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FIFTY-THIRD YEAR.
ORGAN OF THE NORTH CAROLINA CONFERENCE.
RALEIGH, N. C, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1908.
NUMBER 51.
SOME PHASES OF THE EXTRA SESSION
Was Governor Glenn wise in calling an extra
session of the Legislature? This question has been
answered both affirmatively and negatively by the
legislative body. It may be said that the nature
of the answer depends largely on the attitude of
the individual member to railroads and corpora
tions in general. The radicals have but little con
fidence in the sincerity and good intentions of the
railroads. It is therefore difficult for them to see
that any new modus Vivendi will be any better or
worse than any previously established. They say
that railroads have ever been haughty, defiant
truce-breakers. Why give them fresh opportun
ity for further sinning, especially when the op
portunity is born of consideration and concession
on the part of the State? This is the view and
the plea of the radical member who is much in
evidence. The conservative has more confidence
in railroads. While believing that these power
ful agencies have at times over-ridden their le
gitimate privileges and the inalienable rights of
the State, he nevertheless yields large hospitality
to the view that there is a place for good inten
tions in the mind even of a railroad, and that
good morals and good business sense demand
that due regard should be shown to such good
intentions. As a rule, the rankest enemy of the
railroad is the member who denounces most vig
orously the action of the Governor in calling an
extra session. As a rule, the calm, unbiased mem
ber who is most afraid of injustice either to the
railroads or the State, feels that the extra session
was necessary. Of course, there are exceptions
to these two rules, but those exceptions are rare.
We think that it will take at least five years for
the various opinions to crystallize in one unbrok
en sentiment, and that the crystallized senti
ment will be one of commendation for Governor
Glenn and his counsellors in calling this extra
session.
V
This page goes to press on Saturday before the
Wednesday on which the Advocate is issued.
Hence it is impossible for us to discuss the out
come of legislative action on the railroad ques
tion. The reader may, doubtless, see an outline
of the outcome on the second editorial page
which is to be filled later. A majority In the
Senate is decidedly in favor of carrying out the
Governor's recommendation. At the present
writing, they seem to be at sea in the House as to
what action to take. There is a manifest desire
on the part of a large number to pass a bill, which
while granting a two and one-half cent rate, will
'o hedge in and restrict the railroads as to keep
them subdued and cowed and forestall the tread
ing of any path which leads in the direction of
'he Federal Court. There are some men, chief
nmong whom is the able Speaker, whd will never
forgive the Southern Railroad for carrying their
ase into a Federal Court, a refuge to which they
iiad an inalienable right to flee. As we see it,
'he leading spirits in the House would be willing
!o swap high rates even the former fares for a
kigh impregnable fence between the railroad and
a Federal Judge.
V
Those newspapers which are insinuating fchat
ex-Governor Jarvis gave that strong pronounce
ment for State Prohibition because he is attorney
for the Atlantic Coast Line and wished to divert
the attention of the Legislature from a serious
consideration of the railroad rate question, are
doing one of the crudest and most unworthy
things known in our North Carolina journalism.
The picture of that grand old statesman, standing
in the light of life's sunset, and raising his elo
quent voice in behalf of God and humanity, and
silently and bravely reoeiving the shafts of bitter
ness and abuse from those who hate the cause
which he represents, is one which should stir the
heart of every good man. Shame on you, men of
the Press!
V
Why are the temperance people of North Caro
lina rejoicing at present? Simply because they
have received from the present Legislature a gift
in the shape of an opportunity to go to the polls
on May 26th and bury the saloon in North Caro
lina so deep as to preclude the slightest possibil
ity of a resurrection. A majority of the mem
bers of the Legislature are temperance men, and
we extend to that majority a vote of thanks. Why
did the Legislature refuse to pass a bill placing
the whole State at once under prohibition? Sim
ply because it was deemed politically inexpedi
ent. There surely was no political principle in
volved in the casting of the legislative votes.
