The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-04-24
aends n NorGh @apoBmn Daily Eapers Both Nvys am

with having no convictions, but writing
its editorials from orders higher up"-a
truth which everybody in North Carolina
knows. Nobody can have any respect fol-
paper that gets it's orders from the
fellows who pay the bills higher up.
| This paper has not ''abused" the Post
1t has merely shown that it is the mouth
piece of power higher up" as con.
| frmed by Mr.. Page. Is it not a duty to
the public to show that such muzzlcd
| sheet-printed to help railroads control
politics, trusts 10 rob the people. and
the liquor devil to boss North Carolina
is not free agent, but gets its orders
from higher up?"
1t is evident that Mr.. Page has never
forgiven the News and Observer for de-
featinG his cherished purpose of defeat
ing Judge Clark and for criticisng his
vote for Mckinley and Roosevelt. His
definition of Populst would be "a man
who believes in Jefferson's teachings.
favors a Railroad Commission. believes
in taxing railroads at their true value
and in opposing high passenger and
freight rates, opposes railroad dictation
in politics, and supports the Democratic
ticket always and under all circum-
stances" According to Mr. Page, then,
all tho Democrats who did not join him
in supporting Mckinley and in fighting
Clark were leaning to ''populsm. fusion
and that sort of thing and the News
and Observer prefers to stand with the
6,5O0,000 Democrats in America, who kept
"the rudder true" when he was helping
the Republicans, than to have the appro,
val of Mr. Page as to its political princi-
pies.
Mr. Page has read the News and OBJ,
server to very little effect, as he shows
by saying its editorial columns have con.
tanned little else than abuse of the
Post. If Mr.. Page Will reflect he will see
that many columns were dNvcted 20 op-
posing Mckinley and Roosevelt wnen he
was advocating them; many columns to
opposing those who wanted to make Hill
Chief Justice, while Mr. Page was trying
to defeat Clark; many columns to show
ing tha danger of the teachings Of Bal
sett, while ne was voting to uphold him.
Occasionally, to be sure, we have turned
aside TO give a lick to the railroad organ,
which Mr.. Page says shapes its editorial
columns from higher up but only when
the public ssrvice demanded that the old
fraud and those higher up be exposed.
AS to Mr.. Pages skilful attempt to
square himself by saying the News and
Observer is as bad as the Post, and
would color the reports" we leave that
to the honest people of North Carolina
to decide, challenging him to name a sin
gle time that this paper has ever printed
testimony in court or before committee
other than fairly to all parties. OF
course this. paper makes it's own COM
ments, but its news features are always
a simple recital of what occurred. Mr.
Page cannot show otherwise at any
time.
This papers. fairness is best shown ir
it's treatment of Mr. Page. Devotion to
Democracy Che would call it Populisn)
compelled us to denounce his project of
beating Clark and carrying the State for
Mckinley. But after doing that, the
News and Observer commended Mr.. Page
when ne did the good deed of standing
for temperance legislation, and in assert
ing that. with his bad and varlegate0
politics, he can be trusted IN an investi-
CATION to give the facts as they are-in
fact we put him in the class with thei
four honest men with whom he is asso-
ciated in the investigation. Could any
thing prove greater fairness?-Editor.)