The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-01-25
WEDNESDAY. -. January %, 1893.
A NEW ERALTHE DEMOCRATIC
PARTY TRUE TO ITS
PLEDGES.


This Legislature is meeting the just
expectations of the people of the State
Deliberately, carefully, safely, step by
step, it is fulfilling every promise made
to the people in the last campaign. Yes
terday in the House. by practically a
unanimous vote the Craig bill, as amend
cd by the Committee on Railroads, to
put foreign quasi public corporations
upon the same footing as local corpora
tons, passed its several readings. Early
in the session Mr.. Craig, having in view
the solemn declaration of the party $
declaration introduced bill to comply
with this plank injthe State platform:
1--WE oppose the removal by corpora
tons of suits or cases from our State to
the Federal courts, and favor legislation
to prevent it."
A few days after, Mr.. Hairston,
Senator from Davie, introduced bill of
similar import in .the Senate, both bills
having the same object in view.
No sooner had these bills been intro
duced than the Hairston bill particularly
and the general object as well We're as,
sailed as populistic and in line with the
attacks on capital which characterized
the Fusion Legislature. Mr.. Hairston
was heralded as a ''conspdrator" simply
because he wanted to carry out the
Democratic platform. For a few days
the war on the Democratic platform
waged furiously, but it made no impress
sion upon the honest and covenant
keeping Democratic majority. After
careful consideration by the judiciary
committee, the Craig bill was unani-
mously recommended and soon it will
pass the Senate, for it differs in no ma
terial particular from the Hairston bill
pending in the Senate.
The passage of the bill to make for
eign corporations submit to State courts
is in no sense prompted by desire to
work injury to foreign corporations. As
Il rule these corporations have willingly
gone into the State courts and received
even-handed justice from them. few
have resisted the process of the State
courts, and, by delays and appeals to
the Federal courts, practically denied
Justice to those having claims against
N safI orsd Of Gfaf
laws had grown until it became so fla
grant that the last Democratic State
Convention denounced it and promised
legislation that would end it. The
promise will be faithfully kept. Under
the new law, foreign corporations are
under the same regulations as State cor
porations. having the same rights and
the same privileges. Is there any ground
for any foreign corporation to object TO
this? Ought any outside corporation to
ask for privileges not enjoyed by State
corporations? This law is right and
just and we are glad to know that with
very few exceptions the corporations
have no objection to it.
The contrast between this Legislature
and the Fusionist Legislature is most
marked in this: This Legislature will do
even handed justice by the corporations
and the people; it will not denounce and
brow-beat legitimate corporations for the
purpose of being bought; it viii not
pirate against corporations in public and
make deals with the corrupt ones on the
sly; it will not affect a more-holy than
thou attitude in the legislative halls and
for consideration do the Bidding Of the
corruptionists. 1t needs not to make
loud professions of devotion to the PEG
Pile 1t shows by its actions that it is
true TO their highest interests. 1t needs
not to brow-beat legitimate corpora
tons. 1t is brave enough to be honcst
and just to them, neither brow-beatine
them, nor permitting them to brow-bcat
: their patrons.
A new era has dawned when all legiti
mate enterprises will have full protec
ton and just treatment, but when cor
porations will be made TO understand
that the people win submit to no dicta