The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-06-02
Rate Troubles at High
Point.
Continued from Page One.)

seems that. before the FORMATION of the
machinery trust, Mr.. Cox had acquired
the rights to certain machines for the
making Of bobbins, which afterwards
became the property of the trust sub
iect to Mr.. Cox's right to manufacture
The bobbin idea appears to have been
Incidental with Mr.. Cox, VINO makes
shuttle-blocks. After he became CO.
heir with the trust, however, the story
runs that like a canny man he saw a
glorious opportunity. Why not agree
1ot to make bobbins, which he was
not making anyhow and make all the
shuttle blocks. The trust squinted at
the proposition, and 1T looked good to
it. 1t supplies all the machinery to
the mills and naturally 1t can control
the incident Of the shuttle blocks. 1t
might not so easily control the bob
bins and the shuttle blocks,
both of which Mr.. Cox might
manufacture, if he wished. There
fore, and quite in line with mod
ern methods of business, Mr.. Cox has
refrained from making bobbins and
the trust from making shuttle blocks.
Quite naturally it falls out that the
trust makes all the hobbins and Mr..
Cox makes all the blocks And, as
before suggested, without any rebate
or unfair discrimination of any sort
the railroad might, if 1t desired. make
a special rate on a shuttle block CLASH
fication for it's friend Mr.. Cox, and
still carry fairly with the other man.
ufacturers of shuttle blocks, who are
but a small handful scattered over the
world.
SO complete is Mr.. Cox's control of
this business that / have it on the au-
thority Of a responsible man who once
engaged in the manufacture of this
a a
of any of his product, he found it
necessary to pay to Mr.. Cox a selling
commission of 10 per cent Under
such conditions, ii can be readily
seen that competition with Mr.. Cox on
shuttle blocks is not the most profit
able business in the world.
The above, as to Mr.. Cox's monopo-
ly is given for what it is worth as
the story was told to me and not in
tended to be authoritative. That,
however is about the High Point un-
derstanding, and 1t is freely expressed
there that the rates which Mr. Cox
secures OH these products are favora-
BILE enough to cause him to forget any
small discrimination made in the case
of other manufacturing companies in
which he is interested.
Used Town Politics.
AS a politician he is a man also
calculated to arouse the bitterest an
tagonism. During the mayoralty
campaign in High Point last spring, 1t
was understood that one, Mr.. Tate,
who was in the race was the candi-
date of Mr.. Cox. The town was put i'm
foment from which II has scarcely yet
recovered. daily paper was gotten
up for the campaign and made things
warm for the other paper. which sup
r. NJ ". IL ~
defeat of Mr.. Cox's candidate and the
Wrenn, and an anti-Cox board of al
dermen. So far as 1 could learn
from talking with High Point citizens
the issue i'm this election was chiefly
Mr.. Cox, although the inevitable rail-
road also came I'm as q factor, it being
charged that the former board of al
dermen had permitted the placing of
side-tracks on the main street as
payment for the proper maintenance
of the new freight depot by the South
ern. Also it was freely urged that
it was Mr.. Cox who went to Winston
Salem on a committee and permitted
the proposed bid of the town for the
Southbound road to fall of its own
weight for lack Of nourishme
From all of which it VIII be seen
that Mr.. Cox is a factor in his town.
Other statements made as to the
over bearing quality of the man are
that after the election he caused one
man to lose his position with the Ar
mour Company and another to lose his
place as the representative of a warm
ish concern for voting against his de-
sires.
All of these statements are made by
responsible men. and are here put
down as indicating the drift of opin
ion of half the High Point people
as to Mr. Cox; while others as indi-
Gated, rate him even higher than he
himself, doubtless, could stand with
outward complacency.
Criticisms Hark to Railway.
And the notable thing is this: that
it is always back to the railroad. or to
railroad influence, that the charges
and criticisms of Mr.. Cox can be
traced. With all OF what must neces-
sarily be in many ways a strong and
challenging character, it is only the
more fiery of his opponents who abuse
him personally. Whereas the more
people say simply that he is too close
to the railroad TO make his pre-
eminence in town affairs desirable.
Particularly was this felt and eX~
pressed In many quarters at High
Point after his testimony before the
Interstate Committee. How Mr..
Cox generally justified that attitude, |
have already spoken of. Further
opinions as to freights at his home
town would merely involve figures.
The determinations exist and are adj
mitted. One party would leave their
regulation to Mr.. Cox: the other would
leave the question anywhere else.
And that is how Mr.. Cox's influence
exists in his own town and how far
he spoke for his own people before
the committee.
ROBERT l.. GRAY.
SPECIAL RATES