The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1907-02-26

a railroad ] think not. Mr.
President and Senators. North Caro-
lima witnessed a sad spectacle here
some DAYS ago. Do YOU not remember
how Mr.. Finley. Of the Southern Rail-
way. and the other railroad magnates
appeared before the Railroad Commit
tee Of the Senate and House and what
tales Of wee ana poverty they did tell
ono was almost tempted TO
q bin for their relief. asking that an
appropriation be made To- help these
poor u~ufortunatcs, and cause the sun
light ~ shine upon them once -lore.
But while our hears were s0rrOWing
for them. / remembered that whiIe
they were talking poverty their pri-
yatc cars, fitted up in q manne as be-
came a king, were here in Raleigh ana
these magnates with their attorneys
were here pleading their cause with
You. while all over North Carolina the
hardy sons Of toll We're suffering the
hardships and injustice practiccd upon
them by their railroad, and IN fancy
could see them as they appealed to Us
for relief, ana I thought Of the way
they suffered. and the outrages that
We're pcrpetrated upOn them, | then
and there resolved. that others could
do as they pleased, but IS for me |
| would stand by these people Of North
Carolina VINO IN every hour of her
trial had stood by her.
1T Is nDt strange Mr.. President. that
the railroad companies Of North Caro-
lima would attempt To convince this
body that they could not stand any
reduction in passenger or freight rates
in North Carolina. BY what strange
process of reasoning they arrive at tins
conclusion am unable to ay-ye day
after day during this investigation one
RAILROAD man after another appeared
and with anguish in their faces and
pathos in their voices they told Us of
inevitable ruin and financial disaster
if we lOWercd-thcY did not tell Us
Mr.. President, that even while they
pleaded 70" Il u they knew was not
right, there were men all over North
Carolina VINO, after paying for rail
road fare, We're compelled to stand up
in a crowded c3r because he could not
find a vacant seat in which to sit. They
did not tell US that trains We're being
constantly added by the various lines
in order to relieve the cOngeSted sit
uatiOn. They did not tell US that even
the day which was made sacred by the
Infinite edict issued from the burning
slopes of Sinai had been degraded by
the railroads, who Sunday after Sunday
operated both freight and passenger
trains from one end of the State to
another, and justified it by saying they
were compelled to do this in order to
handle their ever increasing business.
They did not tell US, Mr.. President.
N'AN@N 49, IoS AHo 10 ~ ~ $3.50
high officials double and even five
fold larger than that paid to the Gov
ernOr Of this great State-neither did
they inform us how they could afford
to employ q large array Of brilliant
attorneys, keep them constantly by
thei" side, ever ready t. present their
clients cause in the most seductive
way, and predict disaster and ruin for
the people who dared legislate against
them.
Upon these vital questions Mr.. Pres
ident, these men were silent. Well,
should they be. The people away back
yonder in the hadow of the hills and
in the valleys need not be told this.
They haVe seen and felt, and we are
here today representing them, who
cannot represent thcmseIVes-and see
to it my friends that in all the cloud
of doubt which it has been attempted
to inject in this matter, we do not lose
sight of their cause. North Carolina.
Mr.. President and Senators. IS fast be
coming n of the great States of his
Union. Many years ago it laid aside
the sWaddiing clothes which bound
her, and emerged into the sunlight Of
industrial progress and material devcl-I
opnlent. her peaks resOund
to the pick Of the sturdy miner as
he seeks to take from the bowels of
mothe" earth the treasures which she
So fOndly embraces.
THE valleys of the Old North state
are rich With fertile fields and bloom
ing With u~nceasing grandeur us the
days go by. The cotton fields are white
unto the harvest. the golden tasscls of
the corn and the shining sheaves
of wheat meet each other in warm
embrace, and above them all, the
lark sings by day, ana over them the
stars watch by night.
'"The seashore section, the home of
the daring mariner, they who go down
80 l. 1900 T. II, -, - ~ J.,l
Where the sea gull formerly reigneu
in undisputeo authority, noble men
and women nav one forests have
been cleared away, the laughter of lit
tie children is now heard where 81
ienle once reigned and where the
waves OF the Atlantic dash against the
scashore, true men ana noble women
have with faith in themselves and in
the ETERNAL planted a little garden, II
built them homes and from that center
there is going up a mighty influence
that Will be felt even when the sea
shall cease its murmurlngS, and the
sound Of the ocean wav be heard no
more.
There are many causes. Mr.. Presi-
dent and Senators. for the remarkable
era of prosperity North Carolina has
and is still enjoying. And while /
would not detract from anything, or
pluck q single flower from the crown
which has contributed &c this end. vet
Mr. president ana Senator's. we must
admit that in the very front ranks of
those who nave marched in this great
industrial era. the railroads of North
Carolina stand, commanding and de-
serving to command admiration of all
men.
IN all sections there can today be
heard the rumble of The iron horse as
ii tTaverses the length and breadth of
our State. bringing the people togeth-
er in closer bonds of fellowship. and
cementing more firmly the ties of com
mercial progress. and financial union
Waste places AVE been made to
bloom as q rose. and the TcmOtcSt con-
fines of u state have been brought
to Il very door, until today we have
and are known by al men,. [ mention
this Mr.. PRESIDENT, 10 show that rail
roads nave lone much good. are not
all bad, and deserve and should re-
cclVe Our careful consideration, and
most Yea IGITS GnI.TJnItN- in rpInp that