The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-11-15
SELF-GOVERNMENT OR CEN
TRALIXATIO\.

Local self government is that syS-
tenn of government under which the
greatest unbe of minds, knowing
the most and having the fullest oppor
tunitieS of knowing it, about h Spe-
cial matter in hand, n having Thc
greatest interests in its we'll working
have the management of it or con-
troll over it.
Capitalization is that system OF
government under which the smallest
number of minds. and those
the least, and having n feWest OPP
p]ortunities of knowing it, about the
special matter in hand, II having
the smallest interest in its we'll work
ing. have the management of 1T or
control over it.-Smith's English In
stitItions.
The above definitions of Local Self
! Government and Capitalization are SO
applicable to conditions in North Car
olina and some other southern states
as developed since the last session
of their legislatures that it might BE-
imagined the author had those condi-
tons in his mind when he wrote them.
| The greatest number of minds knowing
! the IlOSI, lIILk ll6 luI4SoI
knowing and having the GREATEST i'll
terest in the special matter in hand
are they not the mes who should have
! the greatest weight in shaping legisla-
| ton and adopting rules and regula-
lions on a matter in which they and
all the people are concerned. rather
than the smallest number and those
knowing the least, having the feweSt
opportunities of knowing and the
smallest interest in the subject under
| consideration?
Apply these principles to conditions
existing in these states on the railway
rate question as recently developed
and which of the two kinds of govern
ment do we find existing-Jocal self
government or Capitalization? Who
are the people best qualified to say
what is needed to correct existing evils
in railroad management and what
should be done to improve present
conditions-the business men who are
daily thrown in contact with the
railroad arrangements, whose entire
! business is done in connection VITA
the railroads, or a handful of lawyers
and politicians who have had no train
iug in r%ailroading or commerce and
! nave only a superficial knowledge OF
either?
One would suppose that those in tae
persons of the governors q their
attorneys who are represe....ng the
state in the controversies with
the railroads now going On would be
glad to have the advice and assistance
| of the business men of their states
in handling these intricate questions.
least two OF the governors have re-
scented what they to consider an
warranted interference on the part OF
the leading business men of the chief
cities in their respective states when
the latter undertook to express their
views in most respectful terms. the
governor of one state ~insinuating
that they were trying to make him
break the laws of his state and vto-
late his oath of Office, and the govern
or of the other charging his petition
ers with being the tools of the rail-
roads.
Our readers are familiar with the
statement made by Governor Glenn In
regard to the action of the business
men of this state.
Governor Smith, of Georgia, was
more severe in his criticism of the
thirty-four merchants of Atlanta who
by petition and suggestion expressed
to him their views as to what was
needed in the way of railroad legisIa-
ton. Those merchants wanted better
railroad service even at the cost of
higher transportation. Among them