The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1908-03-31
THE soUTHERN's CUPIDrTY.
How It Backed Down Before the
Attack OF Politicians.

The city editor of the Charlotte
Observer has been interviewing some
members of the bar of that place
concerning the decision OF the gu
preme court In the rate cases. The
comment of one lawyer will prove OF
particular interest:
at was Judge B. F. Long who
lived up to his privileges az dear
old Capt. George Bason used TO say.
and Judge Long convicted both the
railroad agent at Raleigh and also
the Southern railway itself. and
fined the company $4,000. My!
But what a paralyZer that was. II
literally frightened the railroads to
death. Then it was that these COM
panies deliberately left the friendly
shelter afforded by Judge Prftch-
ards Injunction. Those OF us who
had bee listening for the clash OF
resounding arms saw the railroads
lay down their arms and surrender
to Governor Glenn, and agree to put
the new rates in force, ~reserving to
themselves the small pittance of the
privilege to carry the Wood case to
the supreme court of the United
States and see what that august trib-
unal might have to say on the situa-
ton.
Now one Who read the papers can
forget how mortified Judge Pritch-
ard was at the back-down of the
railroads, for he said that he stood
ready at all times to uphold the dig
nifty and authority of his court, but,
alas, the railroads dared not risk it,"
The Southern Railway company
certainly cut a lamentably poor fig
ure in the rate controversy. It's Grass
ignorance was only equaled by it's
abject cowardice. and we have won
dered if the officers of that COM
pany do not hold a mighty poor
opinion of themselves as they reflect
upon the decision of the supreme
court. We do not know anything
about the emotion experienced by
Judge Pritchard when that COM
pany let the friendly shelter" af-
forded by him, as mentioned by this
Charlotte lawyer and, as he might
have added, the friendly shelter of
the law, but it is likely enough that
he did, indeed, feel the mortifca-
ton ascribed to him.
The Southern Railway company
should have known Governor Glenn
1t had employed him for a num-
Der Of years in the capacity of attor-
ney, he had enjoyed what a contem-
porary nee alluded to as parlor car
privileges from that company, but
at the first shrek of defiance
omitted by the governor the South
ern went into a panic and packed
Off to Raleigh to resume negotiations
with the democratic politicians. And
had it not been for this abject,
shameless surrender it would now
be in position to fix rates 1t the
figure advocated by the employees of
the road, who during the special
session of the legislature sounded
the warning that the compromise
rate meant reduced salaries
The Southern, of course, under
stood that it's employees were telling
the truth, but it would always prefer
to reduce the salaries OF it's en-
ployes, and take off trains, to the
discomfort and inconvenience of it's
patrons, rather than to incur the
risk of offending the democratic pol
%iticians. And when it comes t o deal
ing with the politicians, who are
always looking for a little cheap no.
toriety at the Southern's expense,
the executive department of the
road appears to be wholly innocent
of the least semblance to a spinal
News.