The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1908-02-27


and industrial development.
R .alizing that l am not a poll
tician, nor an crater, and that
my shortcoming in this respect
might be a disappointment to
some of our citizens, l should, if
elected to the Office of Governor,
give my best energies as a bus
mess nan to promote the vel
fare of the State by upbuilding
her industries, helping Ter Ia
boring man, and developing her
wonderful resources. I shall
try to make up my deficiencies
as a speaker by earnest work.
EDUCATION.
We must take no backward
step in the matter of education,
but must maintain, and as far
as possible advance, our achieve
ments in this direction.
PROHIBITION.
| l shall vote for prohibition in
May, as l did in 1881. If the
people ratify prohibition, and /
AIN elected, shall do my best to
enforce the law.
| RAILROADS
! l rejoice that the railroad liti-
cation is about settled, and that
the people of the State may avoid
the expense and vexation which
the further progress of that liti-
cation might entail. The new
rate should be given a fair trial.
If it proves sufficiently remun
erative to enable the railroads to
give good service, pay living
wages, and a fair return on the
true money value of the proper
ty (but nothing upon any water
ed stoc6) we may regard the
matter as settled for some years
to come. I am sure that the
people of this State do not wan
rates so improbable as to force
railroads to cheaper service
reduce wages, discharge EN-
ployees, or stop improvements
In making rates, three factors
must be considered: the wager
paid employees, the service du'
the public, and the profit due th'
owners. OF these the first is vi
+ tai. The work of the railroad
. employee is arduous and danger
, Gus. He INST go regardless O
, time or weather. Every hour b
is in jeopardy. No thoughtfu
, man will deny that he is entitle'
=, to a fair living wage com
. mensurate with his labo
j., and the hazard of his employ
2 ment. The public ought not t
f demand rate so low that th
: workman must suffer, and n
stockholder should expect a di'
idend until after the employees
II are paid fair wages.
y The public should be give
q good service, and granted ever
n protection in the power of Il
% railroads which will increal
u their comfort and prevent the
4 injury, such as the establishme
70 and enforcement of the block 81
,t TEN and dou ble.tracking as ear
i as business demands it.
Ia The railroads, after payil
10 their employees good wages, g.
1t after paying the cost of mai
u. tanning and completing their G
"a tensive improvements, are just
an entitled to q good profit on I
of real value of the property. /
,rt opposed to any dividends on '
of tered stock, and I ana in favor
t. the. enactment Of laws prGve
te ing the taxation of the people
to the wrongful purpose Of payi
Mt dividends on such stock. I beli'
ha in the rigid control of railroa
eul and when so controlled, in tire
,ho ing them fairly. l have ne
,ya owned railroad bonds or ste
,ro Except two shares in the Att
II, tic and North Carolina Railro
IN. Company, which l took fer d
re- from another merehant) an
en-. have never ridden on q pass.
'lp- FREIGHT DISCRIMINATION.
eht eht The fragrant discrimina1
against North Carolina town
the matter of freight rates %
- cease. However much we I
:, have suffered from the high ra
O business has been injured ten
more by unequal rates and
l. ordinations against US in fl
Ihe of Virginia cities. We dem
ago. equality with our sister Ste
mas and to obtain that equ'