The semi-weekly messenger., 1908-01-24
WILMINGTON. N G.
THE GOVERNORS MESSAGE

Elsewhere we publish the 1ull teA1
OF Governor Glenns message to the
legislature convened by him in extra
session Yesterday. We urge its careful
nerusal by our readers, for it is one
of the most important public docu-
r1ents that has been issued from our
state executive department in a long
time-chief1y important in the lar
reaching results to the people and the
state politically likely to follow IL his
suggestions are adopted.
The governor recommends to the leg
islature action on three subjects, al
though in his call for the extra ses-
sion only one purpose was set tortn.
He recommends that it amend the
railroad rate law in accordance with
his proposals of compromise to the rail-
roads: that Il establish two more supe-
rior court circuits TO consist of one
county each and that it pass state
prohibition law to take effect July lst
next
We cannot say that We are surprised
at the governors message but we must
confess that we are disappointed that
he has not taken a broader position
along the lines of craftsmanship In
stead Of the narrow one Of partisan
ship and personality; but, perhaps, we
were expecting too much of the gov
ernor to think that with such an op-
portunity before him TO play to the
grandstand for personal aims he would
broaden into the statesman and unset
fish leader of his party.
A careful reading of the governors
message reminds us of the young law
yer, who, on securing his license to
practice law, went TO an older prac-
titioner for advice as to how to conduct
such cases as he hoped would fall into
his hands. The adYice Of the older
lawyer was: MY young friend, when
the facts are against you, leave them
alone, and lay stress on the law; when
the law is against you, ignore that
and harp on the facts" The young
lawyer said: But how about when
the law and the facts are both against
me?" The reply was: Let both alone
and shell the woods" In his message
it looks like the governor has found
himself in the predicament the
young lawyer feared and he has aban-
doned the law anc tbs facts and las
proceeded to Shell the woods"
The governor says that it is neces-
sary to give "a brief history of all mat
ters appertaining to the rate contro-
versy" since the adjournment Of the
last session of the legislature. In Civ
ing this brief sketch he refers to the
suits brought by the railroads in the
federal courts, to his letter to the supe-
rior court judges urging indictments
OF railroads, and railroad officers, of
such indictments and of habeas corpus
proceedings in the federal courts, but
he passes over without the slightest
reference the action of the state su-
preme court in over-ruling Judge Long |
in his decision, under the governors |
instructions. declaring the Southern |
railroad indictable and imposing on it |
a fine of thirty thousand dollars This
was where the young attorney was weak
on his facts. He forgot to say that |
the supreme court of Pennsylvania, in |
a case. brought in the state courts, |
similar to the federal court cases in |
this state, had decided the new rate |
and therefore unconstitu-
tional. Here the young lawyer was
weak as to the law. He calls attention !;
to railroad agents being indicted, con-
victed and sentenced" but he forgets
II! about the state supreme court over
ruling the state superior court in the
Indictment against the Southern-a re-
narkable lapse of memory.
When the governor comes to 1.-The |
that railroads shall pay
he sum of ST., 1900" his excuse for this
action becomes pitifuI. His excuse is
that "the proposition is not under
stood and he says that those who op-
pose it believe this amount is to help