The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1907-03-05

pledges to our people, and hold sa-
cred the Democratic platform upon
which we were elected. we must stand
in solid phalanx, rresent q united
front. and let it be forever under
stood that this Senate is not to b.
governed by lobbyists or influences
by people whose ~sympathies are with
the railroads and whose Empty pro-
LESSONS of interest are with the pei
pie.
SENATORS upon this floor have b
every conceivable method and means
known to skilful politicians or shrewd
lawyers attempted to block this iegls-
lation. The cry for relief which
came from the mountains To the sea.
they do not hear. The demand of the
suffering people. which, like a tldat
wave. has rolled from every part Of
North Carolina TO the Legislature,
they do not see. Senator Buxton says
the people of North Carolina are not
fools. With that statement | agree
and the senators who are attempting
TO block the law are knoWn, ana some
day. somewhere, they will be Judge1'
and receive the just condemnation
which they 50 richly deserve.
The senator from Robson says. some
Of us dare to do right. and cannot De
influenced | am indeed gla tnat We
nav such a wise conserVaor III tllo
body. a man who stands betWeen the
sn INFERNO railroads on one hand and
school boys. demagogues, and fanatics
or the Raleigh Times on the olher.
In conclusion | appeal to every true
man on the floor to stand true to him
self his people and his party. forget
the slanderous u~tteranceS which nave
been attempted to be cast upon the
gentlemen who compose our confer
ees. by your votes forever silence the
voice of the ~demagogue. and place in
eternal rest the few men who seek
70 in6IIca then drive and finally DULL
doze his body in violating every
sacred pledge and repud1ate every ooll-
cation - made our people. And as
to you. Mr.. President. we respect and
admire YOU. In appointing conferees
who would be guided by their convic-
tions Who stood for. and by the people.
YOU have rendered a service 70 the
State which some day the peopFe VIII
repay. In the name of my people. |
thank you for not placing on that COM
mittee men whose only purpOS would
have been to turn q deaf ear to the
peoples demand, who would nave
blocked Legislation, made our party
platform ridiculous. held US up TO
scorn of q people whose confidence we
had betrayed. and whose trust we
had misuSed. In doing the service tor
the State YOU nave 50 we'll done. Mr..
President. you have erected a monu-
ment in the hearts of the people more
enduring than marble shaft. and
NIll1II 7Iioli toitA1 49,
of those who traduce you have faded
from the memoir of man."
There was loud cheering throughout
the entirety of Mr.. Turner's earnest
speech, and when he sat down 1t was
some time before m other speaker
could be heard, because of the prodi-
SiOuS applause.
Mr.. Long said he had come to the
Legislature with the conviction that
it would be to the best interests of
tha npnn1p of the State to have two
fares. a first and second-class. and as
q majority Of he people were accuS-
toned to such service, he thought
they favored two fares. but while |
have stood for two fares and support
ed those who stood for two fares, 50
long as / was not q pebble in the way
of rate reduction, there are honest diff
ferences in the minds of every Senator
on this floor. and as we North Caro-
linians are SLOW and stubborn. and it
takes al ong time to make up our
minds. yet. whatever my views We're,
we must all see nat we must come
to q flat rate in North Carolina. After
much study and after an Investigation
jof the conditions of the railroads.. /
have come to the conclusion that it
would be wise and proper to abolish
the two fares, as all other States have
done.
Mr.. Mclean interrupted Mr.. Long.
asking him if he. (Mr. Long.) would
- I - q = - ~
lieved the peOpl did not want.
Mr.. Long replied that the rate pro-
posed was the best that could be OBJ
tanned, and he did not know that the
people would not like it.
Mr.. Daniel asked Mr.. Mclean if he,
CNr. McLean) had not introduced II
bill prescribing a single , IL cent
fare.
Mr.. Long continued. saying that the
men who had favored q flat two and
one-half cen fare had with one ac-Y
cord came together and fought those
who were standing for something else.
He old the Senate that it would be
impossible to induce the House to vote
for two fares. and reminded the mem.
bers that only seven daysTemained out
of the two months which the Senate
had passed IN graphing with the rate
reduction question. Every conceivable
kind of bill had been introduced. and
finally a bill had been passed after
which nearly every Senator had stood
and stated that it did not meet his
views and 1t had been adopted with
an awful taste in the mouth.
h conference bill. said Mr.. Long.
had met his approval. and he had
hoped that il would pass. This report
could be voted up Or down. he said.
and no m was d~isfranchised
from voting upon it. If any man is
c~onscientiously against the bill. he
should vote against it.
range as il had. He did NOT
see any use in discussing the matter at
such length. He believed if the re-
port were put on its massage
IL would pass by a vote Of 81 He
urged that the report of the commit
zee De adopted. and the bill then be
put n[the usual readings.
Ar- Brown said it was his opinion
mat "hcn a conference committee is
appointed. it will adjust the diffcren-
ceS between the two bodies. and If was
W, 10 both bodies either to adopt or
leJe't the report He thought the best
way OUT was 10 take up the House bill
and vote OF that.
MI. said the debate had as
suined such wide dimensions that he