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JUDGE PELL FEARS ABOLITION OF “JIM CROW” CARS UNDER GOVERNMENT CONTROL WRITES PROTEST TO SENATOR SIMMONS. Judge George P. Pell, of the North Carolina Corporation Commission, o[p]poses government ownership of railroads because he fears such control would mean the abolition of Jim Crow [faded word] which fact he maintains [faded word] be a serious thing for the [faded word]. He urges the Ne[faded section] delegation in Co[faded section] some sort of rac[faded section] that will force the railroads back to private control” so that the impending danger may be averted. His letter to Senator Lee S. Overman in the News and Observer under date of Dec. 11, urges the Senator to “get busy” less the State’s authority be usurped. The following is an extract from the same: “The people of North Carolina are appealing to members of our commission to do something to prevent the calamity to the State threatened by a continuance of the national control of the railroads. “Four years ago you will remember we had an uprising in our State, led by Honorable F[faded] Justice and the just freight rate association, which finally resulted in a compromise so as to relieve North Carolina partially of her great disadvantage in competing with Virginia cities, the relief only applying to goods shipped into the State through the Ohio and Mississippi river crossings. When this much of a victory was won we thought we would have a rest, but the Virginia cities brought the matter up in another form before the Interstate Commerce Commission and, after a long struggle, we won out. “Now, the nation railroad administration is about to put into effect a mileage zeale of rates and in new classification scheme which will not only wipe out every advantage we have gained, but put us in a far worse position that ever. We are hopeful that before this can be [torn and faded section] Sort of racket that will force the railroads back to private control. “The question of government ownership or absolute control is a very serious one for the South. It is not only socialistic in principle but will result in much that is harmful to us. aside from its effect on our rates. It must ultimately result in the abolition of the Jim Crow cars and the deprival of the State of their taxes received from the railroads. Besides the shippers all think it means the same poor accommodation afforded in countries when absolute control exists. “It seems that another railroad investigation similar to the Newlands investigation is going to be held to detrmine the government policy as to railroads. It is to be hoped that our members of Congress will see that some true blue Southerners are on this committee investigation, but is preferable that no Virginian or Georgian be on it. “I do trust that you will exert every effort to avert the disaster mentioned and especially that disasters of allowing the Federal government to usurp the police powers of the States over railroads.” Commenting on this letter The State Journal contained the following editorial under date of December 13: “Judge George P. Pell of the North Carolina Corporation Commission writes a letter to Senator Overman urging that gentleman to see that in a future railroad investigation only “true blue Southerners,” so far as they are Southerners shall sit on such a committee, and that we must prepare against this monstrous doctrine which may ignore the rates made by State commissions as well as the Jim Crow car. In fact, Judge Pell is fearful that Jim Crow civilization is itself imperiled. It may be well enough to talk about New York Negroes smashing the Hindenburg line and Southern Negroes fighting side by side of Southern whites to make the world safe for democracy. The world may be thinking away from Jim Crow soldiery and statesmanship, but before it goes too far, let it be known that the paramount issue in these digings is whether the white shall ride in cars reasonably safe, well-kept and fairly policed or wher the black shall be perpetually jeopardized by coaches in which there is no earthly care shown. But the judge’s contribution to Senator Overman’s worries is more interesting because of its robust nationalism. True blue Southerners who are geographically acceptable to North Carolina must be put on the railroad invstigating committee which will determine whether the carriers are to be privately or publicly controlled. If publicly, that is to say, nationally owned, class consciousness parochialism, and even race consciousness will measurably disappear and this, thinks Judge Pell, would be “very serious” for the South. But, seriously, what is the occasion for making more desperate the plight of the Black Man who is behaving himself, working well, being patriotic [faded section] getting [faded word], and trying his best to forget that he is a Black Man? Why hammer without any provocation, into him every day day that he is black and marked off? Why worry the Negro by suggestion with fear of rigorous application of the old? When and where did Jim Crow cars get on? Who is saying anything about it or demanding that the law be changed? But here is a State officer who cannot wait for the troops, white and black, to come home without rubbing it into the blacks. Whatever they have fought for is not to alter our statutes or to melt our hearts. He must continue ignorant as to where he shall turn. For, we are determined to know nothing down here but the Dam[racist slur] and Him Terrified.” All of which makes interesting reading.