The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-01-19
THURSDAY, January 10, 1898.
THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY WILL
KEEP ITS PLEDGES-SEN-
ATOR HAIRSTON'S
WISE BILL.


WISE BILL.
Senator Hairston, of Davie county, is
an old-fashioned Democrat who has
never learned to promise one thing and
to do another At the last Democratic
State Convention by a unanimous vote
the following plank was adopted:
1--WE oppose the removal by corporations
of suits or cases from our State to the
Federal courts, and favor legislation to
prevent it,
In common with all other Democrats,
except those who seek to serve the cor
porations at the expense of the honor
of the party Mr.. Hairston thought that
and last week he introduced into the
Senate bill which he thought would
meet the sacred pledge of the party.
Upon reflection, and after obtaining the
views of some of the ablest lawyers
in North Carolina. Mr.. Hairston be-
came convinced that there were de-
fects in his first bill. and so on Tuesday
he introduced another bin having the
same object in view that is in line with
the decisions of the Supreme Court Of
the United States. Since its introduce
ton, it has been submitted to half a
dozen of the ablest lawyers in the State
and they give it as their opinion that
it will put foreign corporations upon
the same footing as local corporations
and make them amenable to the pro-
cess of the State courts.
Mr.. Hairston is one Of the most sue
cessful farmers ON large scale III
the State. and the son of enc of the
wealthiest planters in Piedmont North
Carolina. He is a man of character,
a Democrat of the best type, man who
believes in sacredly protecting the
rights of property, and a man who be
l.eves that foreign corporations ought tc
be governed by the same laws that gov
ern State corporations. 1t is no wonder
he was indignant. and expressed his III
dignation in no uncertain tones in tbs
Senate yesterday morning when news
paper charged that his introduction OF
the bill demanded by the Democratic
State platform was evidently inspired
by the same conspirators," to wit: Rus
sell and Butler, and his just measure
was called ''the defunct relic of Butler
ISM and 1.-THE offspring of Butler ant
his cohorts The provocation was
great and when it is considered, his
friends will wonder at his moderation.
This Legislature may or may not do
many things. Wisely the State Con
vention committed the representatives Of
the party to fcw measures. They are
instructed plainly and unequivocally tC
put foreign and State corporations upon
the same footing, and there is not ;
Democratic member of the General As
sembly who will vote against the Hairs
ton bin or some similar measure. j
does not matter whether the individual
legislator favors putting foreign cor
porations upon the same footing witt
local corporations, he is instructed t.
vote for such a measure by the same
instrument that requires him to vote TO
white supremacy. \ Democrat can III
more vote against the Hairston bill, @
another measure embodying its mali
provisions. than he can vote to negro
ize Newbern or any other Eastern tow
or city. The same instrnment-the par
tvs chart by which it must sail-tha
promised white supremacy ana goo
government also promised that forcigl
corporation doing business in Nortl
Carolina should not run off to Fedora
courts and thus delay or deny justice f
litigants who are unable to prosecute
their claims in courts that of late year
have largely been packed by great cor
porations.
The great Democratic State COnven
ton. composed of the flower Of the whit
manhood Of the State, did not put tn
declaration with reference to foreig
corporations in its platform without
good reason. 1t was not to Cypress capi
tal or to restrict its free use. IT wa
not even to give advantage to loca
corporations. 1t was to remedy a cry