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Uncle Sam is not as straight a person as he
should be.
But the thing is done, and the soldier boys
will no longer suffer from unslaked thirst. The
delightful, the. innocent, the refreshing, the
delicious, the invigorating, the indispensable
tipple is even now ong root —don’t-cher-know ?
—for the barracks, and the impatient thirst
shall be quenched.
JiOORAYI
In the meantime, there sounds in our ears
the wail of this one woman who said:
“Oh, I would give anything on earth if my
niece could break herself of that Coca-Cola
habit! She drinks thirty glasses a day. SHE
IS ALMOST A NERVOUS WRECK!”
n a it
The Populist Conference.
By typographical error the date of the St.
Louis meting was made to read November
28th.
The correct date is November 26th.
W M R
Editorial Notes.
By J. D. Watson.
On Friday of last week, Governors Glenn,
Comer and Smith met in Atlanta to discuss
and outline a plan of action on the rate question
within the states of North Carolina, Alabama
and Georgia. After the conference the follow
ing statement was given out.
“Our conference has been most satisfac
tory. We discussed conditions iti our respective
states and we arranged to co-operate in the
investigation of facts and law connected with
the duty of our states to the public and to
transportation companies. We will also co-op
erate with other states which have the same
problem. We regard the complete recogni
tion of the right of the states to regulate the
intrastate business of transportation companies
as absolutely necessary.
“No injury has been done to any corpora
tion in either of our states by the exercise of
the power of regulation. Increased business
as a consequence of reduced rates required
by our state authorities has in every case where
fairly tried compensated the corporations.
“We deplore the fact that railroad corpora
tions have in some instances been damaged
by the effort of their officers to disregard the
action of our states. This has happened in
every case where they have made allegations
in the courts of sensational claims of injury
contrary to the facts.
“When the railroad companies cease their
false cry of confiscation and submit to the
duly constituted authorities, upon which alone
rests the right to determine questions of pub
lic policy, the railroad companies may expect a
rapid return of public confidence and a restor
ation of normal credits. The authorities of
our states are at all times ready to hear from
the railroad companies fully and to accord to
them treatment not alone just, but liberal.
“The details of our conference we do not
consider it desirable to make public at this
time.
“B. B. COMER, Governor of Alabama,
“R. B. GLENN,' Governor of North Carolina.
“HOKE SMITH, Governor of Georgia.”
The statement is a fair warning to the rail
roads, and it is surprising to see such shrewd
men as the railroad officials resort to such tac
tics as they have within the last few months to
get around the reduced passenger rates.
If they had submitted to the reduction at
the beginning instead of rushing to the Feder
al courts with the wail of “confiscatory,” and
the reduction had proved to be confiscatory
they would have had public sympathy on
their side and the old rates would have been
restored.
But their efforts to ignore State laws and
State courts are fast driving the people to Gov
ernment Ownership of railroads and we will
railroad* owned and operated by the gov-
WATSON*S WEEKLY JEFFERSONIAN.
ernment within the next few years unless these
greedy corporations change their tactics and
obey the law as individuals have to obey it.
Following the financial panic is the announce
ment that President Roosevelt is being urged
by the financial interests to call an extra sess
ion of Congress to deal with the present finan
cial situation.
The financiers seem to be in such straits that
they have even agreed not to oppose the Pres
ident’s financial policies if he will have Con
gress give them relief.
No law that Congress can pass will prevent,
in the future, such a condition as has existed
for the past few days, until Government money
takes the place of national bank notes.
Senator Dolliver, of lowa, is now in Texas
studying the Texas rate laws, and announces
that a new rate bill will be introduced at the
coming session of congress.
It is claimed that the measure will contem
plate Federal control of all the railroad sys
tems in the country by a uniform law regu
lating their stock and bond issues, and will aim
to curb such stock transactions as those recent
ly manipulated by E. H. Harriman.
Such a law will undoubtedly be a step in the
right direction, but there will then be a long
way to travel before the people get the relief
for which they are clamoring.
PREMIUMS
To get
(1) Self-filling Fountain Pen which retails at
$2.50, send
3 full paid new suhs to Jeffersonian Magazine,
or, 4 full paid new subs, to Jeffersonian Weekly.
(2) The Union Library Association Fountain Pen,
send
3 new subs, to the Magazine; or
4 new subs, to the Weekly.
(3) The Bound Vol. of the first six numbers of the
Magazine, send
5 new subs, to either Jeffersonian.
(4) The Bound Vol. of first three numbers of Mag
e o
azine, send
3 new subs, to either Jeffersonian.
(5) Watson’s Buthany. send
3 new subs, to either Jeffersonian.
