The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1899-08-03

y cents. Sold 10y ali :ned.c;ir- .IeTs.
TIE Jim CROW" AND THE NEWS q
OBSERVER.
Throughout some twenty years OF
uninterrupted control in North Car
DINA. the Democratic party never
realized the necessity of separate
cars for whites and blacks in railroad
travel. Last winter, however, in or
der to lend color to their campaign
of 1898, they passed what is known
as the Jim Crow car act, provid-
ing for separate cars for the races.
Compliance with this law entails
some expense on the railroads, and
the act in consequence was not very
acceptable to them. Complaint hav-
ing been made against the Southern
Railroad Company as to its failure
of proper compliance with the law,
hearing was had before the Corpora
ton Commission in tho course Of
which Mr.. Henry W. Miller, Private
Secretary of Vice President An
drews, of the Southern, is reported
to have said: "Td sooner have q ne
gro sitting by me than great many
white people,
In an editorial on July 27th, elti-
tied 1T is all Matter OF Taste,' the
News and Observer, moved with
very righteous Indignation, adverts
to MIR. Mlller's statement in the fol-
lowing words:
"The young man ought not to be
criticized because he let leak the
sentiments Of his superior officers.
While most people In North Carroll
na believe in separate cars for the
races, and the white people prefer
to ride in cars set apart for their
own race, it Is not to be expected
that the railroad officials who sought
to make every employe Of the South
ern Railway vote the negro tic ket in
1896 should share that sentiment
The remark Of The young Off ,ial tai
lies with The way the Southern off
Gals voted in 1896. Then they pre-
ferred to vote with negroes than with
their white neighbors; now they'd
"sooner have a negro sitting by
them than q great many white peo-
ple." At least they are consistent,
after using every effort to make the
State Republican, to stick to the
!. colored man and brother and rel ,ice
that while white men condemn their
attempt to overthrow the separate
car law, they have the approval Of
the negroes. But those North Caro-
, liuians WHO stood for White Suprem-
acy in 1896 when these railroad Off
Gals were foisting negro magistrates
and negro postmasters on the State,
must be excused from preferring to
ride with "a negro than with many
{ white people,"
| The first idea that comes to US at
ter reading this extract is the posi-
, tive unkindness of the News and Oh
3 server. If it were true that the fail
1 ure of him and his party to ire
: deem" the State in '96 is attributable
to the fact that the Southern Rail
way opposed his redemption, it is
certain that whatever power he and
his party have in North Carolina to.
g day is the gift of the Southern Rail
q way. Base ingratitude it is to lift
I up ones heel against the man who
: has furnished ones bread. But graf
= itude has never characterized the
!, News and Observer any more thar
O courage Of conviction or honesty oil
2 purpose.
t The second idea that comes to u:
e u.s. could the editor of the News ano
Observer have supposed that Miller
) when he said that he would sooner
2 have negro sitting by MIN than {
S great many white people referred t.
S those who make loud professions fol
d the people then take orders and cam
y paign money from corporations a.
j. some Performers" did in 1898. Will
o this view of the matter, the editor O
the News and Observer is pardona
il BILE for his squirt of indignation, ant
:, Mr.. Miller should consider that ever
= the most plant white slave ma,
d squirm when publicly reflected upon
n But the further and more seriou
d thought that comes to US upon read
ing that portion of the editoria
20 above quoted, is the failure of tn
l. editor of the News and Observer t,
&C attempt to locate the il fluence of tn
Southern Railway in 1898. VIII,
IS pass unmentioned the year of hi
y victory7 Because that corporation
y Notwithstanding what he says of j
ii In 1896, controlled him and his pal
ty in 1898, named Mr.. Simmons a
r. Chairman of the Democratic Com
is mittee. selected the slogan of "whit
h. supremacy" and furnished thei
il campaign fund, all for the purpos
n Of fixing the power of corporation
10 in North Carolina under the shade,
,s Of the "nigger."
Is He says ''in 1885," and again b
H. says Gin 1885," but he never says 81
G. 1898"
ID But in 1896, we remember, ther
AZ was no niger howl from the no,
bold tongue of the News and Obse1
,h YER. What power then padlocked hi
is lips Had the Southern Railwa
th said to him in 1896, 1--WE want til
IS. negro vote in North Carolina to ca,
. nv the State IF rnssih la for MaK;x