The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-03-30
Mr.. Watson For Corporation Com
missioner.

| To the Editor: When the General AS
sembly of North Carolina passed chapter
| 800 of the public laws of 1891 to pro
vide for the general supervision of rail-
/ roads, steamboats, or canal companies,
express and telegraph companies doing
| business in the State of North Carolina,
| it made necessary certain qualifications
| to render eligible the persons to whom
should be entrusted the task of carrying
out the provisions of that important
measure. Most important, it provided,
said commissioners shall not joint or
| severally, or in any way be the holder
| of any stock or bonds. or be agent or
attorney or employee of any such COM
pany (railroad or transportation company
express or telegraph company, or have
any interest in any way in such COM
pany, etc." and provided that the mem-
bers of the commission should purge
themselves of any disqualification of the
kind above set out as a prerequisite to
assuming the duties of office.
These wise requirements have been
wisely incorporated in all amendments
to that act and when the State conven-
tion of the Democratic party looks about
for a man, otherwise as we'll as in these
particulars, qualified to fill the vacancy
on the present Corporation Commission
to be caused by the expiration of the
term of DR.. Abbott, Hyde county will o.
fer man eminently qualified in all re-
spects to worthily fill this important
position in the person of Mr.. George l.
Watson, of Wysocking, N. C.
4 Mr. Watson was graduated from Trim
ity College in the year 1876 and was one
of class that has given to the pulpit
of the State such men as Revs. w. r.
Pegram and F. A. Bishop, to the nation
as representatives in Congress Hons. r.
NJ Simmons and J. A. Lockhart, and to
the ranks of its conservative citizenship
such men Profs. J. d. Hodges. S. Simpson
and others. who like Mr.. Watson have
hitherto contented themselves in filling
such stations as their confiding fellow
citizens have offered them and who,
when not occupying positions of public
trust, creditably administered, have
merited and been proud of that greatest
of distinctions in this day of strenuous
ness and greed to-wit: to be known as
good citizens.
1t may be objected to Mr. Watson that
he lives too remote from the interests
this commission is intended to regulate
and subserve, but in answer to any such
objection it can be said that, while his
remoteness from railroad. express and
telegraph companies is a guarantee, that
he is entirely free from the influences
and connections which our General AS
semblies have been so careful to guard
against, his natural ability reinforced Ey
a liberal education and long public ex-
perience have peculiarly fitted him for
off he H.
Court of Hyde county, for four years. he
acquired that familiarity with legal pro-
ceedings and forms necessary to enable
him to assume the duties of this office
without awkwardness or embarrassment.
as a magistrate he has had the opDor-
tunity TO exercise, in the administration
of justice and as a conservator of the
peace and well ordering of his com
munity a naturally judicial temperament,
as a member of the board of commits
sioners for his county he has acquired
Fsuch knowledge and practical experience
in administrative functions, as well as
the details of our system of taxation, as
will make him eminently capable in
most important branch of the duties of
a corporation commissioner, and as a
man of large views who has always taken
an active interest in the development ot
the resources of his section, who in the
study Of its needs, especially with refer
ence to transportation, has acquired Il
broad knowledge of the needs of the
whole State, he would bring to the office
and its duties we'll rounded, capable and
aggressive personality, well equipped to
lperform his duties to the full measure
of the most exalted standard. Add to
these qualifications a Spotless Christian
character; recognition of the duties of
intelligent citizenship that has always
called him to face and assume respon-
slbllities, no matter how humble, if hon
orable; a modesty that has prevented
MN claiming the honOrs and positions
his talents and services have richly en-
titled him to and our county offers to
the State an ideal public servant
No matter, whether as member of
his district public school committee or
whether filling positions of more profit
(no position can be more honorable) nc
has been student of the laws prescrib-
ing his duties, Jealous in carrying out the
obligations of his trusts, and true in
every walk of life. His services to his
party, are better known in his district
and county than to the State at large Tor
the reason his love for his section and
his desire for it's upbuilding, has, to a
large extent. he being also a farmer and
merchant, circumscribed, his efforts. but
in politics as in every relation he has
been true and devoted. Such is the man
we offer. That the State would profit by
accepting him we have every confidence,
and we call on all men to aid us in nomi-
mating him.
Yours very truly,
S. S. MANN.
Swan Quarter, n. c., March 27, 1902