The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-04-01

this late effort to bring our Chief Execu-
tive into the matter by falsehood and
misrepresentation caps the climax, and
calls to our mind the days when Rep
Pops had control of the State, and makes
our heart glad to know that we have
men of principle at the head of our State
government to protect her interests. We
are glad to note that the above case has
received the attention of the Solicitor of
that district and he has drawn up bill
Of indictment
STILL FLY-BLOWING THE STATE
Charlotte News.
OF course it's a mighty bad fix they are
in, the papers that approved the McBee
receivershp, smiled at the people for get
ting excited about it and only became
serious at the risk the Governor ran in
bringing the State and Federal Courts
into conflict. The ridiculous ending of
the fiasco has left them in ridiculous
plight. They have been trying to make
all sorts of diversions. They have set up
man of straw, that somebody was OPP
posed to leasing the road, and have been
shooting at that poor target faithfully.
One paper is reprehensibly trying to stir
up the w est UfdluSl the E>oSI AlS Iefll
eigh Post this morning makes an outrage
Gus attack upon Governor Aycock as a
mere tool Of Josephus Daniels, and init
mates that the road will not be leased
because one OF the directors is brother
in-law of the editor of the News and
Observer. One of the ME Too papers,
it does not matter which, has this para
graph:
After what has transpired in the
past six weeks, it would seem that
State operation of railroads would be
at discount in North Carolina. 1t is
frequently remarked that ''this or that
makes interesting reading" It's any
thing else than interesting, and if
there was Republican paper in the
State any account it would be less
interesting than it is. The State Will
be fortunate to lease the Atlantic and
North Carolina road at The maximum
bids heretofore made. 1t will, how
ever, be fortunate to lease it, even
at the minimum bid, rather than keep
it as it is.
AS for Republican papers we have some
very excellent substitutes in North Caro-
lima. or at least we have some that are
excellent as substitutes. And the Re
publican papers of the State have been
diligently quoting them as to the incom-
potency or worse of the present Demo
cratic administration.
The facts will all come out before long
but we may anticipate them. There is
nothing serious the matter with the adj
ministration of the Atlantic and North
Carolina Railroad. Probably some good
will come from the agitation of the public
mind over the receivership and conspiracy
proceedings. But as Governor Aycock
wittily remarked the other day, this is
the first time that Joseph's brethren have
boosted of the sale of Joseph into Egypt.
The. Governor is an authority on the
Scriptures among other things. It may
be recalled that Joseph told his brethren
that good had come out OF that rather
discreditable transaction. But Josephs
brethren who had made the bargain are
not recorded as having Dragged about it
on account of the good that might come
out of it.
As to State ownership of railroads, no
body is going to get much excited over
an argument for or against it. The own
ership of all the railroads by the State
and the part ownership of one, in competi-
ton with other railroads, are very differ
ent questions. And just here have come
in the irregularities that may be discov-
cred. The people feel that this road be-
longs TO them and that they are entitled
to concessions that they would not ask
Of others. And 50 in some instances ii
will probably be found that passes have
been granted to large shippers, in order
to keep their trade for the road. What
has been done, that was irregular was
done for the sake of the business inter
ests of the road and not for the sake of
politics. The Pigment of the Eastern
politician is another myth
And it is to the credit Of thel Demo
cratic administration in the State and to
the presidency of Mr. Bryan, that the
property value of the road has been so
increased that it can today be leasesd at
from Az to per cent. dividend, which
would Immediately bring the stock to
par. There are no Eastern politicians
making living and feathering their nests
and stealing from the road The road is
all right. And the attempt to force a
lease by running down the States prop
erty, by saying that any old offer will do,
is mighty like the course pursued by
Messrs. Finch and McBee, who made out
that the road was bankrupt in order to
get hold OF it themselves.