The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-07-19
THE FREE PASS EVIL L.urn
 SHOULD BE ABoLISHED'

,,S r,s,san, were interviewed today ot, the action of the Convention III gard to free passes. The peope almost unanimously of the opihioh lho' the press pass idea is an eVli una. fleets on state officers anu oiie , should not he tolerated. They are very much surprised at the actioh VI @ Conventions and feel that the Con'.n ., tion's action is a reflection upon State. Following are the vieWs oi so"'e of those who expressed tnehise
 = Carmichael-I believe it ought to be a misdemeanor for a corpora.lon in offer a free pass or for an of1cer to accept 1t. A corporation as much as says in offering a pass to an oI,i- cial sTNow as I have assisted you, re- member me in your official work:
 R r. Ford-I don't believe oileers ouoht to accent passes. The giver or A. pass expects reward for it.a. Wny don't corporations. in their charity, give free passes. to the maimed, the nait and the blind. The poor ana neipiess are put off for want of money ana ,he officials ride free with a pocket lou, peopless representatives putting lrtm- sel,sas under obligations to Cci pt ra- tions. s
 w. R. walker-I think it wo'':d be an outrage to forbid officials to use free passes. .h,.
 F NJ. Darsey-It is d temptation that ought not to be allowed to De placeu around our officials.
 -T. J. Lowe-If the passes are not for the interests of the railroads, why do they contine their charity 10 ctie e'ais'
 A. r. Huff nm su:pr'S 'd al the Convention encouraging inc rec pass evil.
 E. l.. Thompson-I am disappointed. I can't see how the Convention could endorse the free pass evil. Surely free passes are gwen for the benefit of the giver.
 W. NJ. Chapman-I am very much opposed to State officials accepting free passes from railroads. Any oncial wno accepts such favor should forfeit his office.
 T. H. Jones-I hardly think free passes are good for the people 1t large.
 A. D. Levi-Free passes are gwen in the interest of corporat ons s~pi not for the people.
 A. R. Lauderdale-I don't think 1t good policy for officials to accept Iass- es. It puts officials under obligations to corporations.
 z. T. Batson-T think i. v-r,5 for officers to accept free passes.
 Dr. McKenz;e-I am not il favor Of lesislating against free passes.
 J. $. Fleming-There IS a i;'Ed of bribery about d free pass, but If ofh- cers are not allowed free passes they ought to be paid better for their ser vices.
 W. M. Webb-To accept pass puts officials under obligations to rdill OF ds.
 E. FranSlin-Ofllcers should not sell in free ma
 William Neighbors-It is bad and dangerous policy to allow officers to ride on free passes.
 F. F.. Crew-People who ride on free passes are expected to serve the rail- roads. It ought not to be allo vcd.
 W. B. McCain-Free passes are not given for nothing. Those who give them expect compensation in some way.
 W. l.. JonnSOP--It is like prohibit tion. It Will not prohibit the issuing of passes to certain parties. and for that reason l am opposed to the prop osition. Morality can not be legislated into the people.
 J. A. White of Ashland-I don't think an official ought to accept a pass that would put him under any obligation to a railroad, but l hardly think man ought by law to be pre- vented from accepting pass. D. NJ. White-I oppose legislation against free passes. It would show a want of confidence in the officers we elect. If We have confidence in a mans fitness for office that confidence should be such as to exlude the thought of bribery. We should not elect a man subject to it, but if we do We can't pre- vent it when an opportunity presents itself.
 W. J. McLeod-All men have weak nesses and are subject to temptations and crimes. The best way to prevent it is not to be tempted into obliga- tions to do wrong. One man cannot accept the favor of another and not put himself under obligations to the | one offering the favor and it would be very wrong for a man to not feel the | obligation, and not to return il at the | first opportunity. There can be no question about the motive Of corpor- ation in granting a free pass. It is | certainly kind of bribery and should | be an insult to any officer to have a pass showed at him. | nrcs A