Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1880-10-20
SOUTHERN INTOLERANCE.
How North Carolina Republican was Prev ented
from Becoming Postmaster Open sympathy for

How North Carolina Republican was Prev ented
from Becoming Postmaster Open sympathy for
Moonshiners.
The following is an extract from
North Carolina letter to the New York
Times: III ~ asr -
Jamestown is small settlement In
Grlilford county, n G. Nearly all the
people i'll it are Bourbons dyed in the
wool. For sometime past Mr.. j. W.
Ragsdale, democrat, has been the post
master of the place. The position pays
about 1926 year, and some of the Re
publican managers of the district thought
it should be given to Republican.
Mr. Ragsdale performed his duty most
acceptably, however, and the depart
ment would not remove him. But re-
Gently he accepted nomination for the
legislature, and under the law he was
obliged to resign his federal position.
Then half the adult male population of
the place set about securing the vacant
postmastership. It was awarded to Mr..
John W. Stack, n small farmer of the
best character, of good ability, and who
is vouched for by men OF prominence and
responsibility. But Mr.. Stack is Re-
publican, who has never been
afraid to declare his political senti-
raents. His bitterest enemy In Gull
ford county can bring no worse charge
against him. Yet his appointment a
postmaster of the town in which he ha0
long resided was greeted with howl of
Democratic Indignation which cannot
easily be described. ''The place had
been held by Democrat, it belonged to
Democrat, and no damned radical
should ever occupy it with their con-
sent" This declaration was made In a
formal meeting of the Bourbong of the
neighborhood, and carry their threat into
effect, it was agreed by all the property
owners of the property-owners OF the
town that no store or room IN 1T should
be let to Stack for a postOffice, and that
If he should attempt to- erect Temporal
ry building for the distribution of the
mails upon any vacant lot such building
should be tom down and he prosecuted
under the state law for trespass. From
this decision Mr.. Stack has appealed IN
vain. To all his applications for house
room he has received the same answer:
"NO: we don't want radical for post
master, and you can't get room for All
office in this town." Tits likely that the
gentle Bourbons viii have their way.
The fight is not quite an even one. Mr..
Stack is the only white Republican in the
place, and he is opposed by 800 North
Carolina Democrats.
Still another incident of altogether dis
similar character has recently occurred
in the up country Of the north state. G.
W. Manering is Law abiding citizen of
| Stokes county, III that ancient common
wealth. Some time ago he opened a
retail liquor store and, against the pro-
test of q local Democratic committee
which waited upon him in regard to the
matter, had the hardihood to take out
license and pay the revenue tax. He was
surrounded on all sides by illicit whisky
makers, who regarded such action on his
part as worthy of the severest punish
meDt. Stokes county, which is a very
| hot-bed of moonshiners. was soon made
very uncomfortable for Manering.
whisky was sold all around him at prices
less than the tax, and at last, in despair,
he appealed to Revenue Officer Bynum
for protection. That gentleman, by his
discretion, captured and broke up six
illicit stills. From that time on Manner
ing became marked man. The moon
sinners entered into a conspiracy to drive
him out of the county. AS is shown by
evidence now in the possession of the
United States attorney, they were warm
~ seconded by Pleasant H. Mobe,
Democratic magistrate and justice of the
peace. This officer, on trumpe dup
charges of breach of the peace, issued
warrants for Manering's arrest, and had
him thrown into jail. He was bailed out.
Immediately fonr other warrants were
issued for his arrest. that number OF
moonshiners having convinced Justice
Mobe that they feared personal assaults
from Manering. To escape further por-
secution the latter fed the country, and
now Mobe, who was at one time himself
in the illicit whisky trade, together with
his associates. boasts loudly of how the
'' good citizens of old Stokes got rid OF
the cowardly hound hopaid the revenue
tax and helped the excise officers"