davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-11-08
WHO THE MORE GUILTY?

Railroad officials must not be sur
prised at accidents on their lines II
they continue to work train crews
over time to such an extent as to
make the men physically incompetent
to perform their duties. Is an en-
gineer or conductor who has been on
duty continuously for t~wenty-three
hours in condition to be in charge OF
a train?
The investigation by the coroner's
Jury into the collision at Rudd, near
Greensboro, showed that the freight
crew had been on duty continuously
for that length of time. The testi-
mony of the brakeman, Leonard.
which was corroborated by a state
ment of the passenger engineer just
- his death, showed that the &C.
cident was the result of the brakeman
being thoroughly exhausted. His tes-
timony was hat when the freight
vent on the siding he placed the
switch for the main line, sat down be-
side it and was soon sound asleep
He was awakened suddenly by find
ing the passenger train right upon
him. Dazed he sprang to the switch
and turned it before having time to
think what he was doing, for the sec
ond his idea being that he had left the
switch open and had to change it to
prevent a disaster; but what he did
caused the wreck. The engineers COR
roborative statement was that as he
approached the switch it showed a
white light, which was suddenly
changed to a red one and too late
for him to stop his train.
Now who are more to blame for the
deaths of the men killed in hat wreck
the brakeman or the railroad Of
fcials who had kept him or perhaps
only permitted him to put in twenty
three hours steadily at work on a
freight train? Leonard has been ar
rested, charged with malslaughter. If
he is guilty of that crime are there
not some others higher up in the SER
vice of the road who are equally as
guilty as he-morally, if not legally?
We do not see how the question can
but be answered in the affirmative.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-11-08
THE SOUTH FREE AGAIN

While several big establishments
went Cnder during the recent financial
crisis. We are glad to know that all
moneyed institutions in this part OF
the country weatheref the financial
storm We believe only one southern
concern went by the board All OF
cur banks were able TO accommodate
their customers. This is very different
from what it would have been a few
years ago. Then the semblance of 4
panic on Wall street would haze
frightened every bank nan in the
south. They would have let their
money out with fear and trembling. il
they would let il out at all. II is quite
different now. They have all the
money they need. The southern bank
ers view with complacency the crash
at the north. They know they are
able 10 take care of their customers
and patrons and they go on in theft
usual way of tr%ansacting their bust
ness. Nothing can better illustrate
the improvement in financial cond:-
tons of this section OF the country. a
few years ago III business men were
subject 10 the beck and call OF the
~fnanciers of New York. Today they
are absolutely Independent OF them
in fact are in a position to aid theS.
financially, when they get in such a
position as they are now experiencing
The south is free again.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-11-08

whose leaders are d~eterIninediy OPP
posed, not only TO government oank-
ing in general, but even to MAKING
any concession to the demand Ior d
more elastic currency.
Nevertheless, men who nave most
closely studied financial condltlons
and who are powerful in the h1ghest
L circles, are fast becoming
convinced that the central bank OF
issue which has demonstrated It's
safety and usefulness in England
France and Germany, is the one tnIhs
short of which any currency reform
will he weak and ineffective
Secretary Cortelyou has declined 10
;rdico+a to interviewers, his at
tit1,de toward the proposal OF d
hank of the United States. me sec
retarv feels tina the present Is no
time for the Inauguration OF sucn
. diecussfon. so far as he Is concerned
T<ha ;rnression is strong that ne 10
ao;ne to recommend important meas
go If currency reform and IL Is
f,,rrher said that some OF ms NUS
/ trusted advisers strongly ldFoi 'he
| Lon of a central bank OF issue. .
In this country the treasury ~
forcad into the money market a.
+irne- wnen stress develops pul d
other times there is no supreiie naa,
o;.1 organ to look after nd'iona
~mon.tary concerns. to foresee trouo.eS
md TO make provision asalnst liz
~ ie being vigorously urged thd' SUI
ar institution be provided
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-11-08
CANADA'S

