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t Thl WEATHER today- a
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4 For Nort* Carolinai ♦
Fair; Cooler. 1
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VOL. LIU. NO. 29.
Leads all Worth Carolina Dailies in Mews and Circulation
NO VOTE IS REACHED
BV THE CONVENTION
Engineers, Firemen, Pump
men a Stumbling Block-
FEAR LOSS OF POSITIONS
lhe Miners Will Probably Vote on Ending the
Strike Today and an Overwhelming
Majority for it is Prac'.ically
Assured.
(By the Associated Tress.)
Wilkesbarre, Pa., Oct. 20. —The anxi
ously awaited convention of the 145,000
striking miners met today, but did not
reach a vote cn the proposed plan of
settlement. It is expected to do so to
morrow.
There were 062 delegates present in the
Nesbitt Theatre, where the convention
was held and they were empowered by
their local unions to cast 867 votes for
or against President Roosevelt’s pro
posed plan of arbitration. The great ma
jority of the delegates were uninstructed,
the few who were, being engineers, fire
men and pumpmen who fear that the
5,000 strikers of those classes may not
get back their old places now held by
non union men. This question of the
engineers, firemen and pumpmen proved
the only stumbling block in the way of
almost immediate adoption of the Presi
dent’s plan, which carries with it de
claring the strike off. and a general re
sumption of work through the 17 mile
strip of the hard coal region. At one time
today it seemed certain that the conven
tion was about to adopt the recommenda
tion of President Mitchell to end the
strike, but the steam men’s plea was too
earnest and the final vote went over until
tomorrow, when it is next to certain the
vote to declare the strike off will show
a big majority for it. The leaders of the
strikers, except Mr. Mitchell, were hardly
heard at all in the convention today, the
anxious engineers being allowed to give
full expression to their feelings. But to
morrow, it is predicted, the leaders will
be heard, and one of them, a high dis
trict officer, said today there would not
, r he more than fifteen votes recorded
against the plan which the President of
the United States has proposed to them,
and which all the highest officials of the
mine workers in this region earnestly
have recommended.
There were two sessions, foregoon and
afternoon, today, and the net results as
regards the progress of the convention
towards its great object was a permanent
organization with Mr. Mitchell in the
chair, his speech laying the President's
plan before the del "‘'rates, his eloquent
impromptu speech ..tvocating its adop
tion, and the appointment of a commit
tee on resolutions. This committee, as
Mr. Mitchell said to the delegates, would
prepare a formal statement to the public
telNng fully and carefully why the con
vention decided to continue the strike, if
it should so decide, and why the strike
was declared off. if that was the out
come of their deliberations.
The question before the convention
when it adjourned for the day, was on
the adoption of the resolution embodied
:n President Mitchell’s opening speech to
call ofi the strike and leave all ques
tions to the President's commission. The
surprise of the convention today was
ihe decision to admit newspaper men to
all th« sessions, open or executive, when
* even union miners, eagerly waiting by
the hundreds out in the street, could
not get into the theatre. Twice the news
paper men won a victory by big majori
ties. First, when on a petition from them
asking to be allowed to remain, a motion
to grant the request was carried; and
later when a motion was made to re
consider the first vote to admit. The
Pleas which won were that the report
ers represented the people, that public
opinion had helped the strikers, and that
the best way to get an accurate report
of this convention of immediate and vast,
national importance was to let the press
representatives stay there on the spot.
Even the suggestion of a press commit
tee of delegates to give the news’to the
correspondents was turned down by the
convention.
District President T. D. Nicholls, of
Scranton, called the convention into ses
sion at 10:20, twenty minutes after the
time set for its beginning. On account
of pressure of business at strike head
quarters, President Mitchell was unable
to be present until the afternoon ses
sion. *
The morning session was taken up with
reports on credentials and adjourned at
11:45 until 2 p. m.
The afternoon session began at 2:10
o'clock with only the accredited delegates
and a small number of newspaper men
present. The proceedings for a while
moved rapidly. Without any speech
making. Mr. Mitchell was elected perma
nent chairman and National Secretary-
Treasurer W. B. Wilson was selected as
the permanent secretary. Just as the
cheering for the election of the two offi
cials was ended. President Mitchell
walked on th° stage. The instant the
delegates saw him. they rose en masse
and cheered their leader for several
minutes.
