The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1907-08-27

M .l ~4i' t>NNNOh Aloo II ~ iit
f-rra summer visitors, and other
-..rees, that a report is being circu-
l..l in Eastern and Central North
Cer8lina that the Honorable Locke
Cr.tg is the candidate of the Railroads
f. the present contest for the Demo-
cratic nomination for Governor. l
was at first Ioath to believe that any
general charge of this character was
being made. but the rumor has cd e
tp me so frequently that | concluded
20 confer with DIR. Craig in regard to
il. and l hereing the fol-
loving statement received from him:
Not a Railroad Candidate.
AsneviiIe. n. c., Aug. 20, 1907.
Il Il.L. w. t. Crawford.
Waynesville, n. c.:
Dear Sir: | thank you for calling
r- attention to misrepresentation of
m. position on the railroad question.
\ From other sources l have heard of
t"t same report. 1t seems that the
charge IS not made by any response
BIZ" nerson, nor in a direct way. but by
.rs.nuation and innuendo.
OF course any such charge is alto
eo.arr untrue. No railroad has had
suy1hing to do with the inception or
.I.h the promotion of my candidacy,
nor has any special interest had any
tHug to do with it directly or indi-
Iertly. No railroad, nor any railroad
influence IS supporting me, SO far as
snow. If | should be nominated and
-|@rted Governor, no railroad interest,
and No special interest of any kind
will receive faVoritism from me. IL
ally would be expected. Equal rights
-Y all, and special privileges to none
mas been my guide so far in my po-
Htlcai life. and sha continue to be.
My record on the railroad question
IS brief as follows: | have never. in
any capacity, represented either the
southern. the Seaboard Air Line or
the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad.
Much of my practice as a lawyer has
been against railroads. Last winter l
assisted in the preparation of a char
ter for the South and Western Rail
road Company. which charter was
granted by the last General Assembly.
The south and Western Railroad
Company is now building a new line
through our mountain country. I
have been employed by this
jim a few cases growing out Of the
work of construction and rights of
way, but am not the regular counsel
of the road.
About ten years 10 INappeared in
Railroad, in which it had been sued
for damages. This is all the connec-
ton | nave ever had with railroads i'll
nv practice or in any other capacity.
Il / never rode on a pass in my life. ex-
cept for one trip from Johnson City,
Tennessee, to Tocane, n. c.. (35
u miles, and return, on the completed
portion of the South and Western
Railroad.
was a member of the last Demo-
cratic State Convention and voted for
our present State nlatform. | sup
ported the plank in that platform,
which demanded "a material and sub
stantial reduction in passenger fares
and freight rates" In my opinion the
act of the last General Assembly. fix.
ing the passenger fares at 2 Ia cents
poiIa iS q raoSona bile and inst in
terpretation of that platform as to pas
senger rates. and l believe that freight
rates should be fixed and regulated
by laws adequate to prevent unjust
Determinations between the cities and
towns of North Carolina. and against
the cities of North Carolina in favor
Of the cities of adjoining States. |,
alon~ with all the people, most hearth
Iy commend our State officials for
their faithful and courageous enforce
ment of the law.
1t is the constitutional rieht and
duty of the State to deal with these
problems. The present contest Will
not cease until the railroads cease
their resistance to State author<."
Yours truly,
<signed) LOCKE CRAIG.
Manly and UneQuivocaI.
The above is, 1 submit, q manly, ur-
equivocal statement of the facts OF
Mr.. Craig's position with reference to
the railroads.. and I am sure will be
accepted as final by the Democracy
of the whole State.
I maintain that every Democrat has
q right. and hat it is his duty to
participate in Democratic primaries
and conventions. and that he has the
untrammefed right to select his OWE
candidates in casting his vote IN such
primary OF convention, and according
TO the eehius of our institutions the
candidate Is in no way under official
obligations to those who support him
g - nxyaor% 10
discharge the duties of his office faith
fully and honestly. An honest and
ratriotic man cannot be the candidate
of a faction or class of men in his
uarty. An ideal candidate for the
G~overnorship of North Carolina must
stand for the best interest of all the
eoDle- and the honor and inte-
vrity of the State. and this Locke
Eraig does, in the highest and best
sense. | am convinced that the time
las not come in North Carolina when
tharacter can be damaeed by lnnuen-
-, or the faithful services of a life
me- be. forgotten in the presence OF
whispered InsinuatiOns.
In this section, where Mr.. Craig's
record and views up this and SIM
IF questions are we'll known, TINS
atement is unnecessary. but [ give
for the benefit of Democrats in
sections where his views are not 50
Wei known.
Ii will be recalled that in a speech
4" Ljncolnton on July 4th, Mr. Craig
"H nigh ground favOrin~ the en-
cement of the State law reducing
-senger fares. He was among the
to give public utterance on this
s..IeCt in the State.
Nfter this EXPLICIT statement from
Craig it is presumed that we will
Of this u~nfounded report no
I..re
Craio's Party Services.
", Mr.. Editor. a word as to Mr..
PARTY services and the rea-
Why he should be nominated for
L. nor:
1885 he commenced to make
JCrAtic speeches in his section,
"a the campaigns of 1855 and
he spoke in BGncombe and sur
mig counties for the party. In
residential campaign of 1892, he
the ~elector in the dis
md as such made a thorough
of the district. His speeches