The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-04-29
THE STATE STAR CHAMBER.

We made reference in these columns
on Sunday to the reasons assigned by
Mr.. Henry Page for the exclusion OF
representatives of the press from the
Investigations by the committee OF the
| affairs of the Atlantic and North Caro-
| lima railroad. We were very much sur
prised that Mr.. Page Or any other intel
ligent and high-minded man in North
Carolina should max UGH a sweeping
charge against the press Of the state.
In Sundays Raleigh Post, there ap-
| pears a letter on this subject from Mr..
Page. In this letter he says the Eek
| clusion rule" was intended to apply
only to the two morning papers Of RAJ
leigh. 1t is a pity the committee did
not make this known earlier in the in
vestigation. Had it done so perhaps
some other daily papers of the state
could have kept the public informed as
to what the committee was doing, and
without distorting the evidence. Mr..
Page says:
ITO the Editor of The Post:
"Your editorial In today's paper head
ed A gross Slur on the State Press
has been called to my attention. L am
not sure that your reporter quotes me
with exact accuracy, but we will not
quarrel about that-let it stand as he
puts it.
Il am made to say. in substance, that
the papers twist and distort evidence
to suit their own views of the matter
under investigation. and so as to make
it support as strongly as may be their
own side Of the question
First explaining that 1 had The Post
and The News and Observer only in
mind when the statement was made, 1
insist upon the exact accuracy Of my
observation.
For years and years these two pa
perS have filled their editorial columns
with abuse of each other, and but little
else. Taking the cue from their chiefs,
1 the reporters of both have ~sought~to
make their stuff carry the color of the
editorial QUINN. Speaking again very
frankly, I may say that in my opinion,
your-oft repeated declarations that my
friend Daniels leans to populism and
fusion and that sort of thing is pretty
nearly true. and 1 am also convinced
of the truth OF his charge that the
tenor of your editorials comes to you
from higher ~ / am inclined 20 think
! that most OF those who read both pa
| pers will agree with me that your
charges against each other have con-
| tanned much truth.
Now these two papers, The Post n
The News and Observer, were the only
ones. so far As / have heard, that
wished or proposed to have reporters
present during the investigation OF the
Atlantic and North Carolina railroad.
If there is any sane man in the
state who believes that either would
nave treated the witnesses and the COM
mittee fairly in their reports and COM
ments from day to day, then perhaps
the committee made a mistake In ex-
Guiding them. For myself, and judging
by the past. 1 am quite sure that both
would have colored things to suit them
selves. We did hope and want to do
this job fairly and thoroughly. therefore
these reporters were excluded.
Now, having placed myself between
the lines and in the way of the cross
fire you have been shooting at each
other for years, fire way, both of you,
and may the best shot score the first
hit. My hide is pretty tough, and I am
sure the reading public will thank me
for giving both of you a new target.
HENRY A. PAGE,
Aberdeen, N. c.. April p, 1904"
In regard to this matter there seems
to be a variance in the recollection OF
In the same issue of The Post Mr.
Philips, the reporter assigned 10 at
tend the committees meetings n re-
pert proceedings for his paper, states
his recollection Of the conversation be-
tween himself and Mr.. Page on this
point. According to Mr.. Phillips This
Post was not the p Mr.. Page wa:
anxious to exclude. Mr.. Phillips give:
this account Of his conversation with
Mr.. Page on this subject:
But. a few words personal 1 wen'
: to New Bern and saw Mr. Page, Mr.
!. Gray and others OF the committee. bu
talked of the matter only with thest
two. Mr.. Page told me he was no
afraid I would give biased reports o
the investigation. but added There ar
others who would"
The News and Observer also publish
) es the above letter from Mr.. Page
a