The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1907-06-06
Danger to the People.
Mr.. McCoin Points Out Evil Effects
of Trusts Strong Speech Por-
traying the Danger to Our Edu-
cational Institutions from the Ac-
ceptance Of Money from Trusts.


MR. S. McCOin OF Henderson, de
livered the annual address at the
| closing exercises of the kernersville
| graded school, recently held, aud the
Kernersville News publishes some ex
tracts from the speech which has
been very highly complimented. lI
| the News and Observer of May 23rd
we find this copied from the News to-
gether with the following comment:
RS. McCoin, Esq, a prominent and
influential attorney of Henderson, de
liyered the address at the close of the
Kernersvile graded school on Friday
last. His speech was one OF the most
vigorous and virile that has been made
by any public man in North Carolina in
q decade 1t was Give WIRE" and
demonstrates that Mr. McCoin belongs
to the class OF public men who have the
courage to speak aloud the thoughts
that they have.
We make room for few extracts from
his splendid speech. Among other things
he said:
I'm this fast age when people do things
on big scale, we see trusts and com
bines rObbing the people of millions and
handing back thousands by the way OF
endowments to q few favored colleges
This looks we'll at first glance, but L
fear the Greeks when they come bearing
gifts
"A man or a corporation can be as
guilty morally OF larceny OR robbery al
though perpetrated under the guise OF
law. as if the victim was held up on the
highway or his goods were stolen while
he slept. A bank robber or an insurance
CRATER is no less rObber or thief be-
cause he subsidies few leading news
papers or hands back small part OF the
booty by way of college endOwments for
the purpose of creating sentiment through
the endowed college or the subsidized
press. do not believe that all new 'pa-
pers can be bought or that all colleges
can be influenced by gifts from this
source, but do believe that there is dan
ger along this line. My experience and
observation as a lawyer has taught me
that q clients money often has Won
derful soothing and softening effect on
the attorneys judgment.
1T is difficult for student trained in
a college that has received large dona-
lions from the trusts to fully appreciate
the iniuuity OF trusts. Is it possible for
a minister of the gospel, however pious
he may be, to preach as successfully the
fraud and wrong of the oil trust, the
steel trust, the railway trust or the Gig
arctic trust, if his denomination is the
beneficiary of any OF these trusts that
rob the people?
THE day is fast approaching when the
man who manufactures cigarettes to
wreck and blight the lives of thousands
of our boys and young men, will be
classed with the men who manufacture
Intoxicating liquors. The manufacture
of one is as abOminable in the sight of
God as the other
"Many OF the larger colleges are being
endowed by wealthy men and gigantic
corporations. In this turks great danger
and for this and other reasons, the time
has come in North Carolina for compul-
sorry education in the public schools sup
ported by taxation. If our children owe
their education to the people who pay
the taxes, they will sympathize with the
people who gave them their opportunity
for development. On the other hand If
the trusts have given them their oppor
tunity of acquiring an education there IS
danger that their sense of gratitude may
influence them to defend the criminal
course OF these outlaws OF commerce.
"A few subsidized newspapers ably ed
tied teaching the ideas OF the trusts, aid
ed by well-trained men sent out OF subsi-
died colleges can work wonders with
uneducated people.
but with an educated citizenship,
trained to think for themselves, the
country will be safe; the demagogue and
hired mouthpiece will be at discount,
and craftsmanship will be at a premium.
So long as our citizens are educated to
do their own thinking, they will direct
and control their office holders, who will
honestly reflect and put into action the
wishes OF an intelligent, just and honest
people, who are the real rulers under our
form government
A man who is in perfect health, so he can
do an honest days work when necessary,
has much for which he should be thankful.
Mrs l.. c. Rodgers. of Branchton, Pa,