The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-06-08

S&s1 - eg&AA
not represent the Intelligent will of the
members based upon an independent.
original Investigation OF ali the facts
necessary % a wise and just concla-
SION. The members would not have
lime TO make such an Investigation.
We would OF necessity have to act
upon Information prepared. coIlsled,
cooked up. IL may be. in advance BY
someone in Or out OF the General As
semoly. and dished out to the men,
oers. This might be done By some
hireling Of railroads seeking to graft
~ his base desire for a piece OF pork"
II might be done by some enemy OF
The railroad seeking TO capalize pre-
JUDGE into power. In either case the
IL OF the prudent man" would -e-
quire the rejection of the collation. The
question Is not whether one Is In favor
Of lower rates or higher rates: on
that question the lineup is perfectly
natural Those who ride are on one
side and those who haul on the other
1t Is simply the old antagonistic .e!a-
ton OF buyer and seller. That rail-
road wants TO get a mulch rs possible
does not necessarily make IL an out
law, that a citizen wants ID ,ay as
little as possible does not necessarily
make him a patriot Neither DISPOSE
non could be fairly classified among
the cardinal virtues. They do not even
possess the merit OF novelty, but are
old as the sin in the world and as uni
versal. There IS no doubt that Adam
Immediately after the fall, wanted to
buy plumber from the inhabitants OF
the land or Nod at roCk-bottom prices.
and the race has ever lent II willing
and Jealous obedience { the command
tn'Spoil the Egyptian In this QUAR-
re! between buyers n sellers. the
State does not take sides: IL Is ,he
guardian OF all alike, and has created
Il nigh tribunal whose sworn duty IL is
TO ASCERTAIN every pertinent fact and
then do equal and exact justice both
10 the people and the railroads
Second. my program provides for
a three days session. And just mere
| will say that | have never apprec-
ted the necessity for having the Gener-
al Assembly To me oftener than Cace
in four years. except for some crying
necessity, and then upon the call of
the Governor. The General Assembly
OF 1905 cost the State s72,0l3.90. II
programme is carried out. the ses-
sion OF 1907 will cost the State s., 500
80, which will save on the expense ac-
count Sos. 496.65. This il exactly the
amount Of the extra appropriation Or
the public schools: IL the money
would not accomplish more in he
schOol-room than il would by paying
The legislator TO sit for ff~ty-seven
days longer. talking all sorts of vi
ninrt. hnagi1t ;-.< .lAG- "
jecting them into the body polite.
hen God ave the public school sys-
tenn, for Aycock has planted and
Glenn has watered in vain! In my
judgement, there IS at this ~juncture
more danger from too much than from
too little State legislation. The folks
are busy; in field and forest, in forge
and factory, in shop and store the
people have their "a of and their
rolled up. With a determine
ton that is twin sister to an inspira-
ton, they are bending to their work,
and if not disturbed and distracted by
needless fears and alarms, they will
carry the old State forward with gil
gantic strides along all the highways
human progress. Out on the firing
line h yeomanry are putting Il great
fight for civilization and for humanity.
their solid front the allied fore
es Of Poverty and Ignorance and Pre-
judice are being surely driven from
all their ancient strOngholds. In Gods
name. do not call them off, Let he
sound he charge along the
whole line. "Up boys. and at them:
Let the mighty columns sweep for
ward, and yet again and eve forward,
unhampered and undelayed by a null
of orders from the rear.
| have tried to lay before YOU both
my views o specific questions and
my mental attitude. II with all these
u before you as an open
book, you want me TO be your repre-
sentative, her | shall feel greatly
hOnored by yaur commission, and shall
strive t justify your confidence.
Very sincerely
T. w. Beckett.