The first question to come up was that
of admitting reporters, and when this
had been settled, the strike leader began
reading his carefully-prepared opening
address. Mr. Mitchell said in part.:
“Personally, I should have preferred
an adjustment of the difficulties existing
in the anthracite field by conference with
the anthracite mine owners and without
the intervention of agencies not directly
The News and Observer.
involved, but I recognize the fact that
relations between ourselves and the mine
operators have become so strained as to
render direct negotiation at this time im
possible. The fact that a coal famine
was u-pon the people of eastern and sea
board States and threatened to become
a national calamity justifies the action of
the Chief K'- 'eutive of our.. Nation in
his earnest effort to bring about an early
resumption of mining.
“With all the earnestness of which I
am possessed, I urge that you give your
approval to the action of your executive
officers who have recommended accept
ance of the proposition that the strike
be declared off, the men are then to re
turn to work in the positions and work
ing places occupied by them prior to the
inauguration of the strike and that all
questions at issue be submitted for ad
justment to the tribunal selected by the
President of the United States.’’
The address was followed with the
closest attention by the delegates. At
various stages of the reading, Mr.
Mitchell was applauded, but when he
urged the delegates to adopt the recom
mendations of the executive boards to
call off the strike and “the men are then
to work in the positions they occupied
before the strike was inaugurated," tre
mendous applause greeted the remarks.
The moment he finished, a Wilkesbarre
delegate was on his feet and moved that
the recommendations contained in Presi
dent Mitchell’s address be adopted. If
this had been acted upon at once, the
strike would have been off and the con
vention’s work done, but those in opposi
tion would not have it that way. They
wanted to and did debate the matter
until the adjournment after 5 o’clock. A
Panther Creek engineer was the first to
take the floor in opposition to accepting
the plan until he and his colleagues had
some assurance that they would be re
instated in their old positions. The com
panies have said, he continued, that they
will not dismiss the men now employed
by them and place strikers in their posi
tions. A number of other delegates spoke
along the same line and then confusion
resulted over the presence of persons
who were not delegates.
President Mitchell straightened this
out by requesting outsiders to leave the
hall. About half of those present retired-
The question again reverted to rein
statement of the men. A dozen speeches
were made for and against the question
of obtaining some specific assurance that
the men would get back their places if
they returned to work.
Finally a delegate arose and asked
President Mitchell to express his views
on the subject. He immediately respond
ed and made one of the most important
addresses he has been called on to make
during the .past five years. The strike
leader’ saidi;
r “I desire to inform you that the presi
dent of your organization has done all
he can to learn the attitude of the com
panies towards the men who are now on
strike. As you know, the companies re
fuse direct negotiation with us. Through
intermediaries we have received assur
ance that the companies are going to
meet the issues fairly, that they are not
disposed to blacklist the men; that they
do not propose to be vindictive; that, as
far as possible, men are to be returned
to their old places. It may take some
time before that can be brought about,
and it may be that some few v men will
not be restored to their former positions
at all. When you vote on this proposi
tion, you must do it with as full knowl
edge of the situation as 1 can give yo:„
“Our pledge to the President of tho
United States, in which we notified him
that we would recommend to you a re
sumption of work, we said to him that
he should recommend a return of our
people to their jobs, and if the coal com
panies refuse to give our men their old
places, if they refuse to treat them fair
ly. we shall carry them to the tribunal
named by the President, and ask that
tribunal to decide that we are entitled
to the work we left when we went on
strike.”
His remarks were greeted with ap
plause. Another delegate made a speech
against ending the strike without
definite assurance of reinstatement, and
Mr. Mitchell was again tailed upon for
an explanation of the status ofi the arbi
tration plan as it now stands. In re
sponse to this request he said:
“We have not adopted their proposition,
as they made it, aud the proposition
would never, with my consent, have been
adopted as they made it. When the coal
companies thought to practically name
the arbitrators we objected and secured
a modification of their proposal. That
modification enabled the President to se
lect men outside of the classes suggested
by the companies. Organized labor is
represented on the commission. 1 do not,
however, assume that the capitalists or
the trade unionists who are on the com
mission will permit their special interests
to influence their judgment in making
their decisions; but organized labor . : s
on that commission and it is there be
cause the President of the United States
wanted it there and because we would
not agree to the proposition unless it
was there.”
