The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1912-02-08


Democratic mem Der Of the Commit
tee on Naval Affairs, one of the
most important COMMITTEES. He
served on the Congressional Cam
paign Committee OF his party fer
ten years. He made notable speeches
on the Money Question, the Philip
pines, the Trusts, the Southern Rail-
way Subsidy, Reciprocity and many
other important questions. In the
Congressional debate his political
views were fully and fearlessly ex-
pressed, and his record is one Of CON
sistent devotion TO the principles of
progressive Democracy which is
but new name for true Democracy.
Long before the election Of Senator'S
by direct vote of the people became
popular, he was voting for it in Con-
gress. For years be has favored
primary elections for the nomination
Of candidates and the publicity Of
campaign contributions. Among the
things he has favored are the income
tax, reciprocity, the ten hour law
for factories and mills, the licensing
of foreign corporations to do busi-
ness ia this State, with revocation
for violation Of our laws, the placing
Of light and power companies under
the Corporation Commission as the
railroads are now under it. requiring
railroads to draw mileage on the
trains as formerly, guaranty OF bank
deposits, good roads, drainage, etc.
He has been o leader Of political
thought, but always faithful to the
platform pledges and traditions Of
his party.
PRINCIPLES THAT GUIDED HIM.
He has stood against special privi-
lege, whether in form Of subsidy or
a protective tariff, whether it WAS
favoritism for his own section or
that Of another. He opposed a ship
subsidy. and in the same spirit he
opposed a fast mail subsidy for the
Southern Railway, which had $50
miles of its road in his Congressional
District His position is clearly
shown by this little extract from: his
speech in Congress on April 6, 1906,
against this subsidy: For myself,
fail to see how any appropriation,
otherwise wrong, can be made right
because of its coming our way
(Applause) If it is right, to sup
port it by such an argument tends to
discredit it, as it is an appeal to sell
fshness and not to Judgement
When the public interests required
Federal appropriations for his Dis
trict he claimed then, with zeal Of
success surpassed by none. He never
hesitated to oppose any approplia
ton which the public interests did
not justify. He never sought tenn
porary advantage by bantering tie
principles of his party or the birth
right Of the people He has tried to
win on the Righteousness of his
cause, and never upon iniquitous
precedents. He has opposed a pro-
tective tariff on principle, just as bis |
party opposes it. He has been able
to see clearly that protection never
put dollar in any man pocket that
was not taken cut Of some other
mans pocket. lie believes that the
true end of Government is the estab
Iishment of justice among men, anG
not to aid the greedy few in preying
upon the unsuspeeting many.
During his whole public career he
has consistently opposed the oppres-
sion exercised by private industrial
commonly called trusts.
and advocated the enforcement cf
the civil and criminal statues against
them. thus incurring tleir uerma-
nent hostility He has stood fer the
strict regulation OF the natural mo-
such as railroads, and fer
The destruction OF the unnatural in |
dustrial monopoiiss. On E1ay 81 |
1900 and February 6, 1903. he made
speeches i'll Congress against trusts
and TO this day his attitude Of nostii
lty has never changed Ia the hall |
Of Congress end on the hastings, in
his inaugural address as Governor, |
in a special message to the Legis'a |
ture of 1908, IN the last canlp&ign, |
and in his message to the last Legis-
Iature lie urged the adoption of |
stringent measureAgainst trusts.
ADMINISTRATION AS GOVERNOR.
The convention at Charlotte, which |
nominated rim for Governor, sat |
night and day for nearly week and !
sxty-one ballots were taken before |
a nomination. The loyalty and de- |
termination Of his friends, represent |
ing their people. surpassed anything |
ever witnessed in the political annals |
IL.