Western Carolina Democrat and French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1913-1915, 1913-06-12
Governor Craig's
Strong Appeal For
Just Freight Rates

leigh On the OccdSlOH VI CHe per
manent organization of the Just
Freight Rate Association of North
Carolina contained the chief ex-
ecutive's attitude on the efforts
of the people of the state to secure
az adequate adjustment of freight
rates and there has been a gen
eral demand from all over the
state for copies of this mastery
address. Since the speech has
never been published in this pa
per. we today present the entire
address, believing it is a most i'm
portant document in the campaign
fer relief from discrimination in
freight rates. The speech follows
in fuH:-
"Mr. Chairman and gentlemen of
the Just Freight Rate Associa-
ton:
"I am very much obliged for
this courtesy and distinguished
honor that you do me. / do not
know that I have anything to say
to this body of men that 1 have
not already said. | have nothing
especially new to offer on this sit
Hation. [ am delighted and sur.
prised to see so many come to this
gathering. After the meeting in
Charlotte and after the various
meetings we have had in the diff
ferent towns of the state Ibid not
think that so large a number of
citizens representing various coun-
ties OF North Carolina would ap-
pear on SO short a notice. But it
simply shows that the people all
over North Carolina from one end
to the other are vitality interested
in this question and are determin-.
ed that a remedy shall come with
In this movements determined
that the state shall have justice in
a matter in which justice has been
SO long denied. 1t has been so
long denied for the a that
the people were not informed as
to the situation. Next to nobody
was informed. Only a few who
had devoted their particular at
tentlon to this very question were
informed as to the gross Injustice
that had been practiced upon this
state for years and practiced with
Increasing wrong. There has not
only been no effort to correct this
wrong, but the wrong has been
growing not only in proportion to
the business of North Carolina but
by the approval of those who are
responsible for this great wrong.
By the conservative estimate Of
those who have studied this ques-
ton the state of North Carolina
pays five millions of dollars every
year more than other states pay
Tor the very same service and they.
gay that by the will of the com
mon carriers who do business in
this state. If the state and gov
eminent Of North Carolina should
enact that one portion Of the peo-
pie of this state should pay one
penny of tax more than another
portion Of the people of this state
should pay in proportion, there is
not a town in North Carolina that
would stand for it for a moment.
There IS 40 power in this state
shat could enforce such a law. It
would be rebelled against. If the
national government with the
sanction of the constitution and
with the sanction Of the FLAG
should decree that North Carolina
shrould be levied with a tribute
CT i've millions of dollars in ex-
cess Of that which was levied in
any other state of the union in
proportion to her lawful obliga-
lions, why North Carolina would
Lot stand for it and there is no
power in the universe that could
make North Carolina stand for it. +,
Now the common carriers that
do business in North Carolina
that do business by license of this
state-have seen fit to levy upon
the people of North Carolina, as II
said, ia excess of that tax that
or transportation levied
upon any other state, according
to estimates, of five to fifteen mil
bons dollars every year, and we
have been. submitting it year af-
ter year until the light has been
turned on the situation. The peo-
pie understand it and they have
determined all over this state that
they will stand it no longer. And
hence this meeting in the Capitol
the meetings in Greensboro,
High Point, and towns all over the