Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-10-30
Deny and Xn<Sten Damage Suits
A1lntt the aszs,s..
Evening Mail.

tApAoQES tuc kEtlb AL
PICKET Tps fact is real;zsd % the lead.
ers CT tbe;Spposition to Democracy, and
beEaree Filter il their denurcistions Of
tss prbficsticn. Some ss7 no such Or
ganlzatioh exists; others that they are
not and never were members OF it, while
others admit that they did Din 1t, but left
the ranks on account Of the character, OBJ
jects snd aims CT the order. The lower
part Of the town particularly Is exercised
over The matter, and the word "Vldettes"
is IN the mouth Of every one.
"No such thing Is needed in free
America" says one.
at sav3rs too much of snsrchy," says
another"
"It thst is the game OF the Non-Psrti-
sans | SIN done with them," said another.
And thus it goes. The whole town is
worked up, and politics are taking new
turn.
"Worse than Indi.na White Caps" is
heard there.
"Ku-klux were respectable when COM
psred with this" ssys one man.
"Worse than the Loyal League" echoes
smother.
Desiring to get at the bottom OF the
whole thing, Mail man went out and
inteIv,e wed . number of men who had
been charged with belonging to this or
der: W. F. Tanning, formerly stalwart
supporter OF the old Peoples ticket,
was seen, and he did not denv that he
had been . member of the "Videttes,"
but he sid he sd lef. 1t when he saw
the objects the order had in view. 1t
was too tough for him. He further stat
ed that the records Of the proceedings of
The lodge or "inner circle" here had
been burned after the election two years
ago. No Iegroes, according to flaming,
were admitted to it-they were barred
out. Squire Benbrook, who WAS an in
dependent candidate for CountyiTreas-
urer, WAS barred ut Of the race By the
"Videties,Sspecsuse he was not q vi
dette RS4fing went further and said if
ID MAiecessxry be would go over the
cbA3ty and tell the people all about the
concern and fully expose it.
Sim Emmerson, who was suspected by
Miil reporter OF having been q member
of the order OF "Videttes," wss ap-
preached yesterday afternoon, and asked
why he hsd been bounced. His answer
WAS:
because got up in council meeting
and said thst the whole thing was treason
a9le."
"You were s member them"
eyes l was, snd there are lots more in
town who were and are yet"
Captain Eoh Diggett when asked If he
wss 3 member, SKID:
Gam not, and never have been. but II
can get in 1 Will join them. think
from what read. that 1t is good thing.
1 am going to begin suit against TIE GA
zKTTE, however, for damages.
"For whst?"
"For charging that an member OF
this order"
"How can you claim damages if you
say it is 8 good order snd you will join it
II you get 3 chance? So long as you
think it all right, your mind should not
be bothered shout it."
"Bu. my mind is bothered .nd will
make THE GAZETTE sweat for It."
"Why?"
"Well, it has Injured me in the COM
munity."
J. B. Cobb, who Mail reporter was
informed, was "Vidette,'" was seen
and he denied that he was member, but
confessed that he knew that such sn or
gsn!zltion existed in Tarraut county.
The Mail reporter did not see Mayor
-Broiles, but learned that he denied being
s member CT the organization by saying
that he would join 1t if he had chance
J. 81. Robinson, the down town butcher
while never having been accused Of be-
ing "Vidstte," said he would be Il he
could get chance to jain the council.
Mr.. J. 81. Smith, candidate for District
Clerk on the Non-Psrtlsln ticket, WAC
seen, and in answer to question, said:
"Any man who says sm or ever was
G member Of any secret political organi-
z.tion known as the National Order Of
Videttes,' Is aliar, thief and scoundrel."
"Whst action do you propose to take
in the mstter?" asked the reporter.
az propose to bring suit against THE
GAZETTE for liDe'," was the answer.
A reporter went to the flee Of Captain
Sam Evans, candidate for Congress on
the Non Partisan ticke', the otj scs OF the
visit being to hear Whist the Captain had
to say 10 answer TO- the charge thst he
was "Vidette." The gentleman was not
in, but from his friends 1t is learned thst
he is wrathy over the publication and
denies suy knowledge OF any such oTg,ni
zition.
Mr.. John Zinu also denies that he is q
member Of the Videttes, and will appear
in card in THE GAZETTE tomorrow. 1t
is established beyond ell doubt, how
ever, that there is In existence in this
county such an order es the Videttes,
snd that i. is political in It's nature,
seekipg 90 control the Union Labor vote
in this county. Such being the case,
there is NO doubt that revolt In the 1n-
Partisans Will be the result, in fact 1t has
slresdy started.
Ben F. D Virgins, n on-Plrsisan candi-
date for Sheriff, was seen, and in answer
to the question: "Whst do you know
ABOUT the Videttes?" replied: 81 know
nothing at sll; l have heard nothing a
the existence Of such an order since THE
GAzETfE published the name and bylaws
txo4tthe B)1ie Cross Timbers two years
tgt, and had forgotten the publication
until the same thing appeared in the papsr
some days ago."
"Then you are not member"
81 am not, never have been, nor do l
know any msn who is . member. You
msy also state that have this day made
mY affidavit to what have just said"
It hss been stated, IS coming from Mr..
B. S. Blair, that there will be no less than
eleven libel suits brought agains. THE
EayHTTF 1rnu{nU ont of sh 10 NJ, h,Ic. ton