The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-08-02
CABLE ANSWERS
THE SECRE TARY
Denounces the Charge That
he is a "BIackmaiIer, !"
TELLS OF HIS INJURIES
WOULD RETURN MONEY FOR
RESTORED HEALTH.
SOUTHERN AND TIE JIM CROW CAR LAW
II is Said 10 be Still Violating The Law and Max.
ing il as Unpleasant for White PEG
pl. as Possible.
To the Editor:

To the Editor:
Your paper of July Goth gives an ac-
count of hearing Of the Southern Rail
way officials before the Corporation
Commission in the matter of the Jim
Grow Car Law In the absence of argu-
ment or facts submitted. the private
secretary" and his assistant paid attor-
ney, resort to abuse and mistatement
and utilization.
When your columns contain state
ments grossly untrue and injuriously
affecting the citizen, you generally pub
fish both sides, | ask you for a short
space:
With others | complained of the exeeu-
ton of the Jim Crow Car Law by the
Southern. The answer by the Private,
Secretary" and his assistant was that |
was a troublesome individual who
"meddled with the affairs of Others"
he also read a letter from our Governor,
which he dare not file full of falsehoods.
The report of the Goth in your paper,
says: Private Secretary" ended by
saying | was "blackmailer and a very
unreliable person."
Mr.. Il. HI. Busbee followed the Private
Secretary and declared | had obtained
damages of the Southern on worked up
charges"
The next paragraph in the report is
full of falsehood, and Mr.. Busbee winds
up by saying, he did not know that the
complaint of such man was worthy
OF being given serious attention"
RlaSS the innocent souls af tha ssDri-
vate Secretary" who parts his hair in
the middle, and his paid attorney! Did
they think the members of the Commits
sion We're tools such as the lobbyists
generally see at the capital when the
General Assembly is in session, hired
tools to do their bidding for a free pass
home every Saturday evening during the
session?
The truth is, Mr.. Editor, | was rear
ed on the farm, was blessed with a
sound body and mind, and like other
young men wanted to make my way up.
For ten years | was trusted servant of
the railroad, was promoted for faithful
service, for soberness, for diligence and
for honesty. And when the rotten lad
der on the box ear gave away and threw
me upon the rail with terrible suffering
and injury, General Counsel Schenck
offered me a sum in full for dmages,
which | accepted. | went after recov-
cry once more in the service and was
injured by an accident which General
Counsel Schenck settled to my satisfac-
ton. But later, as private citizen,
was greatly injured on the road from
Danville to Greensboro and the South
ern compelled me TO enter suit After a
fair trial a jury of my peers awarded
me a trifing sum.
/ would give all and twice the amount
to be restored to health.
/ have never knowingly violated a
law of my country. | was never before
a court for any cause, except to ask the
Southern to do a fellow servant" sim
pie justice for negligence on its part.
am willing. even anxious to compare
character with the Private Secretary"
or any one of the paid attorneys"
The great octopus" whom they serve
so faithfully, may have English gold in
their pockets, but there is virtue enough
in the people of North Carolina to COM
pei them to obey the statutes / may
not be able but "the voice of the peo
pie is the voice of God" and the South
ern will yet hear and feel it.
As to the separate car law, the trains
Oh yesterday between Greensboro and
Danyille were run in the morning and
evening in fragrant violation Of law. the
negroes of the second-class were deliber-
ately seated in the second-class white
cars There was not negro in the
first-class compartment set apart for them
either at Pelham or Ruffin or Reds
vile. 1t was empty. In my opinion
every advantage was given, and intend
ed to be given. the negroes to worry the
white people.
The negroes ride almost without excep-
ton on second-class tickets. A few OF
them may wait for the fast train just
to worry the white passengers.
You hit the nail square on the head
when you say in your paper of the Both.
on the 9th page, under the head "'The
Southern Must Want Its Way"
1T is pretty certain that an order will
be- made by the Commission correcting
all these abuses The Southern will be
made to conform to the excellent jim
Crow car system in vogue on the Sea-
board Air Line and Atlantic Coast Line:
The first passenger coach toward the
engine divided for the two classes Of
colored passengers. The next ear, undi-
vided, given to white passengers holding
second class tickets, and the third car
to be used by white passengers having
first-class tickets"
The Southern may be a powerful cor
poration, their Private Secretarys' and
paid attorneys and Flaw attorneys"
and priceless influence" but the will
of the white people is greater than their
all. and will take no step backwards in
the matter of separate but equal ia
cilities'' for white and black passengers.
And let the Private Secretary" make
a note of it as he parts his hair in the
middle.
MARTIN LUTHER CABLE.
Reidsville, n. c., July 30, 1899.