The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1890-05-13
LAVLBSSNBSS SOUTH,
Why One Distillery in Georgia
Has Shut up Shop.
WOULDN'T STAND THEGAUGER
BECAUSE lle was n C0lorcd, Man
Commissioner Mason Says He
VIII Have to be Accepted or
tho Distittcry VIII Close.
Spe:idt Dirqtch 10 the fnttltfcenetr.

tho Distittcry VIII Close.
Spe:iat Dipqteh 10 the fnftlicenetr. nn
WASHINGTON, D. G., May l2.-Recent
newspaper dispatches here contained &c.
counts OF tho ferreting out by United
States officers OF notorious gang In
Georgia devoted TO ;lawlessncss OF all
kinds. but especially gwen to the viola.
tIon Of the Internal Revenue laws.
Among the other features Of tho rules
governing this choice company OF high.
waymen was one making the furnishing
OF any information to officers concerning
Illicit dlstilleries m oilense punishable
by death, to say nothing OF attendant
penalties In the shape OF house burning,
whipping, etc. All Of these penalties
have long since become tho standard
throughout the lawless sections OF the
Sonth for tho same olIense. From the
old border Stn,es TO the Gulf they obtain
generally. Georgia Is not particularly
noteworthy in this respect. They arc Of
the unwritten laws Of the South, and
Ike all other unwritten laws, are ire.
quently enforced with greater vigor than
the written ones.
The practical immunity enjoyed under
the last administration by Illicit distil.
lers throughout the South has made the
work OF revenue officers in that part OF
the country especially onerous and dan.
gerous during the past year. This state
Of atlairs has its influence on the lcyit.
innate dis,illing business round about.
Disslllers who pay a tax can not com.
pcto legitinlately with those " ho do not
pay one. Consequently tho former feel
like taking to themselves unlawful priv.
ile.es, and out of this in time grows a
contempt for and then hatred for and
disregard OF the government regula.
tons.
THE COLOR LINE.
A noticeable instance OF this occurred
short time ugo in Georgia, and the
manner in which 1t was dealt with
shows clearly the policy Of the present
administration with reference 10 some
fsaturesAat least Of the lawless state Of
society. In this case the color line was
made 4 prctcxt for resistance OF the
government regulations. One, J. N.
Ridgway, is the owner OF a properly
authorized distillery at High Shoals,
Oconee county, Ga. His distillery is
not in operation at present; and the
reason for this inactivity is as follows:
Mr.. Ridgway had been conducting his
business in lawful fashion, 30 fur as
known, and without objection on his
pnrt to any Of the rules and regulations
governing the came, until, under the
change OF administration, Il new store.
keeper and eaueer was assigned him.
Now this official was negro, and, as
Ridrway himself acknowledged, per.
fectly honest, capable man, and one
whom he bud known all his life, having
been school teacher and resident in
the immediate vicinity Of the distillery,
and to whom be (Ridgway) had no per.
sonal objection whatever. During the
latter part OF February this negro, Smith
by name, was assigned to duty by the
collector, of the State to this distillery.
1t proved to be one thing to assign him
to duty and M entirely different thing
for Smith to actively assume his duties.
plsrlLLsEY IN THE HANDS OF A MOB.
Before he had reached his post Smith
was met with most alarming account
Of tho reception he might expect to
meet, and when he finally arrived his
expectations were fully realized. A dis.
orderly mob seemed to be in possession
OF the premises. inllamed by drink and
plentifnlly supplied with firearms. The
mob made no secret OF Its intentions
which were, briefly, to see that "no
niger did business around that place."
Various pertinent bits Of advice were
freely furnished the officer by those who
still claimed to be his friends, including
the proprietor himself, which advice
was exceedingly pointed and all to one
eilect-there was probably but one way
Of preventing death on the premises
and tiiat WIS by the immediate and per-
manent withdrawal OF the officer. This
advice being reinforced by plentiful
display and discharge Of firearms, Smith
concluded to acceptait without delay,
aud accordingly departed. That night
the mob, .suspecting TINT its would-bo
victim had stopped ut the house Of a
relative nearby, concluded to tnishits
work, and attempted to do 50; but failed
to find him and returned defeated.
Meanwhile Smith had set out for Allan
tn to lay his case before the Collector,
and after successfully lodging two OF
three of his Prosecutors who had follow.
cd on the traiu with tho avowed inten.
tion OF shooting him, finally reached his
: destination in safety, though very badly
gcared. 4
COMMISSIONER MASON TAKES A HAND. .
Fortunately, about that time Commis.
sioner OF Internal Revenue Mason ar
rived in Atlanta in tho course Of n
Southern trip, who at once began an
investigation Of the matter. Smith was
thoroughly examined, as was also the
dsliller,s Ridgway, who had likewise
come to Atlanta to state his side OF the
question to the authorities. The gist OF
Ridgway's testi nony was to the { fleet
that, while he hud nothing against
Smith Of any nature, he did not believe
it was "safe" to attempt to operate the
dis,illery while a colored officer was in
charge. He got decision with exceed.
ing promptncss. The Commissioner in
formed Mr.. Ridgway that while
tho department regretted to have
to interfere in any manner
with any properly conducted bust.
ness, it certainly did not propose
to be dictated to in the performance ol
its functions. Tint this administration
took no account Of the color Of any
man, SO long as he proved himself ca
pable and honest. A Government Of
liccr had been interfered with in tho at.
., tempt to perform his lawful duties
There being no other charge against
Smith than that Of his color, and the
Government having tho undeniablt
Tht ., ssssns ns ~ bo own Shoos oeets
the colorcd Official back or OF shuttin.
IN lila distillery. He chose the lattel