The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1907-06-11
THE CAUCASIAN'S ATTITUDE
Drawn Unexpectedly Into Public Per-
sonal Explanation.

sonal Explanation.
To say that the proceedings in the
city hall last evening were hot, would
scarcely convey an intelligent idea of the
situation. In the contention were three
attorneys whose fierce onslaug,lts. in a
figurative sense, enlisted tt. 1dlliration
of the spectators. At times there were
brilliant repartees, with well directed
blows in legal way, and we'll under
stood by lawyers, which seem queer to
the ordinary individual not familiar with
such proceedings.
While Mr.. John D. Wilkinson was re-
plying to Judge Hail. he directed atten-
ton to an editorial in Sundays Caucas-
ian in which was suggested the incor-
poration of the maximum rates in an
ordinance with the view of protecting
the consumers against any combination
or monopoly, ETC., when Judge Hall
implied that the editorial was suggested
by an interview with Mr. Wilkinson
Mr. Wilkinson (to Mr. Grosjean)-
Was that article written after an inter
view with me?
Mr.. Grosjean-Ne, sir
The Caucasian's editor, who was
present sitting with ''the press gang"
was instantly on his feet, and what fol-
lowed is best explained by the report of
the shorthand man of The Journal:
Mr.. Grosjean-I want to say to you,
gentlemen, that | belong to no individ-
ual; no individual has any power over
me; no individual has any control or
hold on me, and neither has any corpor-
alton. | am freeman | have always
been governed by the interest of the peo-
pie. When | wrote that article it was
of my own volition. No man writes
editorials for The Caucasian but me, and
whatever | say | stand by it. If | do
an unintentional injury to any one, no
man is more ready or willing to apollo
gize than | am, but when | have said a
truth no one can make me retract it.
here. | will explain myself | stand
here as representative of the people,
deny connection with any corporation
stand for the people. As man stand
ing for the people, l want to say that
there has not been voice raised here
this evening for the people The attor-
neys have talked for their corporations,
but have they said one word for the
ordinary people, the kind OF people that
represent? They have spoken to you
of their corporations. say to you,
standing here as a citizen, and speaking
for the people, and standing here as a
man who proposes to do what is right,
that the only protection to the people
and the safeguarding of their interests
will be by putting in the ordinance a
clause that will fix the maximum rate,
whatever that may be, and | speak
neither for the company that Mr.. Will
kinson represents or the people whom
Judge Hall represents. That is the way
to protect the people. Here are two
corporations fighting for something
They have no interest in the people
they are soulless. They take all they
can from the people; the people are sec
ondary matters with them. One COM
pany claims they can not float their
bonds unless you give high price. We
are not worrying about the other man
let him run his business. We will run
ours. What we want is this, rate to
be fixed that will protect the people
whether they sell out. combine or what
they may do, what we want is for you to
fix the rates SO that they can never
charge more than the rate you fix
whether that we rs cents or 20 cents OF
whatever it is. There is where you want
the people to come in. I came here az
a representative of the press, but when.
ever man calls my paper in question
will hold him Lesponsible
4
Judge Hall disclaimed any intention
of rejecting on The Caucasian or its ed
itor. His words in explanation were
fully appreciated.
cit was The Caucasian's intention tc
ignore this incident, but in its report
of the proceedings The Times through
inadvertence leaves The Caucasian ed
itor in a peculiar attitude. The Time
says. Mr.. Wilkinson supplemented hi
/ first address by several remarks afte
Judge Hall had completed, and Mr.
Grosjean explained an article that ap
lpeared in recent copy of The Caucas
ian z The Times in few lines sloul'
have given an intelligent explanation Q
The Caucasian's attitude and not LEI
lit suspended in mid-air amidst sunbeam
and zephyrs.
i RIVER AND WEATHER.
Il This morning opened fair.