Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1908-02-20
ANENT Freight RATES.
A Correspondent Advises that the Word
~ Equality be Used With Care. sggg

To the Editor o The Charlotte Observer:
I read with interest your "As to
Freight Rates. in Sundays issue, and
feel sure that your position on this
subject should be approved by every
shipper in our State not located on the
water, and whose right to vote was not
disturbed by the adoption of our con-
stitutional amendment.
Mr.. Rogers, a successful hardware
merchant of Winston-Salem, and other
gentlemen duly accredited representa-
tives of North Carolina towns were
present with the undersigned at a joint
conference several moons g at Wash
ington, D. c., with the traffic mana
gers of the various railway lines ira
versing North Carolina, with the object
of removing the Inequalities" that
were then and have since continued to
Cypress North Carolina shippers. 1
believe that Mr. Rogers will bear me
out in the statement that our claim of
discrimination against III shippers as
compared with rates to Virginia points
was admitted by the traffic managers.
The spokesman for the railroads was
Mr.. Horace Emerson, and for our COM
mittee Mr., John w. Haines. of Wins
ton-both since passed to the great be-
yond and both loved and honored by
their friends. So I am forced to call
Mr.. Rogers to witness, and I think he
will recall that the railroads said about
as follows: 1--WE admit your claim OF
discrimination or inequality oftreight
rates, and we are disposed to remedy
the evil, but how will you have US pro-
ceed-by advancing the rates given
Virginia gateway shippers Or by low-
ering your through rates?" The North
Carolina committee retired for confer
ence, and after full discussion decided,
just as you have, that our trouble was
inequality, and SO advised the traffic
managers In waiting that we would
leave the remedy to their Judgment.
All of this committee had at some time
received and forwarded shipments by
freight and were conscious that their
action would prove of advantage to the
shippers of the State, and returned to
their homes feeling that they had Sc
cured from the railroads the recogni-
ton OF the principles of equality and
that greater things would follow.
Later the various Interstate rail
ways issued rates, which incidentally
raised the freight charges to North Car
DINA points from Virginia ''gateways,"
and oh. mamma! how certain people
got active! The circulars from Virginia
Towns, telling Of the efforts of the rail-
roads to crush the small shipperl Then
certain gentlemen about Raleigh were
constrained to take the Virginia view,
and came, as swift Witnesses" to cor
roborate the contentious Of the Virgin
ians. Petitions flew thick and fast.
War seemed immenent and as a result
the rate to lessen freight discrimina-
ton was withdrawn. Gentlemen COM
posing the Washington committee were
told by the traffic people hat it was
concluded that North Carolina did not
want Equality" and SO it seemed.
Your correspondent has not touched
elbows with b North Carolina COM
mittee since the Washington meeting,
but has felt all the time that justice re-
quired that it should have come out in
some friendly newspaper and should
cred its part of the responsibility, for
the railroads were not wholly to blame
for the effort to inaugurate equality in
freight rates. I therefore, Mr.. Editor,
warn you to handle the word equality
as you would an explosive.
Yours truly,
L. M. MICHAUX.
Goldsboro, Feb. 18th.
Who USES HYOMEI.