democratic conspirators were beh'
upon cheating the lawfully elected "ov'rn"r'
Mr. Evans out of his office the N"w-lo cap
j,alisis Withdrew from the real estate iransa'-
ton on the ground that business risks were loo
serious 10 warrant large investments in State
where political conditions were 80 uncertain
Undoubtedly Peter Turncy and his coal oil
insncctors have fancicd that they were playing
a harmless political game in protecting the I'D
iorcsis Of the pcnteniiary gang and IN keeping
Governor Evans out Of m office io when Inc
people elected him. such an incid'nt ~ W.
have related may tend 10 convince som" "r ih"~'
partisans that they are damaging ih" business
interests Of the State 10y their dirty politics.
Tennessee. like all the other southern SiA''-
with mineral resources. is soliciting IN" invest
mcnt Of Northern capital in iis coal IRON ana
timber tracts In this instance >ynll'Ai' 81
nnancicrS. which had been favorably impressed
with valuable mineral tract. dropped ia"
scheme like hot potato when they l"Tr"IN u
how readily a candidate. who had been elected
Governor by y clear plurality of ih" popular
vote could he swindlcd oui Of office. They rcl-
sonod that If that Kind Of politics prevailed ID
Tennessee il was not a good field for invest.
ments in mineral lands
What has stood in The way of general inn.
migration movement from Northern States into
the South during the last fifteen years: Moth
ing so much ~ unfair. dishonest elections.
Every one OF the Southern States has been in
need Of new settlers from the North to till ihc
lands. work the mines fell the timber and sup
DIV a better class Of labor for The factories. The
agricultural departments have Demonstrated
the superiority Of Southern soil and climate hut
Northern farmers and workers havc either re-
maned M home or have gone West The min
cral wealth Of the South j. far in excess of The
widest forecasts Of the most enthusiastic cA-
pcris; but the Development of lis coal and iron
resources has suffered ~ much from scarcity
Of labor rs from lack Of capital Nothing has
retarded "A general movement Of population into
the Southern States much aS lh" widespread
suspicion that political elections III that quarter
are farce. and that the game of politics is
played there with loaded dice
This is not partisan indictment. II j. lhr
practical Judgment Of clear sighted Southern
men Of all shades Of political opinion that moth
ing will do more To- promote the business In
tercsis Of their States than the removal of the
impression now current thai elections thor" are
carried by fraudulent methods owing 10 the
cxigcncies Of what is known as the niggcr
Qucstion" Men are 50 constituted that they
take an active interest in politics. and want fair
play when their votes are east and counted.
They do not care to move into section Of the
country where negro domination is the only
question 10 be- voted upon year after year. and
decade after decade. and where there j. system
attic trickery in elections Thoronghgoing clcc-
ton reform is the best business investment
which can be- made in the New South.