The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1901-02-22
s0Mn PLAIN gAIK
20 sixty.foar Leslsletors who Voted
& yyor Free Passes.

Tho following plsins talk from Andar-.
son Mail is commended to tho sixty
four members Of tho House Of Repre-.
aontatiyes Rho.yoted for free passes.
And .he Souse by a,voto Of ID to
ss repealed the anti.freo pass lawl
Sixty,four momners ofthe house want
tho railroads tt, give them FREQ passos
whom the State gives them 3 conts
q mile each way and they mako q
oents OF that clear, ss Lilo railroad fare
is only 3 cents q milo, and If they
buy q mileage book it ia only q cents,
SO that they oan mako half of 1t clear.
But Shatover it is tho State pay it
aud moro too. and yot those 81 want
FREQ passos. For what2 The railroads
are willing to give them and why?
You plain people who work ~on your
fhrmp and business mon who stand in
your places of business day after day
ask yourselves why these railroads arc
willing to giye. these frae naaaaa and
then give Q plain, common sons o
answer to II. Do railroads do business
for the fun Of the tbine2 Do thoy not
expect returns ee somo sort for. overy
ihvestmont2 And isn't tho giving Of
free passoa an investmont2 Ard do
not the railroads know that, these leg
islators may have to pass on legtelation
affecting railroads? And don't they
know that evory legislator who accepts
a free pass from them is to that oxtont
under an obligation to thom? They
do not call it bribery or an attempt to
buy q mans Influence or his vote, Oh
no, they havo nicer nalne for it than
that. Thoy call 1t exchsngiDs oourto-
sizes. "Oourtesies' is a heap pleasanter
word and there Is no unpleasant odor
about it. Those Legislators arc sent
thero to represent tho interosts OF tho
pooplo and somo Of thom have q hoap
to lay about the ''dear people, and
my people" and the pooplo pay thom
for their services, and not only I pay
them by tho day but 60 farthor and
pay them good allowance for travel.
ing expenses in tho shape Of mileage,
end then they go and ask tho railroads
for FREQ passes.
Why should q representative ask for
q free pass? Gan no be true to tho
trust reposed in him when an issue is
joinod botweon tho pooplo and tho
railroads? Admit for the sake Of tho
argument that no can, then why should
he put himself in position to be tus-
pectedY A true representative ought
t, be like Caesars wife, above aus
picion. We do not believe it is right
for legislators to accept FREQ passes for
tho reason as stated above that the
railroads exroot a return Of tho oour-
tcsy and a legislator should keep him
self free from any sort Of obligation 20
them not in any spirit Of hostility to
tbom, but to maintain attitude Of
fairness and impartiality.
Whom lie Reform movement began
more han 10 years ago ono Of its battle
tries was mo free passes," and whom
Gov. Tillman aocepted free pass No. !
this editor exoorla,ed hih moroilessy
for accepting II; and tho anti free pass
law followed and has atood for 10
years, and wo have no doubt that nitia.
tenths of the people today ondorseit
yet. It, 40 the father of tho bill, Mr.
Spears, eaid tho law iS q reflection
upon the integrity Of tho publio men 3f
tho State, what is to be said OF tho m in
who repeal the law and aocopt free
passes? The nti.freo pass law is no
moro a RI lcotion; upon any III bIf6 man
who proposes to do right than the Law
against larceny Is a II ascti0n upon
good citia ns who intend to do right.
Tho Mail hits the snail on the head
with every'str0ke. .%