Some, it is true, argued that it is not right to de
prive the dear people of the privilege of expressing
their choice at the polls. There were few, how
ever, who were really controlled by this consid
eration, for there must be in the mind of all the
fresh memory of how in the passage of the Watts
law a few years ago, the people in the rural sec
tions were deprived of the privilege of expressing
their choice at the polls. It was political expedi
ency that passed the Watts Act. It was politi
cal expediency that chose to give us this time an
election in May rather than immediate prohibi
tion. The typical North Carolina Legislature is
still subservient to politics. We are not charmed
with the fact, yet we rejoice that the Legislature
was willing to give us a chance to vote.
V
The Pine Level dispensary was abolished. This
fact to many people in the State is not specially
significant. They will look upon its abolition as
one of the minor phases of legislative work. But
to those who know how the Pine Level dispensary
has been utterly debauching the prohibition
towns and sections for forty miles around, the
announcement that it has been put out of busi
ness forever means much, and there is great re
joicing in many a heart.
V
The personnel of the Legislature, while not
above the average in ability, nevertheless com
ports with the dignity and standing of the State.
There is proportionately a larger number of real
leaders in the Senate than in the House. Conse
quently it may be said that there is a freer and
more independent expression of views in the form
er body. Perhaps the most unique personality in
either chamber is Moses Harhw, the member
trom Caldwell. Being a Republican, he is a "free
lance," and his vivid and picturesque speeches
never fail to crowd the chamber. He never says
anything mean or vindictive, and he is very popu
lar both among the Democrats and Republicans.
EPWORTH ERA EDITORI ALETTES.
The grippe has a strong hold upon the throats
of the American people. It is the grip of a bold,
bad spirit.
The death rate amongst infant children is said
to be decreasing each year. So much have Chris
tianity and science done for the race.
V
The little brown jug has found friends in unex
pected places. Like the bigger devils, this little
brown demon knows that he has but a little time.
The subsidized whiskey newspapers' jests at
prohibition are pitiable, but they are indicative
of the triumphs of enlightened public sentiment.
V
Nothing can be more fatal to one's usefulness
than the feeling that the place in which duty or
providence has place him is too small for his tal
ents. The surest way to advancement is to mag
nify the task in hand.
V
A prominent Pittsburg minister declares that
the hod-carrier's wages have increased in recent
years more than those of preachers. Low salaries
are declared to be the chief cause of a dearth in
the ministerial supply. Here is room for a lay
men's "movement."
V
Our Government finds that it has to take up
more cloth in finishing the Panama Canal, it will
require two hundred millions for the work in
stead of one hundred and forty millions, as at
first estimated. Very well, provided the money
is honestly expended. It will be well spent.
V
The exacting laws being enacted by the differ
ent States on the matter of marriage and divorce
indicate a rising tide of public sentiment. The
marriage relation is at the bottom, and also at
the top, of society. When that is weakened as an
institution, the whole social fabric is weakened.
V
It is declared that the automobile craze has
been about the worst that has struck America. It
has bankrupted very many families of small
means and large notions; it has demoralized the
street traffic in large cities, and produced a kind
of disease described as the "automobile heart," a
species of nervousness caused by over-driving.
V
No one who can do so should fail to travel. Not
globe-trotting is meant; but travel for the sake
of study and self-development. For successful
travel some preparation is needed. One should
never visit for purposes of pleasure or mental
profit any city, district, or country without first
getting in mind a good understanding of what
is to be seen.
V
A dispatch from Birmingham, Ala., gives in
formation on interesting and important phases of
the prohibition administration of that city. Crim
inal cases have fallen off nearly 75 per cent. The
recorder's court is idle, the chain-gang has been
decimated, and the few boot-leggers detected have
been fined to the limit. These reports speak more
loudly on the question as to whether or not pro
hibition prohibits than do columns of mouthlngs
on personal rights, hypocrisy, and legislated vir
tue. These laws were meant to prohibi, and the
people will see that they do.
That is a real friend who stands by you whn
all th world would forsake and despise.