The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-05-15


proverb has it: 1--WE come to hate those
we have sought to injure.'' 1 find among
| the Russell letters two referring to me,
showing that at the time they were writ
ten Judge Clark was seeking to do me
harm.
declare that 1 knew nothing of all
this when my former letter was written.
did not know that l could possibly
make any personal complaint against
him. and my purpose was to simply
criticise Judge Clarks public record, as
any citizen has the right to do. Had
known the contents of these two letters
then, | should most certainly have held
my peace. If l know myself, l have no
malice in my heart toward any man. and
| cannot afford to enter into a discus
sion in which malice and hatred are to
be the controlling forces. Now, it seems
to me that an explanation is due my
friends.
Note that letter No l, as published
by Judge Clark, refers TO a speech | had
made short while before, in a hearing
before the Railroad Commissioners, in
which l am quoted as attacking Judge
Clark and Governor Russell. Thereupon
the Judge calls the attention of the
revenge by advancing the tax value of
Pages road. His purpose in this was,
of course, that the Governor should ad-
wise the Commissioners CHS appointees)
to advance the value of the road for
taxation. Very well; Page objects; OBJ
lection overruled appeal to the Superior
Court; Commission sustained; appeal to
the Supreme Court. Now see me and my
oft Hi ;nta -,
court, seeking even handed Justice We
would have got it-in the neck. But this
letter is very old, and since Governor
Russell seems to have been less vindic-
tive than his adviser, we will let it
pass.
Note however, that in trying to OK
plain this letter. Judge Clark writes to
his friend, Col. Holt. under date of May
10th, 1902. telling him that 1.-The point
that struck Page and still strikes him
yet is that his railroad property was
grossly undervalued for taxation. and
that he was paying his employees much
less than other railroads. Hence his re-
cent pamphlet. Had he saved the money
he has spent on them (the pamphlets)
and what he invested in the Mckinley
campaign fund and put the same into
the purchase of proper appliances for
his trains he would not now be so pressed
to pick out judges who shall relieve him
from paying damages when passengers
or employees may be killed or injured
by, negligence in operating his road"
He can't forget the little cut Those
are the points" that struck Page. mark
you. Let us examine the point a little
| MT 70 MI
lieve me of damages" | believe | men
toned the names of Judge Shepherd and
Judge Conner in my former letter. Are
these the gentlemen against whom Clark
brings this charge? End. My road was
grossly undervalued l do not thing so;
but l probably would not think so if it
was so, | beg to say that the Railroad
Commissioners have always valued it,
not l. Moreover l have never asked
them TO reduce their valuation. nor have
| even once objected 10 their figures They
have seen the property and have said
what they think it is worth Judge Clark
has never seen it, believe, but he thinks
it is grossly undervalued
3rd | was and am paying employees
less than other roads. They seem con-
tented and happy. and I think they will
as any other railroad employees in the
State, for the same class of work
4th. The road is not equipped properly
etc. We have had fewer accidents than
any other road in the State with half
our mileage; have the best unballasted
track in the State. among the class of
roads to which ours belongs. In a cor
porate existence of thirteen years we
h1 ii
seriously injured; and but two employees
killed In all that time we have had but
one personal injury case before Judge
Clark S court We have never had but
one complaint of any kind, lodged against
us with the Railroad Commission, and
that one was for failure to furnish cars
in time of a car famine. We have spent
most of the money the road has earned
in extending the line, and developing the
resources Of Moore, Montgomery and
Randolph counties and | am quite sure
the citizens of these three counties will
readily testify that the management of
'the Page road has been neither slow
nor niggardly in its corporation with
every movement tending to the better
ment of this section
9TH. One word, for Judge Clark's benefit.
as to how my money has been spent l,
personally paid the job office of the
Charlotte Observer twenty-seven (S2O
dollars for printing the pamphlet Judge
Clark does not like. The only money
ever paid to any campaign fund by the
Page road, or any of its owners was
during the white supremacy campaign OF
1900 and those payments were as follows:
S1O0 to Mr.. w. c. Hammer, ASheboro.
~ c.; $500 to Mr.. U. L. Spence Car
thage, n c., and 5000 to Mr.. C. T.
Luther, Troy, n. C. These contributions
were solicited by the gentlemen named,
to be used in helping to carry the three
close counties OF Moore. Montgomery and
Randolph for Governor Aycock and the
amendment. The high character of the
gentlemen named is sufficient guarantee
that the money was properly used.
1t is true, as charged by Judge Clark
that l voted for Mr.. Mckinley in 1896
and 1900 1t was done openly and pub
ncly; there was no secret about it,
nothing to destroy nor burn and
am not seeking a confessional yet More
over In 1896 | persuaded some thirty
other Democrats to do likewise. | was
surprised to find that the world did not