The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1913-04-15
BY Enthusiastic Conference at
Charlotte
CRAIG AND JUSTICE SPEAK
Governor Declares He Firmly Be
1iexes a Settlement on a Basis of
Justice Is About to be Secured

Ing the fight for relief for North Caro-
lima from the burden Of discrimina-
tory freight rates, and added impetus
to the ogr of the cause they rep
resent. are the net results of the con-
ference between Governor Craig and
the legislative freight rate commission
OH the one hand, and the Charlotte
business men and shippers on the 9TH
-. held in Charlotte Friday night. It
was held under the auspices of the
shippers and Manufacturers ASSOcia-
tion and the Greater Charlotte Club.
Governor Craig's address. late at
night. concluding the days events,
VAS the feature of the occasion. This
was one of a series of addresses on
the general situation in the SelWyn as
Sembly hall. which began at $50
o'clock. others who spoke were the
three members of the commission, f.
j. Justice, chairman; Judge w. +.
council. and Nh. n. y. BroughtOn.
BESIDES Governor Craig and the COM
mission, there were present for the
conference &. w. Hillman, Of Louis
Vile, KY. a noted rate expert en-
ployed by the State to assist the COM
mission; j. c. Forester, traffic expert
and secretary of h Greensboro
chamber OF Commerce, and ]. T.
Ryan, representing the Southern Fur
niture Manufacturers Association, of
High Point.
The meeting is reported as a most
inspiring one, both to Governor Craig
and the members OF the commission
and to the shippers n business men
of Charlotte. At it's conclusion the
attitude of the men leading the fight
for equitable rates was expressed by
Governor Craig, who is quoted as say
ing:
We have put our hands to the
plow: we have pledged the people of
she State of North Carolina relief
from unjust and discriminatory
freight rates; we have said to the rail-
roads that we intend to settle the
great issue on "A basis Of justice and
equality, and ! for one firmly believe
that we are about TO secure it and
that the question now is rather one of
arithuretical calculation than anything
else"
Governor Craig said that all business
was dependent upon transportation.
continuing, he said in part:
In our complex social organism
each community consumes a small por
ton of what it produces, and produces
a small portion Of what it consumes
our products go to all parts Of the
earth. and our necessities come from
all parts of the earth. This is true OF
the articles in most general use-oul
salt. sugar and coffee, meat n bread
shoes n clothing come to us from
distant cities-from ne plains o.
South America and from the islands OF
the far seas. wherever civilization
bias clothed the human body, there tn
cotton Of the south is the raiment O
mankind; the cloth woven in the mill
or Charlotte is worn in AM
ON the hanks Of the Saskatchewan.
The transportation lines are tn
commercial arteries Of the worlds life
'sNnt lnn~ o~o thoCo fva nCnOPf2 fiOl
companies were subject to no govern
mental regulations. They could fl
their own charges. They could Kill
and make alive. They could destro
cities and build cities. They could la
tribute upon one section 70 rthe bene
lit of another. and they did. That wa
before the era Of trusts and combine
and systems. Competition aforde
some relief. But now there is n
competition. Governmental contrC
has taken its place, and this Is a ne
essity: otherwise all woul
he under the despotism of the trans
portation companies.
Equity Mus BE Guaranteed.
The policy of government control
recognized and firmly established.
must be enforced with a Discriminate
10 do justice. Equity should be qua
To all people. Charging the city
charlotte a higher freight rate tha
the city Of Lynchburg. when tt
freigh It's hauled through the city
Charlotte to the city Of Lynchburg,
indefensible and intolerable. No pc
pie ought to bear such adverse al
elimination, and no manly and pr
g~ressive people will stand such inju
tice.
such discrimination cripples all
our industries and taxes all of our pe
pile for the advantage of others.
prevents the legitimate growth Of Il
institutions, and the m Of Il
world. 1t prevents new industries fro
coming among US. Before eetabfshil
any kind Of an enterprise, the prom