After further debate on both sides, it
was decided to let the question go over
until tomorrow* morning. A comufittee
on resolutions was then appointed and at
5:18 p. m. they adjurned until 10 o’clock
tomorrow* morning.
The committee is composed of the fol
lowing delegates and officers of the
union.
President Mitchell, Secretary Wilson,
District Presidents Nicholls, Duffy and
Faby; Delegates P. F. O’Hara, of Dun
more; Adams Rescavage, of Plymouth:
John L. Jones, of Plymouth; James Gal
lagher, of Hazleton; William Mcllheny,
of Coaldale; Andrew Matty, of Hazleton:
Thomas Thomas, of MinersvlUc; Paul
Pulaski, of Mt. Carmel, and Louis Cupp,
of Tremont.
The resolutions committee met tonight
and outlined a set of resolutions to be
presented to the convention tomorrow*.
Nothing official was given out tonight
(Continued on Second Page.)
RALKIGH. NORTH CAROLINA. TUESDAY MORNING. OCTOBER 23 1902.
HANSOM AROUSES
OLD CUMBERLAND
Burning Appeal fjr our Altars
and Firesides.
ALONG TRAIL OF INFAMY
TheGtneral Reviews the Black Career of Re
publicanism in North Carolina and his
Words Thrill his Hearers to
-* the Heart.
(Special to News and Observer.)
Fayetteville, N. C., Oct. 20.—Under tho
burning words of General Ransom tho
men of Cumberland have rallied, and
are now* in line and ready to charge.
Our court house was crowded with ladies,
old soldiers, and voters from every part'
of Cumberland. His appearance was
greeted with long aud loud applause. He
was introduced by Hon. John G. Shaw in
a short but eloquent address.
General Ransom began by referring to
his love for the people of Cumberland,
calling by name a number who had stood
with him in the battles of the past. His
address proper began with a review of
political conditions in North Carolina.
We saw the Republican party disinte
grated and with no flag that they dared
to raise. Only a line of a few skirmish
ers, a few “Independents” here and there,
and yet they had deceived some into
thinking that they could defeat the grand
and united Democracy. He reviewed their
past history in the State, with its in
famy and shame. He then took up the
National Republican party and showed
its hostility to the South. The Four
teenth and Fifteenth Amendments born
in passion, the Civil Rights Bill carrying
with it shame to our schools and dese
cration to our cemeteries, Southern elec
tions surrounded by Federal bayonets,
and the iniquitous Force Bill. He said:
“Men of Cumberland, surely, surely,
you have not forgotten these things and
the Democratic party that saved you.”
Then returning to the State and the
amendment, he referred to Wilmington
and its danger, the nameless peril to our
women in almost every eastern county.
What party delivered us from it? The
Republicans whipped out had now changed
face and claimed to be white, yet none
will say that they accept the amendment.
They fear the loss of tho negro vote
North. They were appealing to “Inde
pendents,” with a little office here aud
there. To no purpose, for there were not
enough offices to go round among them
selves.
He asked “Independents” to think what
Republicans from the South held high
office, not one in the Cabinet, and only
one, Clayton, of Arkansas, a carpet
bagger, holding an important mission.
What had Price, and Cook, and Settle,
all able men, been given? Nothing. The
North and the world respected the South
and its representative party. They re
spected men who stood and maintained
the opinions, not those who cringed and
begged. Fitzhugh Lee, Joe Wheeler hnd
M C. utler never cringed, and when
Southern men were wanted they were
chosen, men, representative leaders and
Democrats. No they might promise but
there were no offices to give. They could
only end in tho Republican ranks, the
same old wolf in lamb’s fleece. It was
so with the Liberal party, the People’s
party, and would be so with those deluded
now.
He then reviewed the grand work of
the Democratic party, both National and
State. How that it stood for peace and
all that was best; how that it had hon
ored our Southern men with position; how
ihat it had saved North Carolina.
He then the back in memory to the
past when tho State had sent forth 120,-
000 of her bravest and best. They had
done their duty. Surely they would not
and could not fail now. God grant that
they should not.
