The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1907-02-14
Be Fair With the Railroads.
Charlotte News.

again tie news leeiS 1t not out OF
place to preach the doctrine OF eau
ton aud sanity to the legislature,
with reference TO its dealings with the
colossal railway question:
In speaking OF the personnel OF the
legislature Editor Archibald Johnson
pays high tribute to the able class OF
men who compose that body, but
casually observes that occasionally
there is the fresh face of a country
youth who ought to be in school, and
now and then he rises and delivers
himself of a thought or two that-cries
out for utterauce." Judging from a
number OF bills that have been intro
duced in connection with the railway
issue, one would impulsively brand
them us the products of youthful
fancy rather than as being the finish
ed fruit of the sober statesman s
mind. And it is this puerile class
whom the elder members must hold
i'll check. There is likewise another
class who must needs be curbed-the
fanatics. We trust they are few but
the manner in which some of them
take hold OF the great railway issue
suggests their prOneness in that di-
rectiOn.
1t is enough to remember ia the be-
ginning that the railroad issue is the
issue in whose settlement rests the
future OF the State There are mil
lions of dollars invested in railroads
in this State. 1t is through the med
ium of these roads that North Caro-
lima has been lifted from poverty to
opulence, from inertion to activity,
from death to life Wherever a rail
way has penetrated section there
has followed prosperity, thrift, plenty
and all of those prerequisites of mod
ern civilization. North Carolina, to
q great extent, owes her present
standing, financially, to the railroads
that have opened her markets, made
valuable her products, enhanced her
natural resources, surrounded her
with a thousand conveniences un-
dreamed of a few decades back.
And in turn, these railways owe to
North Carolina their success and
envied position today.
In other words legislation that ef-
fects the railroads effects as acutely
every citizen of the State and vice
versa.
Consequently the legislator who
goes about legislation in boyish fash
ion, with only a smattering OF knowl-
edge on the situation, is not only
harmful to the roads but also harm
full to the people whom he issupposed
to represent. And equally dangerous
is the fanatic. who being agged on by
popular criticism attempts to make
spite-laws. The conduct of a few mem
bers of the legislature is similar to
the man, who graphing with some
hydra-headed monster, is thrilled
with one impulse only, to strike one
final and fatal blow.
Such men are unfit to make laws OF
any description, much less to handle
a question as all important. a ques-
ton in whose settlement the future
OF the State.is soentirely wrapped, as
the railroad question.
/ A railroad, with millions of capital,
is similar to an individual with mil
lions ofdollars, only on Il much larger
scale. In the case of the rich man,
who employs hundreds Of men, if he
be Just, kind of heart and fair in his
dealings, his millions is II blessing
rather than menace. While If he
be the opposite his power for work
ing evil is increased.
SO with railroads. Ii they obey
the laws, are just in their dealings
with their patrons, they are great
source of benefit and blessing While
if they are not their power for evil is
great.
The illustration, though simple,
demonstrates the fact that in passing
legislation which affects the railroads
they should be dealt with as an indi-
vidual, with rights and privileges,
rather than rs some abstract agency
of evil, meriting only the most fatal
blows possible to be dealt.
The News has no interest III the
railroads other than that which ev-
cry citizen should have. 1t is neither
indebted nor debtor to the railroads.
1t believes, however, that it is the
duty of every one to strive against
any move which spells ruin to the
State, and, unless the sane element
in the legislature holds in check a
number OF members with railway.
phobia it believes there is danger o!
the passage of legislation which will
be detrimental to the interests OF the
State at large.
As before urged let US remember, as
Governor Glenn rightly cautioned in
his message, that the railroads have
certain rights which must be respect
ed There is certain consideration
due the roads. and though the News
believes as firmly as any one in the
need of making certain railway legis-
lation, it believes this should be
made advisedly and wisely. Too
much legislation would be as harm
full to all interests as would none at
all. Therefore we exhort the legisla-
ture to take only steps fair and wise.
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