While Europe is annually dumping
thousands Of her undesirable citizens
into this country. canada is drawing
immigration of a very different cnarac-
ter from the United States. Immigra-
ton to Canada has increased wonder
FULLY in the past few years and is
still on the increase. In recent years
nearly one third of the new settlers
have been from this side of the border,
the northwestern states furnishing an
excellent class of farmers who he &c
sold their high priced farms and
bought cheaper and, often, better land
on the Canadian side. In the las
six years the number of immigrants
has exceeded nine hundred thousand,
and n half Of them are English
speaking. Nearly all Of the Euro
peans are from those countries which
first settled the United States. Canada
has no immigration from the slums OF
the cities of southern Europe. Those
who come are chiefly persons who wish
to take up the fresh la1Gs. They are
fast building up the waste places
hardy, industrious men and women
immigrants who add to the wealth of
the country. What a contrast to the
| ship loads of the scum of Europe who
are weekly poured into u cities Of
! the north to c~ongregate in those cities
or in big mining districts. All the immi
grants to the United STAGES are not OF
this class, of course. Among them are
many who make as good citizens as
We have and they are welcomed here,
but on the whole the contrast between
the classes of immigrants to the TWO
countries is very great and TO the dis
advantage of the United States. She
is losing thousands OF sturdy farmers
and mechanics annually, whose places
can be filed only by the best element CT
those she receives who are accompaiH-
ed by a class that, for the cOuntry's
sake, should be kept from her borders
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-11-08

Two hundred and fifty dollars up to
date for expenses of the speaker of
the house of representatives as special
attorney to help the attorney general
and his assistant in the railroad rate
suit looks mighty steep, especially
when one considers the fact that there
are seven other lawyers who have a
whack at the state treasury. 1t is
true, that one-Mr. Ryan-has dropped
out of the case, but he had to be
paid for what he did or was supposed
to have done before he gave up his
hold on the treasury teat. Without
Mr.. Ryan there are seven lawyers who
are still sucking the state pap at-we
have heard stated-the rate Of a fee
of $4,000 and "all expenses. At the
rate Mr.. Justices expenses mount UP
it won't take long for ne law
yers to bankrupt the safe.
There is one thing We do not un-
derstand and that is how it is that
al official of the state-as is tue
speaker of the house of representatives
should also be employed as special
attorney of the state while we have a
salaried attorney general and an as
sistant attorney general whose duty it
is to look after the interests of the
state. Who employed Mr.. Justiceo
Will some n who knows give US the
information? The News and Observer
said not long ago that the governor
had nothing to do with the employ
ment of the counsel for the state In
this case. Was that statement correct?
Will somebody-the governor or any
one else who knows-give us the cor
rect information on this subject? Our
readers want to know why eight law
yers should have been employed in
this case, who employed them and
whether or not it is true that they
are each to receive $4,000 and ex-
penses.
II the expenses of all the seven
lawyers now engaged on the states
side on this case run up like those of
State Official Justice there is no tell
Ing what the case will cost the state
by the time it is ended. II the cost
of attorneys. is, to continue to mount
up in that fashion it would be well
for the state TO enter into a compro-
mise with the Southern.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-11-08
LESE MAJESTY.

Lese majesty is a new thing in 4
United States, but al Indianapolis ed
.,r has run up against 1t and is TO b.
attended to by h federal court II IS
because of a letter the editor sent
President Roosevelt. 1t is not claim
ed that the offense is the sending
through the mails a letter of a charac-
ter prohibited by law, for the letter
has not been opened. 1t is contended
that such address as the letter has up
ON il makes it an offense. Tine enEel-
ODE bears the address: Teddy Bonn
bastes Furioso, Executive Mansion,
Washington, D. c." This address is
considered defamatory of the presi-
I dent, and the federal court grand july
! will take the matter up in a few days.
; Next, it will be declared ''defamatory'
of the president for the newspapers
to speak of him as Teddy" We dc
not consider that a respectful way in
which to designate the president, but
good taste and not fear of the Law
should cause editors to refrain from
using il,
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-11-08
SENATOR OVERMAN HERE
Last might and - the Guest
of Mr.. NJ. -. Willard.

