The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1906-07-24

the same declarations a were con-
tanned in Mr.. owes platform. III
this time his opponent was declining
to commit himself. but the people
were in no mood to vote for any man
unless they had pledges for reform.
and soon he found that. though he
had many pledged votes and a per
feet organization. they would avail
him nothing unless ne could make
Them believe that he stood substan-
italy upon the platform upon which
Mr.. Olive his candidacy.
Whcreupon ne proceeded To approve
lone plank one day and oac anpthe-
until some voters who heard him
came 10 believe that he had originated
the Olive platform. and that upon the
principles cnunciatcd there was no
difference bctwccn them. The state
convention adopted Il platform that in
every essential followed the line Of
the Olive platform and then those two
or three candidates for the House,
who had been saying nothing got
bodily ON the Olive platform until we
had the spectacle Of every candidate
for the Legislature claiming I" stand
on the Olive platform. Some Of them
had always been for the same things
that Mr.. Olive stood for and the 9TH
lers haStened to get on board, and
as a result all of the Democratic noml-
nneS for the Legislature from Wake
have promised the people TO use their
Influence to secure legislation that Will
.a-. 80. tho Civ nlankS i'm the Mat
form presented by Mr.. Olive.
i. AS to the reduction of passen-
ger fares not exceeding tWo and 1t
half cents, Mr.. olives opponent said
TWO wears ago that the La~ughinghouse
bill Ought to be killed in two min
utes," and a few weeks Z his sup
~porters said it was a matter for the
CORPORATION Commission and not for
the Legislature, but later he declared
he would vote for as much reduction
las the railroads could stand in justice
land would confer with the Corporation
Commission with reference to the rate
that would be fair and vote for it.
,. Upon insurance, Mr.. olives op-
ponent did not pledge any specific re-
form but promised to vote for such
recommendations as the Governor anl
the Insurance Commissioner should
make.
8. Upon temperance legislation, he
not only got on olives platform but
got a certificate that he had always
been for temperance and gave bond
that he would stand for temperance
legislation.
4. Upon roads. though he was a
candidate eleven months without
stating his views, he finally got on
the Olive platform OF doing away with
personal service, and promised to stand
for the division of the ~dispensary fund
secured over his opposition by MI.
Stronach, Mr.. Olive. MI. Sentelle, ana
Senator Ellington.
5. Upon a better magistrate system
and decreasing court costs, he outlines
no special reforms, but declares for
better service.
6. AS to paying county officers sala-
ries, he declared in favor of hat pol
icy and went Mr.. Olive 'one better"
by saying that he was opposed also
to any fees for State officials and be-
lieved in the salary system.
And 50 it appears that the Olive
platform not only received the appro-
val of the voters but also secured the
promise of his opponent that if elected
it should receive his That
was to secure the victory as to prin-
ciples, no matter who the agent might
be that should be selected to carry
them into effect. And those six vital
reforms, approved overwhelmingly by
the voters of Wake county. mean more
to the people than the election of any
particular man for the Senate. Some
of the candidates for the House We're
always for such measures before Mr..
Olive wrote his card, but the House
can usually be relied upon to re-
spond to the demands of the people.
The important thing was to make sure
that no man could be nominated for
the Senate who would not pledge him
self to support the reforms needed
and favored by the people. That done.
while it was much better to elect a
man at heart for such reforms, the
selection of a particular man was not
so important as putting whoever
should be elected upon the platform
set forth by Mr.. Olive and making
him pledge himself TO stand by the
declarations contained therein. If
they are put in operation. these six
reforms will be worth thousands of
dollars annually to the taxpayers of
the county. They are principles that
will all be incorporated into law. If
the next Legislature should fail the
people in these reforms. help and de
l~iyerance" will come from another
source, for the people Of Wake coun-
tv and of North Carolina, having put
heir hand to the pillow, will not turn
back. They will select other agents
if those selected this year fail to give
the reformS set forth in the Olive plat
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