And as the old map closed with his in
vocation, there w’ere tears in the eyes
of all. He had succeeded. He had ap
pealed to the men of Cumberland in be
half of their altars and their firesides.
When the charge is over on the fourth
day of November the men of Cumberland
will show the State whether or not they
are false to their own.
ONE DTCAD, OTHERS PERHAPBDYING
PROM BEABOARD AIR LINE WRECK.
Vestibule Crashes Into Freight at Bcckingham
and Flagman Holland is Killed.
Engneer Badly Hurt
(Special to the News and Observer.)
Rockingham, N. C., Oct. 20. —A fatal
wreck occurred here yesterday morning
when the vestibule on tho Seaboard Air
Line collided with a freight engine and
car. which were driven back into another
engine and other freight cars. In the
smash-up Flagman H. L. Holland was
killed, Engineer James Robinson prob
ably fatally injured and Charles
Crump, a colored fireman, dangerously
hurt. An open switch caused the
trouble.
The vestibuled train coming in from
Hamlet ran into an open switch, crash
ed into an engine with one car attached
and drove these back against cars be
hind. The engine on the passenger Is
badly smashed up. the first engine struck
not quite as much, though its tender is
demolished. The mail car is a complete
wreck.
Holland, the flagman, was in the
caboose of the freight train on the sid
ing and it is understood that he was
killed instanly, though a report is in cir
culation that before he died he told some
one that he had closed the switch. He
was asleep when the crash came, as was
Charley Crump, the fireman, who was
dangerously hurt. James Roberson, the
engineer on the vestibule, went down
with his engine, which went 20 feet into
a field- His skull was fractured and it
is thought his backbone is broken and
that he cannot live.
The mail agent saw the danger and
jumped, saving his life, for the mail car
was smashed to flinders. The fireman in
the cab with Engineer Roberson climbed
out the cab window and was only
bruised. No passenger was hurt, though
there was a eo» ’erable shaking up.
Mr. Holland’s J oody was taken to his
hi me in Sanford today for burial. He
was an excellent young man and had
friends in Raleigh, ivhere be boarded.
One Killed in an Explosion.
(By tho Associated Press.)
Augusta, Ga., Oct. 20. —An explosion of
a slasher cylinder at the Sibley mill early
today killed one man and injured three
others.
The dead:
WILLIAM CLARK, Bath, S. C.
The injured:
Lee Lamar, head cut.
William Waller, leg cut.
Robert Cheeks* back wrenched.
The cylinder was a large one, but only
ordinarily carried ten pounds of steam
and what caused the explosion is a
mystery.
FIERCE CONFLICT Os
THE DACES,
Precipitated by an Attack by
Negroes Upon a White
Woman.
(By the Associated Press.)
Birmingham, Ala., Oct. 20.—Three
white men and eight negroes are report
ed to have been killed in a race riot at
Littleton. Ala., a little town 25 miles
southwest of this pity, last night. The
riot is said to have been caused by a
crowd of negroes attacking a white wo
man who was passing over a railroad
bridge en route borne from a visit to
a neighbor.
As soon as the white citizens of the
town learned of the attack they imme
diately began their search for the wo
man’s assailants. The negroes refused to
deliver the woman’s assailants and arm
ed themselves to protect their leaders.
Sheriff IJurgin and ten deputies from
this city arrived and the negroes opened
fire, killing three of the officers. The
deputies returned the fire, killing eight
negroes. Owing to the large number of
negroes, who outnumbered the whites ten
to one, the posse was forced to retreat.
The negroes captured a powder maga
zine, the property of a coal company,
and strongly fortified themselves.
The following list of identified wound
ed has been obtained: Joe Thompson,
white, shot in bowels, serious; Ira Creel,
white, missing: John Baer, negro, shot
in heel; Bill Tolbert, negro, shot in
chest, serious.
Later.— News from Littleton, Ala , the
scene of the riot last night between ne
groes and white men develops the fact
that everything is quiet now, the ne
groes having gone to their homes, and
no further trouble is apprehended. Ira
Creel, the white man who was reported
to have been killed, appeared in Little
ton safe and sound today, having spent
the night in the woods, but Joe Thomp
son (white), who was seriously wounded,
died while being brought to this city.