Hon. Lee S. Overman, United States
senator, arrived in the city last night
from his home in Salisbury, to attend
the meeting this morning for the pur-
pose of organizing a state branch OF
the National Rivers and Harbors Con
gress. Senator Overman, while in the
city, is the guest OF Mr.. Martin ).
Willard, at his home on Orange stree,
and last night Mr.. Willard entertain
ed informally quite a number OF
business men of Wilmington, mo
were glad of the opportunity TO meet
the distinguished visitor.
Senator Overman has a strong hold
in this city, where he is regarded as
a strong and forceful man, who uses
his energies wisely and we'll in behalf
Of his native state. He neyf0Hays 10
the galleries and is consciencSyus and
able in the performance of duty, this
explaining in a large measure his pop
ularity with the conservative forces in
North Carolina.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-11-08
WILMINGTON. N. G..
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1907.
wuMINGTON'S FIRST RIVER.
IMPROVEMENT BILL

How many of our readers kno" ina
ono of the earliest appropriations py
congress for river and harDor III
nrovement was for giving Wilmington
a deeper channel to the sea! SUCH
. hill was passed in 1853. In those
davs of wing and democrat the la'-
h party maintained under its 'atrlc'
construction principles that under the
federal constitution congress couio NO.
make appropriations for improving
the country's rivers and harbofs' YET
with the democrats having a MAORI
nv in the house of representatives
a man of their party i'll the White
bo,ca the bill ABOVE referred to was
p.ssed and signed by the president.
The bal was introduced by the mem
Der from the Wilmington district, VINO
was a democrat.
The causes Leaking up to the pas
sage of the bill were that during the
Revolutionary wal government author
tiles placed distractions i'll the Cape
Fear below this city to prevent 4
British fleet from coming up the river.
In 1908, or there abOuts, army engi-
neers undertook to clean out the chaIi-
mel; but their plans failed of accom-
plishment; in fact, in time, made the
river less navigable. This condition
lasted until 1853, when congress made
an appropriation to undo the work the.
government engineers had done years
before and which as time went on de-
creased the depth of water in the
river.
We wish some one more familiar
with the facts regarding this interest
ing piece Of legislation would Wr1te
it up for publication. 1t would be very
interesting just at this time when the
people Of Wilmington and OF a large
part of the state are taking steps to
secure an appropriation from congress
to give this city a channel of proper
depth to the sea. Who can tell our
readers all about it?
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-11-08
FOR CENTRAL BANK OF ISSUE

Again there is talk among the fInan-
ciers of the necessity of changing our
banking system by the establishment
Of the Bank of the United States" a
central bank of issue. A dispatch from
washington to the Raleigh Times on
this subject is as follows:
The Bank of the United States may
be restored to life and efuln as
one OF the results of the present
financial furry.
leaders in national finance are. de-
termined that when mgr at last
gets around to doing something for
n currency" it shall, if possible. be
induced to establish I great central
bank of issue.
It is realized that to achieve this
means a long and hard fight against
the prejudices of congress-. many of
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-11-08
STOP WILDCAT BANKING
Senator TTIman's Remedy for Ffnan-
cial Troubles.

Kansas City, Mo. Nov. An an
interview here tonight United States
Senator Benjamin r.. Ti,lmauHf South
Carolina said.
THE effort to call ar extinct
binary session OF congress forrr"n-
CIV reform is being made TO give the
country a currency reform such as
the banking interests wish. What we
need is not currency reform ~ r,."
banks want IT. but the enforcement
of the laws we now awe against wild
cat banking and punishment OF those
who have broken them"
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-11-08

said 20 exist between the branches OF
the judiciary Of a sort decidedly worse
than even that act Of comfy that
heretofore has seemed to exist TN a
negative totally.
Are the supreme court justices
OF North Carolina to take THEFT.
from the local editor OF ThAv@
and Observer? Are the final decis-
ions of the peoples property rights
10 emauate from the desks Of the
chroniclers OF local happenings tn
that office? Is the mar who p~resides
over the publication OF the demo-
cratic organ TO determine what the
law OF the state is rs finally decided
by the court of last resort? He may
have the governor and other pohti-
clans OF the state at his beck and
call through Tear of his writing them
up. but when II ONE to his attempt
ing to influence the judiciary
through what he says or fails tn say
in the columns OF his paper II IS
time for the people of the state to
rise in the majesty OF their power
and tell him thus far shalt thou 20
| and no further" Have the people
| OF North Carolina become SO Ferer-
| Went TO one man power thai Iney
will without murmur submit TO h
dictation by an editor TO the court
| OF last resort in the state as TO hoy
il shall declare the law to be In ~
| Gliding a case involving the property
| of a citizen?
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-11-08
TO WIDEN PANAMA CANAL

