The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-02-11
THE coMPANYs SIDE.
Superintendent Cant, of the Cumnock
Mines, Tells What the Company Has
Done For the Suffers.

To the Editor: In your issue Of
January 10th, under the heading
'Cumnock Sufferers" there appeared
an article purporting to be an inter-
view had by a representative OF the
News and observer with Mayor Russ,
Of Raleigh, in which there was such
gross misstatements of facts that we
think it pertinent, even at the eleventh
hour, to call your attention to the
same and afford you an opportunity
Of righting what surely was an unin-
territorial wrong. To a generous-heart-
ed public, also, who have contributed
so literally for the relief Of suffering,
this statement is also due.
We have no desire to impugn Mayor
Russ lin the noble impulse which has
prompted such indefatigable energy
IN the cause of relief, but we feel that
courtesy would have at least have de-
pany be permitted to explain ex parfe
pany be permitted TO explain, ex parte,
statements which, without confirma-
ton. he has seen fit to pass into print.
M his inability To confer personally
with any official of the company, he
would have been accorded q prompt
reply by letter, had he seen fin to SUBJ
init the matter in that form, and we
think he viii concede the justice OF
such an act when he reflects that his
asserted cause, as we are credibly IN
formed. for visiting Cumnock was TO
confirm statements made BY one of the
solicitors Of aid and which statements
he MAYOR RUSS WAS unwilling To ac-
eeea Internationally in consequence
Of the solicitors condition sho,1ng
that he had imbibed freely Of liquor
while seeking charity. and yet the
statement of this same person is
quoted by Mayor Russ 70 the News and
Observer representative,
one statement made by Mayor Russ
IS that the president Of the company
started d subscription paper with theI
| magnificent sum of S." Neither the8
company nor any Of its people started
Il subscription paper, but before II was
started. and since it's circulation, the
donation Of the company 70 the cause
has at least eQualled, il not exceeded,
/ the amount contributed by generous
/ public 1T was hoped that no necessity
/ would arise To speak Of this inasmuch
/ as what the company has done and IS
4 doing, is not done to arouse praise,
/ and we would much prefer to not let
"our right know what our left hand
doeth" Inasmuch, however, as GER
I tain enemies Of the company and
i every person of common sense knows
! that no operation Of the extent Of this
enterprise can be conducted without
! cnemies-haVe seen fit 10 engender a
| malicious feeling against the COM
4 pany by false assertions, common
Justice demands that the truth be told.
The acts Of the company in this re-
spect are a matter of record, and are
open to any responsible person so far
| as this affair is concerned, but they
will not be paraded in print in any
vain glorious way, or for the gratiii-
cation OF any idle curiosity.
Another statement is that the com
| pany had given Joe Mills nothing but
one Cd gallon Of linseed oil with
which to mop his burns" This state
ment il absolutely without the appear.
ance Of truth Up to the time of
Navor Russ visit, the company had
purchased and distributed among
three men. suffering from burns, fiji
teen gallons Of oil. besides several do
GEMS Of bottles 81 sweet oil, al OF which
was provided without any charge &c
the recipients thereof II is scarcely
reasonable TO suppose, much less 50 e
believe. that two men received al q
this oil but one gallon.
Passing to the ease of the Widow
Thompson and eight children, hao