Joe Baer, one of the wounded negroes,
is doing well and is expected to recover,
hut Bill Tolbert,the other negro who was
shot and was the originator of the fight,
is missing and is know n to be seriously
wounded. t
A CABE OF THE DEAD ALIVE.
Eilas Hulin Appears in Court as Trial for his
Murder is Beginning
(By the Associated Press.)
Knoxville, Tenn., Oct 20.—While the
Supreme court was in session in this
city a man claiming to be Silas
Hulin entered the court room, unan
nounced, and addressing Chief Justice
Beard, said:
“I am Hulin, who vms not killed by
Clarence Peak.”
Young Peak's case, charging the mur
der of Silas Hulin at Clinton, Tenn., wa s
about to be called before the court.
Peak, who is the son of a prominent
family, had been sentenced in the lower
court, to ten years in the penitentary.
Peak is now in the insane asylum near
here, a raving maniac, caused by this
case. Hulin claims that Peak shot
another man, whoso name is now un
known, and that lie (Hulin) escaped on
the first train and went to Colorado, from
which State he came back here to prove
that he was not dead. Hulin was a
stranger at Clinton a the time of the
shooting.
Loving Cup for Schley,
(By the Associated Press.)
Dallas, Texas, Oct. 20.—Admiral
Schley was presented with a handsome
loving cup here today. The cup was given
by the city and was tendered to the Ad
miral in a short address by General M.
M. Crane.
A man may gush over a woman, or
I vice versa, but the gushing is seldom
mutual.
AHOTHED STORM 111
THE BRITISH HOUSE
Irish Nationalists Keep the
Hall in an Uproar.
THE LAND PURCHASE BILL
Its Withdrawal Finally Agreed to. The United
Irish League in Convention at Boston
To Carry on the War Agiinst
British Rule.
(By the Associated Press.)
London, Oct. 20.—The Irish National
ists were much in evidence at question
time in the House of Commons today.
They bombarded the Irish Secretary, Mr.
Wyndham, with all kinds of queries, in
terruptions and contradictions of his
statements, anent the imprisonment of
Irish memers. Mr. Wyndham’s replies,
though given in a conciliatory tone,
evoked storms of derisive cries, mingled
with hisses, and the speaker was kept
busy suppressing demonstrations which
threatened to de\ elop into disorderliness.
William O’Brien moved the adjournment
of the House in order to discuss ques
tions arising from the case of former
Police Sergeant Sullivan, now in Amer
ica, who is alleged to have obtained the
conviction of innocent persons through
perjury.
The Liberal leader, Sir Henry Camp
bell-Bannerman, cordially joined the
Irish in supporting their demand that the
government fix a day to discuss the
state of Ireland, but he declined to
make the Liberal opposition responsible
for the demand, which he said was made
by the constitutional representatives of
Ireland and in regard to a purely Irish
question.
Premier Balfour retorted that Sir
Henry’s doctrine seemed wholly Separa
tist. He would not admit that the gov
ernment of Ireland was a purely Irish
question, and until the ambiguous atti
ture of the Liberal leader was cleared
up he declined to say if the government
would grant a day discussion of
the siate of Ireland-
The galleries of tho House of Con
mons were crow’ded tonight in anticipa
tion of a sensaitonal debate on William
O’Brien’s motion.
Describing the Sligo trial as an eye
witness, Mr. O’Brien declared that a
more dishonest or revolting trial never
had been held. He said the Irish mem
bers feared that Dublin Castle was try
ing to hush the Sullivan matter up, but
that it was a case of greater gravity
than that of Sergeant Sheridan, because
the plot Sullivan had organized against
the Irish League was of the same charac
ter as the Pigott forgeries against Par
nell. Mr. O’Brien charged that the gov
ernment had packed the jury to acquit
I Register! Register!]
s i
1 . ?
{ Let Everybody Register Who is Entitled to Do J
t So. There is an Entirely New
2 Registration This Year. 2
i s
• ©
i Your Old Registration Will not Entitle You to |
• Vote This Year. g
Unless you register before the books close on the 25th of October, you g
£ cannot vote this year. ft
Z Tho books are no\V open for registration, and will be open for that £
Z purpose every day, Suuday excepted until sunset Saturday, October 2*th. 0
Z Let every person who is entitled to vote under the amendment regis- 0
• ter at once. JP
g Register yourself and get your neighbors to register. g
§ NOTE FIRST! %
Z The adoption of the Constitutional Amendment made an entirely new
0) registration necessary. The disfranchised negro registered in the cam- ©
# paign of 1900, and, if the Legislature had not provided for new registra- •
# lion this year, the names of all these negroes would remain on the reg- g
J istration books.
| NOTE SECOND!!