Because of the increased size of pres
ent-day battleships, experts say that
the Panama canal, according to pres
en- plans, will not be wide enough.
Secretary Of the Navy Metcalf, upon
the showing made to him, has recon-
from the proposed one hundred feet to
n hundred and ten. This, We believe.
applies to the locks. If one hundred
feet is not wide enough for the war
ships of the present day, surely the
width should be increased by more
than ten feet. 1t would be an ardu-
Gus and expensive work to widen the
locks after the canal is completed. 1t
is said that even the ten-foot add
ton, if decided on in the present Stage
of the work, would greatly increase
the cost of the canal. The question of
cost should not cause the government
to build a canal which in a few years
would, most probably, be too narrow
to accommodate all of our warshIps
and, consequently would have TO be
enlarged at great inconvenience 10 the
worlds commerce and at enormous ex-
pense to u government. Common
sense dictates the builGing of p canal
that Will serve it's intended purpose
far into the future if not for all time
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-11-08

What a splendid showing the port
of Wilmington made fon the month
of October in both foreign imports aud
exports. How many ports in the
United States can show customs house
receipts for the month of more than
enough to pay all the expenses of the
office for the entire year? And what
tremendous gain there was in q ex-
port of cotton! Just wait until VIII
mington gets her thirty-foot channel
to the sea and she will show the Tar
Heels a port to be proud of, and she Is
going to get it too.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-11-08
SUSPENSION OF G. F. KINGS
PAPER.

AIR. c. F. King, the North Caro-
linian who started a daily paper IN
Boston some months ago named The
Daily Tribune, announces the suspen-
sion of his paper. In making the n
nouncement of suspension Mr.. King
says that as The Tribune was his in
dividual property and run with MS
own money he does not deem it neces-
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-11-08
COULD MAZE 1T NO WORSE.

In reply to the oft-repeated state
ment of the Bryan men that if the
democrats were to nominate a south
ern man for president he would get
only the southern electoral votes, the
Nashville Banner says:
Well, that is all that Parker got in
1904, and all the electoral votes
Bryan secured in 1900 were those of
the southern states and the small
votes of Colorado, 4; Idaho, 3; Mon
tana. 3, and Nevada, 3, or only 10
Of the 800 electoral votes Of the north
and west. In 1895 he did not do
much better. He secured the votes OF
Kansas and Nebraska, and the small
votes of South Dakota, Utah. Wash
ington and Wyoming on the free Sill
yer sentiment, but he lost all of these
in 1900, and also lost II of the cleo
tOral votes Of Kentucky.
We agree with The Banner that it
is a political anomoly,' that the south
should furnish the democratic party
all the ~latter's electoral votes and still
be denied the privilege Of representa-
tion on the ticket. The southern DEM
ocrats ought not to demand that the
candidate be chosen from this section
of the country to the exclusion OF all
other sections, but they should insist
that the south be not always put un"
der the ban when the time m 10:
making the nomination.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-11-08
STATE COMMISSION ACTS
Prevent. u ~ Per CcnI Increase "
Terminal Charges ut

Atlanta, Ga, November A-Antici-
Mating a 100 per cen increase IN the
terminal charges At Savannah FOR
handling shipside delivery cotton, the
state railroad commission today issued
an order which will not only prevent
this increase, but which also by It's
general terms prohibits any change IN
the charges by any wharf OF terminal
company in tho state without tho con-
sent of the commission.
The present sh!ps-de delivery rate ut
Savannah is ! II cents n hundred
pounds. This rate. IL l. reported. WIS
10 be increased TO , cents. Todays
order is practically the first one by the
state commission regulating wharfage
charges.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-11-08
AMOUNT INVOLVED WAS Sis.
Case Went Through State Into L. >.
Supreme Court.

