The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-12-15
IN MEWBORNE'S PLACE
AND J. M. MEWBORNE is TO BE
SUPT. OF THE PEN.
IN JOHN R. SMITHS PLACE
And All the Russell Putty Men Sad, LET Her
Go"--Here is a Picture of Fusion
RuIe--Look On lt--How Do
You Like Il.

~
"You can't run a penitenhary no
more'n billy goat" This is virtually
what Governor Russell has been saying
to John r. Smith for several months.
And you can't run the State govern
ment a little Bit" is perhaps what John
r. Smith has been saying or thinking
about Russell.
But everybody knows that John X.
Smith made Russell Governor, and that
Russell made John r. Smith superin-
tendent of the penitentiary.
Without each other, neither would
have ever disgraced the State and it's
institutions, nor would Mew'borne have
been placed in a position to almost oblit-
crate the Agricultural Department, and
then disgrace both himself and the posi-
ton he held by entering into an office
swapping deal that is tainted with in
competency and corruption.
1t is we'll known that they have all
been faliures-one no more than the
Others
"The State has suffered first and most
of ALL" as a gentleman remarked last
night, because of the petty partisan
and incompetent administration of its
affairs by its Chief Executive, and the
hungry gang that he has placed in of
ficial positions" And the first resig-
nation in ORDER" continued this gentle
man, "swould have been the resignation
OF the Chief Executive and if that could
have been followed by the resignation
of the remainder of the incompetent
gang. the poor old State might at least
have been saved the disgrace OF this Of
fee swapping scandal"
But the office swapping has taken
place. and Mewborne takes Smiths place
and Smith takes Mewbornes place. 1t
was all fixed up by Russell and his CO.
manipulation, J. G. l.. Harris, and it has
been on tap for a week or more. Russ
sell has been fussing and fuming over
the mismana cement of the penitentiary
by the gang he placed in charge of it.
How to get rid of John r. Smith? is
what has been troubling him most. He
wouldn't suspend him, and he wouldn't
resign. Finally. a week or more ago,
Harris thought out plan.
"Swap Smith for Mewborne," he said
to Russell.
"Good scheme" thought the Governor
Then he went to Wilmington and had
a telegram sent to Smith, asking him to
come to Wilmington. Smith went, and
there he rendered his resignation, with
the condition that he was to be elected
Commissioner at the next meeting OF
the Board. Mewborne was seen. OF
course, it was all right with him. He
e. inn
the Agricultural Department as Smith
had made at running the penitentlary,
and. besides, there was a few more dol
lars connected with the other job, and it
could not be disturbed without his con-
sent.
Resign? or course he would resign
and take the other place.
The Board met yesterday. There were
present thirteen members, with only
three absentees. Sprinkle presided and
Ramsay read the minutes OF the last
meeting. Then it was that Loge Har-
ris sprung the new office swapping
racket.
.0The Governor wants to see the
Board in a body" he said, and they all
walked over to the Executive office, and
there the Governor unfolded his great
scheme. :.
"Ihe Denitentiary is going 10 WFeck,
+ said, because of incompetent man
agement." And then and there, it is
said, he made the corridors of the capi-
toll ring with abuse Of his erstwhile
friend, John r. Smith, and finally wound
M by telling the Board that it was his
wish that they take him off his hands
and make him Commissioner of Agri-
culture. They gasped for breath for a
moment, but it was the Gar talking
and "When kings command, let slaves
obey" They obeyed, walked meekly
bach to their meeting place, where Har-
ris wrote Mewborne's resignation, to
take effect January l, 1898. Mewborne
signed it, and then the putty pretenders
solemnly elected John r. Smith Commits
sioner of Agriculture, to take effect jan
uary 1st, and this is the picture we have
TO look upon this morning.
John r. Smith--no worse than the
others, If so bad, made a scapegoat by a
gang who, in the very act disgrace
themselves and the positions they hold
by entering into an office swapping deal
as disreputable as it is disgusting.
And is the State or either one of its
institutions benefited? Where did New
borne get his peculiar fitness for man.
agement OF the penitentiary? He has
done nothing in recent years but
run for office, and after he OBJ.