Z < An entirely new registration this year was necessary to put the ©
41 amendment in operation in this election. ®
g NOTE THIRD!!! g
g Each Democratic paper is requested to keep this in a prominent g
f place in the paper until the registration closes. Q
m NOTE FOURTH! !! ! g
j Cut this out and post it at some prominent place in the voting pre- g
2 c * m *' v g
| F. M. SIMMONS, |
Chairman State Deni. Ex. Com. g
| A. J. FEILD, Secretary.
Sullivan and had then spent an enormous
sum to shelter him from justice.
The Attorney-General for Ireland, J.
Atkinson, replying to Mr. O’Brien,
charged that the farts of the case had
been strangely misrepresented.
Mr. Wyndham declared that Mr.
O’Brien’s charge had been completely
disposed of and he ridiculed the idea
that the matter was one of urgent public
importance. Mr. O’Brien’s motion for an
adjournment of the House was rejected
by 215. votes to 117.
Mr. Wyndham then explained that it
W’as impossible to pass the Irish Land
Purchase bill this session and said he
hoped, in the course of the next session,
to introduce a new* bill for voluntary
arrangements between the parties con
cerned. He moved the withdrawal of the
Land Purchase Bill, which was agreed
to and the House adjourned.
Irish Leaguers Meet in Boston.
(By the Associated Press.)
Boston, Mass., Oct, 20.—A notable
gathering of leaders of international
reputation made remarkable the opening
of the first convention of the United Irish
League in this city today. John E. Red
mond, M. 8.. Michael Davitt aud John
Dillon. M. P., envoys from Ireland; Hon.
Edward Blake, Irish M. P., United States
Senator Smith, of New Jersey; Patrick
Egan, for United States Minister to Chile,
and Patrick Ford, of the Irish World,
were among the delegates.
The convention was opened at 11:15 by
National President John F. Finerty, who
read an address. Hon. Bourke Cockran
was chosen temporary chairman. Ad
dressing the convention, Mr. Cockran said
that an appeal to arms by the Irish peo
ple would be folly lather than patriotism,
but that when the truth of the Irish
question should become apparent to the
world, an adjustment of the difficulty
would be possible.
she evening session was wildly on -
thusiastic, especially during the speeches
of John Dillon and Michael Davitt and
the resolutions which were a 'opted at the
close of the session were * 'opted amid
cheers. A number of lettc of regret
were read, among them, one _’om Presi
dent Roosevelt.
John Dillon, one of the Irish envoys,
said that the league needed assistance in
Ireland because the people there were
disarmed, because they were not allowed
free speech, a free discussion in the
press, the liberty of public meeting, and,
lastly, a trial by jury.
Mr. Davitt spoke and then the plat
form and resolutions Jwere presented.
They pledged the convention to undying
allegiance in the cause of Ireland’s in
dependence, assert the right of the Irish
race to carry on the war against England
by means of honorable weapons, the be
lief that the leaders in Ireland were best
htted_to direct and carry on this contest,
demand the arraignment of England at.
the bar of public opinion through the
dissemination of the facts of her rule,
that the United Irish League is the only
menace to England's rule in Ireland,
and finallv urging upon the members in
this country to contribute liberally to
the cause.
Mrs. David L. Royster returned to the
city yesterday afternoon after a month’s
visit to her brothers, Messrs. J. G.. O. G.
and B. F, Womble, in Norfolk, Virginia.
4 THE WCATMtfI TO DAD ♦
Wot Raioighi
I fair, l
4 ♦
♦♦♦♦♦♦♦44444 4444444444
PRICK FIVh CK'’TB.
A BILLION DOLLAR
RAILROAD MERGER
Kentucky Moves Against A.
C. Road and Others.
10 PREVENT THE MERGER
The Inter-State Commerce Commiision Will
Notify Morgan and Company and
o.h--r$ Concerned and Arranges jr
Heat mg in De cember.
