The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1897-09-07
ZEE RAILROAD COMMISSION.

0rs j.. w. wilson ana -. y. Wilson, re-
quiring them to appear at the Execu-
tive office on the first day of Septem.
Der and show cause why they should
not be removed from office. This week
We publish in full their personal de-
malls and some ehdavits.
Both deny that they have been en-
gagged in anything that would disqual.
ify them. M )r Wilson opened the ball
with the following: sit il not true, as
alleged, that I am the joint owned with
Col. Andrews, the Vice President
and general political manager Of the
Southern Railway in the Round Knob
Hotel property" But he goes right on
and admits that he and Col. Andrews
tuilt the hotel jointly and owned it
in the same way up to about Saturday,
August 285h, 1892, when he decided
away his interest in the property Ito
avoid even the appearance of evil"
This disposition of his interest was
made four days after Governor Russell
called him to account, and four days
before the trial. He further states that
he mentioned this property in G casual
conversation with Mr.. s. o. Wilson
and this brought about the renting of
the hotel property to Mr.. s. o. Viii
sons mother.
1t must be plain to all that Gov.
Russell had not been misinformed as
to Mel Wilson's part in the hotel busi
ness, and it is clear cut case. The
only question now for decision is
whether or not such joint ownership
disqualifies him for the place he holds.
In u opinion, Maj Wilson has
never been qualified. He has always
been a railroad man. His heart is on
that side. We can't say that he would
really do a dishonest act for the rail
roads, but he is too tender hearted for
a railroad commissioner. He will
never favor the cutting of rates to a
fair basis, and ought to be retired. The
railroads, possibly, might create the
office of "Chief Mourner," or some
thing like that for hin. He should
not be kept in a position where he is
constantly brought face to face with
the stern duty of protecting poor strug-
Cling corporations when a rich and
powerful populace insists On getting it's
rights. When the commission was
created the railroads won their first
victory by getting him elected as
of the Commissioners. The members
of the legislature who formed the COM
mission had won q great fight and were
disposed to be generous, but they
made q great mistake when they cleo
ted an out and out railroad man as one
of the commissioners.
Mr.. s O. Wilson denies owning any
interest in any railroad property, and
states that he assisted his mother in
renting the Round Knob hotel, and
that he and his family spent part of
the summer there on the advice of a
physician, paying board as others did,
His statement and accompanying sfi
davits are published elsewhere in this
issue.
The Southern Railroad Company
didn't need any trap to catch the good
will of Maj Wilson, for il was under
stood that he would never desert his
first love. But that hotel business
was evidently a neat little game to get
Mr.. 8. o. Wilson 'ized." Possibly
Col. Andrews knew nothing about the
transaction, but Mej Wilson had an
eye to business. 1t was not wrong for
Mrs. Wilson to rent the hotel property.
It was not wrong for the railroad com
pany to stop all it's through passenger
trains there, but to any n acquainted
with the shrewd and apparently limo
cent moves of smart men, it ia plainly
evident that they hoped to be 10 cour-
teous and kind that in time it would
have a soothing eff CT upon Commits
sioner s. o. Wilson. 1t might have
failed, but it would not have been the
fault of the Southern Railway people.
IT. aenmG that the two commissioners