The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-01-18
STAND ON THE DEMOCRATIC
PLATFORM.

In explaining why he introduced his
resolution with reference to South
Dakota bonds, Mr. Lockhart, of Anso1,
said that the members were receiving
circulars urging the payment of the
South Dakota bonds, and he wished 10
get accurate and full information for
himself and others. Hence his resolu-
ton. No action has yet been taken on
it. Mr.. Lockhart is seeking only the
light that all good legislators should
desire and will be found fighting the
lobby now organizing to make a raid
on the treasury. for he is the sort of
man who cannot be Influenced by the
newspaper, circular or lobby propa-
ganda emanating from Wilmington
and elsewhere.
For several years the gang of con-
spirators, who are behind the South
Dakota bond deviltry, have been laying
their pipes to secure the payment or
these bonds, and behind the propa-
ganda there has been as great
scheme of graft as was behind the con-
spiracy to grab the a. & \. {. X. H.
Six or eight years ago, certain inter-
ests very close to the Southern Rail-
way secured the introduction of bill
permitting those decoy ducks named
Schaffer to bring suit against North
Carolina for the payment of the bonds
At that time Russelfs and
Buffers friends comprised
majority of the court. The
Legislature kicked the bill out of the
back door, the Legislators seeing that
behind the request was concealed
purpose to reopen the settlement OF
the State debt made in 1879, and
other ulterior purposes. The same
malign influence is behind the present
propaganda of which Daniel l.. Rus
sell and Marion Butler were the men
who figured in the lime-light of the
South Dakota fraud But there were
"others."
Soon the legislature will be urged to
pay South Dakota and the other bond
holders. This will be followed in due
course by a proposition to sell the
y
leased for ninety-nine years, there can
be but one bidder. That railroad is
earning large dividends on four or five
times its capital. and if the Southern
Railway crowd could buy the States
stock, they could make cool ten
million dollars by issuing new stocks
and bonds. There's millions in it.
The South Dakota bonds are not on
the same footing as the other repudi-
ated bonds, but let the door once be
opened by the legislature and the Pan
doras box of evils will be opened
Fortunately, as the lobbyists are
getting ready to help Butler and Rus
sell preserve the honor of North Car
DINA" the legislators have a chart to
govern their actions in the platform
unanimously adopted by the Demo-
cratic State convention:
.After long and careful deliberation
and conference with many of Its cred
itors, the State of North Carolina adj
justed its debt upon basis SO fair
and honorable eS to win the approval
of the financial world and to secure
ratification by nearly every creditor.
Attempts h2ye been made to reopen
the question settled 1T that time by
the States WiSeSt end best men. The
Democratic party of 1904 approves
the settlement made I'm 1879 and will
forever oppose any and all attempts
from any quarter to set aside the set
Element then made. 1t will abide the
mandates of the courts but it will not
consent to reopen the settlement that
was alike creditable to the State and
fair to the holders of its securities
Every Democrat in the legislature is
bound by that plank.
Stand by platform!