(By the Associated Press.)
Washington, D. C., Oct. 20. —The Inter-
State Commerce Commission today made
public the complaint of the Railroad
Commission of Kentucky against the At
lantic Coast Railroad Company, the
Louisville and Nashville Railroad, the
Southern Railway, the Southern Railway
in Kentucky, the Southern Railway in
Indiana, the Cincinnati, New Orleans and
Texas Pacific Railway Company, the
Cincinnati Southern Railroad Company,
and the Chicago, Indianapolis and Louis
ville Railroad Company, involving alle
gations of unlawful combination. The
complaint asks for an investigation of
these roads by the commission, an ex
amination of the contracts, agreements,
etc., the production of books, papers,
tariffs, contracts, etc., the issuance of
subpoenas for witnesses, an inquiry Lnto
the management of the business of these
roads, an inquiry as to whether their
contracts, etc., constitute an unlawful
combination and a conspiracy to pool the
freights of the different and competing
roads, and a device to enable the roads
to divide the net proceeds of the earnings
so as to equalize the earnings of each of
them and the general results of the ar
rangements made on the commerce of the
section involved. The complaint says
these roads cover all important railroad
points and all railroad lines in their
territory, aggregating 25,000 miles of rail
way, with an operating income of over
$30,000,000 annually, and charges that J.
P. Morgan & Company have secured
control and management of the affairs
of all *hese lines. The transportation
facilities of this territory, the complaint
charges, practically will become one sys
tem operated by a few individuals and
will control the commerce of Kentucky,
Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia,
Florida, North Carolina, Sohth Carolina,
Virginia and Maryland.
The capitalization of the defendant
roads is stated to amount to at least a
billion dollars. “One man or firm, with
a few associates, controlling the South
ern Railway,” the complaint alleges,
“has now secured control of the stock of
the Louisville and Nashville Railroad,
and later of the stock of the Atlantic
Coast Line Company, and the Atlantlo
Coast Line Railway Company, and has
secured an entrance into St. Louis and
Chicago through lines by which it would
be able to force and compel other lines
out of St. Louis and Chicago into that
territory to make rates such as it should
dictate, and to dictate schedules, terms
and rates of every kind to all smaller
roads.” The complaint alleges that this
purchase, consolidation and ownership
means the placing of the commerce of
that entire section under the control and
operation of a very few men, dominated
by the firm of J. P. Morgan & Company.
It is alleged that the defendant com
panies have not filed with the Inter-State
Commerce Commission, as required by
law, copies of the contracts, agreements,
etc. It is charged that such arrange
ment, combination, purchase and sale
for the producing cf what is called a
“eommqnity of Interest, constitute simply
an agreement or combination by which
all freights of all roads named shall be
pooled or controlled or routed so as to
prevent competition.” This consolida
tion, joint ownership and joint control, it
is charged, are simply to pool'freights
between these railways in such propor
tion as those controlling or managing the
combination shall designate and so de
stroy competition. The complaint alleges
that as a result the rates will be ad
vanced, communities discriminated
against, and freight will be routed over
one or another of these lines to main
tain increased earnings and create fictiti
ous earnings to give fictitious values.
"By this control and operation,” says
the complaint, “the commerce of these
States will become subject to the dicta
tion of a few individuals and by the tre
mendous combination of powers thus se
cured legislation may be had, traffic im
peded, ‘and business destroyed in part of
this territory. The object,” the com
plaint continues, “is to place all the rail
ways under the control of a single firm
or of a few individuals: to control and
manipulate railroad .traffic and practi
cally pool all the business of all the rail
roads in all this territory, to produce
enormous profits, etc., and to place all
the business and products of over 16,-
000,000 people in 422,000 square miles or
territoiy under the control and domina
tion of a single individual.” The com
bination, the commission charges, is in
violation of both the letter and the spirit
of the lav/s of the United States and of
the several States involved.
The Inter-State Commerce Commission
will immediately notify all concerned of
the complaint and probably will arrange
for a hearing not earlier than December.
Mr. W. 11. Penny, of the Register of
Deeds’ office, went to Apex yesterday to
register and also to attend the county
canvass.
Any young man who is in love likes
to say good niglu the next morning.