The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1913-06-03
Governor Craig on Freight Rate, IS
Determinations

.sniZltion OF the Just TSdtc
Association OF North Carolina. con-
tanned the chief executives attitude
,.n the efforts Of the people OF the
state Ia secure an adequate ADJUST
meat 81 freight rates and there mas
been a general demand from all over
the State for copies of this mastery
address. Since the speech has never
been published in its entirely. the
News and Observer today presents NJ
entire address, believing il IS a most
tmpOrtant document in the
for relief from discrimination IN
freight rates. The speech follows In
full:
Mr. Chairman, and gentlemen Oh
the Just, Freight Rate Association:
Il am very much obliged for TINS
courtesy and distinguished honor that
YOU do me. / do not know hat l have
anything To say to this body OF men
that have not already said. l have
nothing especially new TO Oher to this
situation. 1 am delighted and sur
prised to see SO many come to this
gathering. After the meeting in Char
lotte. and after the various meetings
we have had in the different towns
ut the state. / did not think that SO
large a number of citizens represent
ing various OF North Caro-
lima would appear on =, short a no
tice. But it simply shows that the
NeODI dli wv u
one end to the other are vitally in
terested in this great question and are
determined that a remedy shall com
within this movement: determined
that the State shall have justice in a
matter in which justice has been SO
long denied. 1t has been SO long de-
MED for the a hat people
were not informed as to the situation.
Next To nobody was informed. Only
"A few who had evOted their particu-
lar attention to this very question were
informed as to n gross injustice
that had been practiced upon this
State for year and years and prac-
ticed with increasing wrong. There
has rot 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 response
bile for this great wrong.
Five Million Dollars A Ycar In in
just Tolls.
BY the conservative estimate Of
those who have studied this question.
the State of North Carolina pays five
millions of dollars every yea more
than other states pay for the very
same service, and they pay hat by
the will of the common carriers who
do business in this State. II the State
and government Of North Carolina
should enact that one portion Of the
people Of this State should pay one
penny Of tax more thar another Dor
ton Of the people Of this State should
pay i'm proportion, there is not a tow
in North Carolina that would stan(
for IL for a moment. There is M
power in this State that could en-
force such a q 1t would be rebel
led against. If the national govern
ment with the sanction Of the con
stitution and with the sanction Of tn
tiog should decree that North Caro-
lima should be levied with a ribute O
FIVE millions of dollars in excess O
that which was levied in any Othe
state of the union in proportion
her lawful obligations, why Mort
Carolina would not stand for it, an
there is no power in the universe thS
could make NeS.h Ca-olina STAN
for 1t.
Now the common carriers hat d
business in North CarOlina-that 6
business by license of this State-ha,
seen tit to levy upon the people
North Carolina is | said. in excess
that tax, that tariff or transportatiC
levied upon any other State, acCOrdiI
10 estimates. OF five to fifteen million
dollars eevry year. and we nave bes
submitting to it year after year uni
the light has been turned on the sit
alton. The people understand it al
they will stand it no longer. And hen
this meeting in the capital city. t
meetings in High POli
and towns all over the State. 1t is
movement instigated for the chamb
af or merchants assOci
ton. or rather in the interest excl
sivcly Of the chamber Of commerce
rchan association Or farme
union or manufacturers associate
but il is a movement in the intert
OF all the people.
THE Farmers Arc Interested.
~ movement morefn the interest
the farmers than any other class
people because the farmers Constitl
the bulk OF our citizenship. They be
more III the suppression than any o,
CT class OF people and justice wo,
bcine more relief to them than to a
urher class because there are m,
81 the than any other ella
II is not a movement excluding
tef.,st Of citizens in the cities of No
Carolina: IL is a movement n the
tercst Of all the people: but that Cl
Of people that would be most be
fitted 10y as ucceSSful conclusion
the people who live in the