The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1897-12-09

peace. 1t is interesting now to look
bacK over our many conflicts. Iwag
first selected as candidate by the
most influential people of the city:
men who had large holdings in street
railway companies, in gas compa-
MES, those who held positions on va
rious boards of the city, prominent
merchants, bankers and professional
men, all united in requesting me to
become candidate. | discovered
very soon after my election that the
railroads were paying less than their
share OF taxes. | said so, and the
railroad support Immediately left me.
1 discovered that the gas companies
were charging exorbitant rates. II
said SO, and the owners Of the gas
stock turned their backs upon me.
found the bankers specializing in the
city funds. denounced the practice
and they denounced me as an unsafe
man. l attacked the old turnpike
roads, and their owners called me an
anarchist. In short, | found that
every time 1 attempted to correct an
abuse lost large and influential
class Of supporters. l found many of
the members of boards interested in
one way or the other in the supplies
furnished to the city, and when /
called attention to the fact the boards
became intensely hostile.
OFFENDED INFLUENTIAL CLASSES.
In short, one by one, the infuen-
tial classes of the city seemed to take
offense. l was four times elected
mayor, but in each campaign was
made painfully aware of the loss of
old friends, although my majorities
gradually crept up from about / 500
to something more than 10000. l was
honored by the same constituency
when elected governor, by major
ity of more than l6 900.
1t is something to be proud of that
| when the Influential classes turned
their back upon me the common peo-
pie of the city, who were too poor to
own axes to grind and who were only
interested in the growth and prog
ress of the municipality, always
stood by me and supported me in ev-
cry forward step. When you con
slider this experience you will not be
surprised that have come to lean
upon the common people as the real
four dation upon which good govern
ment must rest.
Among those who have opposed
the different reforms introduced are
men who would be supposed to be
above temptation and who are uni
versally regarded as the very highest
types of citizens. They occupy high
places in commercial life. Some of
them are judges; some of them are
Senators and members OF legislative
bodies; some are great bankers; some
are merchant princes. All of them
eminently respectable; yet, strange
as it may appear, their opposition
has in almost every instance resulted
from their interest in public charters
and monopolies, which had been pro-
cured by questionable methods.
Against the influence Of such men it
has been absolutely necessary to ap-
peal to the masses to prevent the
city from being tied hand and foot
and plundered without mercy.
i I have come to agree with the eel
ebrated English divine who said: In
every country the nation is in the
: cottage, and if the light of your leg,
islarion does not shine there, your
} craftsmanship is failure and your
system is a mistake Indeed, every
. campaign in which l have taken 8
part has increased my admiration fol
the common people. l have beer
$ made painfully aware of the expen
diture of large sums of money tt
/ elect corrupt aldermen and other Of
7 ficials. This money is contributed
by men who stand high in the com
munity, and who expect to be pale
3 back hundred fold from the pub
7 lie treasury. Their efforts to corrup
the people are resisted by the poor
the honest yeomanry OF the land.
SUGGESTS THE REMEDIEs.
I You will ask, perhaps, whether
| can suggest any remedy tor the evil
? which have been describing. NJ,
I experience has brought my mind t.
{ this conclusion: That the streets 0
8 the city belong to the people ane
that no mayor or common councl
has a right to barter them away
They belong to the living and no
}, to the dead. The remedy agalns
d many of these evils is municipa
o ownership, and the entire abolition
of the monopolies, or, if monopolie
: must exist, which depend upon pub
IS lie favor, their absolute control an
q dependence upon the people. )
/ long as We allow persons to specu
: late in the use of our streets W
q must expect the people to be sui
D jscted to exorbitant charges. >
D. long as we depend upon privat
IS companies for light We must exoee
1t poor service and high rates. Thi
n remedy will not only solve man
l. municipal problems, but applied o
'e larger scale will bring railroa
"a companies, express companies
N steamboat companies and other ageI
TO cies of commerce under proper sui
SO lection.
n We have an extraordinary spe'
,g tacle presented in nearly all OF on
o. American cities at the present tlm'
of new railroads applying for az
mission and unable to obtain an e1
er trance on account of the old line
q, The time is ripe for the people then
At selves to control these matters an
r. to make all these agencies of cor
" merce act for the general benei
Of rather than for personal gain. II
as terminals, at least, should becon
IN the property of the people.
,r. When we reflect that no rallros
nj can be constructed, that no tel
ed graph wire can be strung from TOW
az to town, or from State to State, tn
20. no street railway can be permitt'
ne to occupy our streets without son
bv public franchise, we must see tn
to we are jobbing out the sovereis
vi power of the people to speculate