The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-06-15
WILMINGTON,iN. c.
FRIDAY, JUNE Is, 1906.
THE RAILWAY FIGHT IN RALEIGH

The war that is going on in Raleigh
over the change of schedule by the
heretofore left that city for the west at
las O'Clock a. m. has become pretty
hot. The News and Observer, which
has taken up the fight with the rail-
road, declares the change was made for
Che purpose of injuring that paper:
that it was nothing more than a piece
the railroad authorities.
With an order issued by the corpor-
alton commission prohibiting the
change of schedule; the ignoring by the
railroad authorities of that mandate;
the application for and granting an in
junction by the federal court, restrain
ing the corporation commission from
penalizing the railroad for d%isobeying
its order; The News and Observer
grinding out column upon column Of
abuse of Colonel Andrews, the South
ern railroad and Judge Purnell and de-
cIaIing tie railway officials should be
declared il contempt OF the corporation
commission-With all these things
coming along together, they are having
a regular parrot end monkey time at
the state capital.
While The News and Observer has
declared repeatedly that this change of
schedule was made solely to do it IN
jury, 1t claims that it is fighting the
southern in the interest Of the public,
to keep that corporation from becom-
ing absolute master Of the state. At
one time it claims to be fighting to pre-
vent injury to its private property; at
another that it is moved solely by pa
triotic motives.
If the truth were known we do not
suppose that schedule would have been
the Southern railroad had been on
friendly terms; and On the other hand,
had it been any other train than the
one which puts that paper in the hands
of it's subscribers in the west at an
early hour that paper would not a
been near so indignant at the breaking
of the so called connection with the
SeabOard train from the south or have
felt called upon to fight so vigorously
to prevent the public suffering the sup
posed inconvenience. There appears to
be a good dea1 of spite work on both
sides.
While the corporation commission
may have exceeded it's powers and en-
croached upon the rights of the South
ern in Ordering~it not to make the
change in it's schedule, that company
made a great mistake in ignoring the
order. 1t thereby hurt its cause, 10
matter how good a n 1t had. 1t
should show respect for the courts of
the state by complying with their man
dates until the latter have been re-
scinded or annulled by a higher court,
and besides, such action is playing into
the hands of demagogues who think to
win popularity by abuse of all corpor-
tons, especially railroads, and it in
creases the hostility of the masses
against railroads.
If you could get at the real issue in
this fight you would find that it was a
contest between the Southern Railroad
Company and The News and Observer
ring for the control of the state. If
that be the issue we in this part of the
state have no interest in h fight.
Honesty is about even between the
two. and if there is any difference in
ability it is in favor of the railroad.
The Southern cares nothing for our
section of the state and we should not
put ourselves to any trouble to assist
IL. The other side has always studi-
ously ignored the Wilmington section
in all matters pertaining to the state
at large; has not shown even that it
considered it forming a part OF the
commonwealth. So, why should our
A.