The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1908-05-13

with. they having spoken from manu-
script. Without making an invidious
distinction. reference must be made to
the speech by Mr.. Parker. 1t was Of
necessity In the nature of a rejoinder
to Mr.. Anderson's speech. 1t was as
full OF thought. cogently expressed
and forcibly presented, as an egg is
OF meat. He contended that the rail-
roads should be regulated and gave
his reasons. But he contended for
fair. just and buslness-like regulation
that will ipnure to the public comfort.
safety and convenience. He also took
issue with the T. p. AS of which he
said he had the honor to be member
In their position In opposition to the
new mileage ticket regulation recent
ly put into force by the railroads. He
said that II was business measure
that the railroads felt that was neces-
sary to their protection and the pub
Tic should at least giye II fair trial.
He said that he had hundreds Of
friends among the conductors and he
knew them to be as high toned. hon.
est. faithful and noble body of men
a. the country boasts Of. but he knew
and every man within the sound Of
his voice knew. that among the con-
ductors there are. as in all lines Of
business. few dishonest ones, who
are appropriating to their own use
money that belongs to the RAILROADS.
II the new mileage ticket regulation
shall serve to protect the railroads
against these few dishonest conduc-
tors the public should be content to
endure the slight inconvenience that
It entails. The effect OF Mr.. Parker's
speech was marked and he was heard
with the closest attention.
Retiring President Drew. of the
+. p. As. Is natural born orator
and his speech was gem. President
Frank Pegues was called on at the
conclusion Of the set toasts and in
troduced by Toastmaster Manning.
and he responded briefly.
Before the crowd ersed there
were loud calls for b. G deyward and
Il D. smith. Both acknowledged the
compliment but spoke very briefly and
their remarks were in q vein appro-
pirate to the time and occasion.
The speeches Of Mr.. Anderson and
Mr.. Gonzales follow:
n Mr. Andcrson's speech. ~
While dreaded the ordeal through
which : business lman. not given TO
spsschrmakipg. had to pass In ad-
drssaing such . gathering Of business
interests, ! felt 20 much sratifled at
the cordial Invitation extended me by
your Committee ON Arrangements.
that ! was perssctiy willing to re-
spond. moving. q ] do. that the
proyerbial -hsartedness OF the
tfavsling men Of South Carolina and
the good peU,le OF Sumter and the
Pee De section would mako all due
allcwsdcs. kF
II. cor any rssson. Il were neces-
sery 70 destroy the business Interests
Of this country. and I had the power
TO do %. provided II was done by one
single act. would destroy the rail-
roads. Leaving out any question Of
the enormous property loss that such
'an act would involve. we still have
what Il very much more serious. and
that In the absolute paralisation of
the agricultural and commercial in
terests Of this country. Therefore,
''the railroads relation to business"
is q question too great to be covered
in so short a talk as promise YOU
this shall be.
The railroad managements, more
than they have ever done before,
realize the gravity Of their duties to
the public. and believe are. in an
earnest. energetic way. striving to
measure up to their responsibilities.
The business OF the country and the
railroad interests are so closely re-
lated. so firmly interviewer. that you
cannot affect the one without acct
ing the other.
Did you ever see section of coun-
try. barring. possibly. desert.
through which f,rst-class railroad
ran that was not itself prosperous?
On the other hand. where the rail.
road Is poor and lacking In all facil-
tiles. II not always. hnd the business
Interests In keeping with the railroads.
IT Is vitality necessary to the business
interests that It's railroads be prosper
Gus. and. IL necessary to make them
so. the business interests Of any Sec
H.