(6) Watson’s Life of Jeffers'n,
4 new subs, to either Jeffersonian.
(7) Watson’s Napoleon, send
4 new subs, to either Jeffersonian.
(8) Watson’s Story of France, 2 large volumes,
send
8 new subs, to either Jeffersonian.
IF YOU ARE A SUBSCRIBER. WE WILL ACREE TO
YOU IN ANY OF TH& ABOVE OFFERS, PROVIDED EVERY
OTHER NAME YOU SEND IS THAT OF A NEW SUBSCRIBER.
A Last Word on The R. P. D. Snub —
Plr Lindsay 's Insult To
The Gobernor.
When one has been true to his people,
through storm and persecution; when he has
overcome opposition and ridicule, and done a
good work for the masses—a work which car
ries its blessings daily to millions of humble
country homes—is it strange that he should
feel hurt and wronged when credit is denied
him?
For the first time, the National Convention
of R. F. D. carriers was held, a few weeks ago,
in Atlanta.
As a token of their regard for Senator Clay,
who has been most helpful in extending the
R. F. D. system, a souvenir was presented to
him by the convention, with appropriate
speeches of presentation and acceptance.
For reasons satisfactory to himself the Pres
ident of the Carriers’ Association also invited
Congressman Livingston, Hon. Clark Howell,
Hon. R. F. Duckworth and perhaps others.
They attended and made speeches.
In his Utter te Watson, Mr. Lindsay fives
his excuses for not inviting him.
Here is the letter.
“Tucker, Ga., October 19, 1907.
“Hon. Thomas E. Watson, Thomson, Ga.
“My Dear Mr. Watson:
“As you have expressed disappointment at
not being invited to our recent National con
vention in Atlanta I feel that it is not only due
you, but also myself, that I address you per
sonally, to explain why you did not receive
an invitation.
“As you, no doubt, know our organization
is only four years old and therefore very im
perfect. Heretofore we have had trouble in
securing speakers to address us, and I had no
reason to believe that this year would be an
exception to the rule. Our conventions are
purely business meetings conducted by men
who are trying to improve their conditions and
to study our duties in order that by so doing
we may, from day to day, increase our efficien
cy until we shall finally be able to bring about
the consummation of those lofty ideals which
evidently prompted you, the founder of our
service, in contending so long and faithfully for
its installation.
“It is needless for me to recount to you the
trials, pitfalls and numberless small things
which I, as the National president, have en
countered. I feel that you know them already.
Suffice it to say that, after two years of cease
less work, often night and day, I have suc
ceeded in placing our organization in a thriv
ing condition, but at the expense of that which,
I fear, nothing can restore, my health.
“In arranging for the Atlanta convention, it
had been my intention to not only invite you
to address us but to make a special appeal to
you to accept, as I felt that it would do us good
to have you give us a talk. Your reply to
Mr. Deßrosse caused me to almost give up
hope of getting you to Atlanta, but I kept
thinking that I would invite you anyway;about
two weeks before the convention I received a
telegram from northwest Louisiana stating
that a/ \g lost brother was dying and that
he v, chme to come to him at once.
“I found him over thirty miles out ‘in the
woods at a lumber camp,’ and for ten days an
older brother and I almost contended with
death and finally succeeded in getting the
stricken brother to the Shreveport Sanitarium,
I arrived in the city of Atlanta only about
thirty-six hours before the convention open
ed, too late to make any arrangements other
than had been made.
“I was in no shape to think of anything and
as a consequence my part of the arrangements
was very imperfect. No one feels the discour
tesy to you mofe than I, Mr. Watson, and I
have written you in this open manner in or
der that you may thoroughly appreciate the
circumstances under which I was laboring. I
hope you will take this communication in the
spirit in which it is written and that you will
accept my assurance that no discourtesy was
intended.
“Assuring you of my sincere respect, I am,
“Yours very truly,
“(Signed) PAUL L. LINDSAY, Pres.
“P. S. I wish you to know that I do not
attribute the effort to ruin my good name
now on in Atlanta, to you.”
In this private letter, Mr. Lindsay, flatter
ingly alluded to those “lofty ideals” which
evidently prompted Watson, “the founder of
our service,” in contending “so long and faith
fully for its installation.”
Yet in the card which he sent to the Journal
he said:
“The rural carrier cannot, just at this time,
say who his daddy was, but he stands ready to
swear that he has been a muchly neglected
offspring.”
The date of the card in the Journal is Octo
ber 16th. The date of his letter to Watson i«
October 19th.
Writing a card for the public, Mr. Lindsay
profeased not to know who the “daddy” was.
(Continued on Pa<« Twelve.)
PAGE NINE