The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-09-02
OH Wessenger,
TO cHEcKMArE THE GOVERNOR.

1LII
n ~all-absorbing question of the
lease Of the Atlantic and North Caro-
INA railroad takes a new turn and a
rather startling one. What does this
new move mean? Why is it that Mr..
Beckwith, one of the three members
OF the state board Of internal improve
ments, has not spoken his mind be-
Tore? All along the governor has been
the one who has had control Of the
matter. As far as the public has
known all bids for lease Of the road
" been made to him n all con-
ferences with proposed bidders have
been had with him.. He Is the man to
whom newspaper reporters and other
citizens anxious for information as TO
what would likely be done have turn
ed. Mr.. Beckwith and Nj. Ballard
e not known, so a as any infor-
nation was given to the public, to have
taken any part in the preliminaries
leading up to the proposed lease. EY-
cry thing was supposed to be in the
governors hands. 1t was generally
understood that whatever he recon-
mended would be done by the board
Of improvements and the state proxy
Of the stockholders OF the COM
pany and it has for some time been
understood that the governor was de-
sirous to lease the roGo and that the
only question was as to h terms Of
lease he could accept for the state.
The stockholders have been called in
special session for tomorrow, only
about two weeks before the time Of
their regular annual meeting, to take
up the question of a lease and just
four days before that meeting Mr..
Beckwith announces to the public that
he strongly opposes a lease of the
property-does not say that he cannot
approve of any of the bids filed, but
opposes a lease. Mr.. Ballard has not
yet made up his mind. If Mr.. Ballard
sides with Mr.. Beckwith a lease un-
der any terms is blocked until the
~oonvening of the legislature in Janu-
airy, and in the meantime an impo--
this lease question a disturbing eie-
ment in the democratic ranks. Why
has not MI. Beckwith spoken before?
Hasn't he known all along that the
matter was soon to 0eme before the
stockholders? Has he not been ac-
quainted with the terms Of the bids
that have been laid before his board
through the governor? Has he not
allowed the governor to act alone in
receiving these bids and in giving to
h public such information regarding
them as he saw fit? Why then does
he come forward just four days befora
the stockholders are to take action
and announce his intention to oppose
the wish of the governor, and, if he can
secure the support OF his colleague
who is yet undecided whether to op-
pose any lease or not, to veto any
proposals the governor may make &c
the stockholders?
1t cannot be denied that a very large
majority of the democrats Of the state
wish to see this reailroad leased-for
two reasons, to get it out Of politics
and in order hat the state and the
private stockholders may have some
return for their money invested. They
do not want just any kind OF a e
made, but are willing to trust the mat
ter to Governor Aycock to make
contract which will be Of advantage
to the state and the owners Of tht
property.
The opposition to all propositions t.
lease comes from the men along the lin
Of the road in whose pr1vate interest:
it has been managed since its con
struction. They do not a to Sc,
the management taAen out of tn,
hands of state Officials, for such man
agement has been pie for them. o
course the state a run the road-rul
it as it has for these nrany years.
no profit to itself or the stockholders
but the people are tired Of this kin
OF management and demand a change
and it is this demand of the demo
cratic party which Mr.. Beckwith ii
the eleventh Jour steps in and declare
his intention to thwart.
II the action Of the governor j
blocked on tomorrow in the manne
threatened by Mr.. Beckwith there vii
be heard a cry of Indignation and pru
test from one end of the state to tn
other which will not be silenced be
fore sunset on the Tuesday after II
first Monday in November next. Me
who try to battle the desire of the pee
PIE in this matter will find that the
are playing a game dangerous to tn
welfare of the democratic party.
Maine and Vermont elections occu
next Tuesday. 1t is the aim of tn