Western Carolina Democrat and French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1913-1915, 1913-06-19

on account OF the generous coop
~eration on the part of the rail
roads as they would claim, but IN
spite of their short-sighted policy
In maintaining the unfair dscrimi-
nations against us, as they have
all these years.
Think what our farmers could
have been today had they not la
bored under this handicap of high
err cost on every commodity they
buy. Think how our villages and
towns could have grown and de-
veloped had it not been for their
inability to attract manufacturers
and investors. Think what our
| cities might have shown in their
last census had it not been for the
burden of unfair competition from
outside sources, on account of slow
service and discriminatory freight
rates. Then ask any person pos
sessed of an average amount of in
itelligence is it reasonable, is it fair,
is it just for the railroads to, in a
measure, destroy our very ambi-
l,tion to,do our full part in placing
this State high up in the crown of
the nations brightest jewels. The
wonder of it all is that our people
have not heard the call to duty and
responded long ago. =
In closing | cannot refrain from
referring to the long statement
signed by the president of the
seven railroads doing business in
North Carolina and addressed to
Hon. W. G. Dowd, editor of the
Charlotte News, and his reply to
same.
With the desire to extend to
these railroads and their presi-
dents every courteous considera-
ton, it nevertheless must be said
that the points brought forth r
all along the line of the same ar
gument which we have heard so
many times and which we all know
well by heart. Their position has
always been to delay in every con-
ceivable way the equitable adjust
ment of these matters and they
know full well that the question is
too great and involves too many
different conditions for the Inter
state Commerce Commission to be
able to handle in anything like a
satisfactory manner without tax
ing years in which to investigate
every detail that would surely be
laid before this body by the attor-
neyS and traffic officials of the rail
roads. They admit unfair and I'M
just conditions but are not willing
TO meet our people On. common
ground and settle this question in
q manner satisfactory to the rea-
sonable, conservative element of
our people who ask for and de-
mand justice and justice only. Mr..
Dowd's reply to the railroads COW
r the situation in the best posi-
bic manner and reflects the senti-
ment Of our State, but the associa-
ton will prepare and publish
within a few days a detailed state
ment covering the whole matter.
The time, gentlemen, has arriv-
ed when all true North Carolinians
must stand like men and see to it
beyond a doubt that every mem
Der of the General Assembly goes
to Raleigh fully instructed along
the lines of duty to be performed,
and if it is possible that there are
a few members Of the General As
sembly who are disposed to relin-
quish their railroad privileges orr
employment, then they should be
singled out and requested to re-
main at home and have their
filled by those who have the
common good of all our people at
heart.
The possession of a railroad
pass or other consideration by a
legislator at this stage of the game
must surely be looked upon with
more or less suspicion, and while
such person may be honest in the
degree, he cannot afford to
place himself in a position to be
by failure to support
the people in this contest.
l appeal to you, my fellow citi-
in every county, to do your
duty now and organize our people
for the supreme test Of the sover-
eighty of our State. The time for
action has arrived and every citi-
zen is expected to do his full duty.
M Respectfully,
FRED N. TATE,
President the North Carolina Just
Frnioht Rate Association