Washington. November $500
mating in Il magistrates our m
Chesterfield county. South CGrolina'
and involving a dispute overRk aim
of $1.75 the case of the AIT
Line railway W.. SeegerS Brothers,
fcund it's way through the state cir
emit and supreme courts into the SUI
irene court of the United States ana
was there decided today, in an opln-
ion by Justice Brewer in " OF the
Seegers. The money was
bv Seegers on account OF damages
done a bunch Of bananas shipped
from Columbia. s. c., TO n town Oh
NcRae that state in 1908 in accor-
dance with q state law providing for
mage in such cases. Tho company
refused payment and suit thereupon
was instituted.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-11-08
\ CALL FOR PEACE.

"
THE stanly Enterprise, in DISCUSS
ing the present phase OF the railway
uo war saws a compromise or inc
oosa would be acceptable to both the
neonle and the railroads, that III put
+;no stop to litigation, restoring
naace TO the mind at large M geIIiHS
down to business on an estaollsneo
basis will mean much in tae emu
To the commercial interests OF the
state.
The Charlotte Chronicle quoting
The Enterprise says: And a nuiloei
of Wilmington merchants have maze
o very earnest appea. to Governor
Glenn to use his good offices in re-
! s~+orinq q condition Of peace 1t then
! quotes the telegram sent to doVelliol
Glenn at Atlanta on Thursday, slgne"
Inv q large number of the business
mon Of our city and goes on to say
| that if the three governors VINO n0'
IN Atlanta Friday have the authority
to bring about a satisfactory "o'o"'-
mont even Temporarily, the business
,ntoroe+e of tho country would De
o,ick to feel the beneficial etects OIL
their action; that any settlement on a
hasis Of fairness would be welcomed
by the public.
The people want to see this conten-
+ion settled. They want a square deal
between themselves and the railroads
! contaminated by those who have tae
| authority to make the settlement
They are tired of the contention which
has hurt their interests and prousnI
| about so much agitation and unProht-
! able discussion.
But to our mind, the trouble is
that only the legislatures or the
courts can settle the question in dis
pute, and that will take time. The
| governors who held the conference IN
| Atlanta might agree with the rail-
| roads that the questions in dispute
| should be settled on a certain basis,
but they could not undertake to carry
out any agreement of settlement. 1t
| NAV be possible, however, for some
understanding to be settled on a GER
| tain basis, which they will recon-
mend to the people and the legislatures
of their respective states as being fair
and lust to the railroads and to their
patrons. Such action would go Tar
toward relieving the present tension.
restoring business confidence and less
ening the public feeling of hostility
toward the railroads.
There has been entirely to much
| discussion far too intemperate-in
some of the papers and by some of
the politicians. Much harm has been
| done by it and a settlement made
| more difficult of accomplishment. If
| the radical newspapers and the rabid
! politicians would keep quiet, b au-
thorities of the states, aided by the
| courts, could soon bring about that
peace The Stanly Enterprise so ear
nestly calls for.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-11-08
CASHIER COMMITS SUICIDE
Fears OF Run OF Bank Said tO be
The Cause.

The Cause.
HuntvilIe, Ala, Nov 4.-Jares r.
Boyd, cashier OF the Huntsville Bank
and Trust Company suicided today
Boyd killed himself in the dining
room of his home, firing a bullet
through his brain. He was dead when
his wife reached him.
Friends of the dead man say ~
he had worried greatly, fearing ~
would be made on the bank and1k
there would not be enough moneyR
meet demands. :
His books were found to be all right.
Boyd was president of the I'm tsyi!le
city council.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-11-08

Of course both sides are looking for
victory in the Cleveland m~ayOralty
election, which takes place On Tuesday.
Now it is said that should Mr.. Johnson
defeat Congressman Burton it will
make him a possibility for the demo-
cratic nomination for president.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-11-08

1t won't take the L~usitania long to
reach New York with he biggest con-
signment of gold every brought to this
country in one vessel
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-11-08

The postmaster of Gaseonado. No,
Daniel A. Bugh says. "I cannot say
too much for your Kidney and Blad-
der Pills. I feel like . new mas
DeVitt's Kidney and Bladder pms
are seld by r. r. Bellaasy.