The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-11-06
TWO YEARS OF
RUSSELL|SM
Fusion Government i'm North
Carolina Reviewed.
NOTHING LIKE II EVER KNOWN
Record of incompetence, SCanda
and Corruption Unparalleled in
the History of Any Political Party
for the Same Length of Time.

for the Same Length of Time.
For several years I have had no ac-
tive connection with politics, except to
cast my ballot according to my con-
science I have attempted to look on
with an impartial eye and an unbiased
mind. I had hoped that out of the
revolution of State politics some new
politics would be born to lift our gov
eminent and people upon a higher
plain of civilization, but instead of adj
vancing our civilization the present adj
ministration has done nothing but tear
down, degrade and sink it to a lower
level.
1t is not too extravagant to venture
the assertion that the administration
of affairs by the Fusion party, from
its accession to power to the present
writing, has been characterized by
more general incompetence, scandal
and corruption than was ever the case
of any party in the same length of time
anywhere in the United States. In or
der to Justify this statement, | shall
briefly detail some of the CONSPICUOUS
facts that characterize the administra-
ton of the State since January l, 1897.
1t is needless to say that the first bust
mes of the administration was to turn
out all officers and fill their places with
hungry Spoilsmen.
Having surveyed the field and par
seled out the offices between the Flu
sion magnates and their heelers it was
found that the offices then available
would not suffice to go around. To
remedy this situation the Legislature
passed an act annuling the charters of
our three insane asylums, and recreat-
ing them under new names and under
new boards of management. The new
boards at once selected new superin-
tendents for the three asylums and
were prepared for a clear sweep of the
officers in control But the old boards
and officials refused to relinquiSh their
places, and thanks to the Supreme
Court, the act of notification was de-
clared unconstitutional and the asy-
lums saved from the spoilers clutches.
However, by the appointment of three
new directors of the North Carolina
Insane Asylum that institution fell in
the hands of the Fusion party. The
two competent assistant physicians
were sent adrift at the first opportunity,
and their places filled by Republican
and Populist. The latter is so-called
physician, T. d. Koonce, Jr., who had
just been licensed in June and who had
probably never written a dozen pre-
scriptions in his life, was placed over
230 insane patients. He proved him.
self so thoroughly incompetent that a
special meeting of the directors was
called last week to consider his re-
moval. However as several members
of the board We're out campaigning at
the time, the matter had to be post
poned to a later meeting. Further
changes in this and the other institu-
lions were contemplated and only pre-
vented by public indignation. AT the
State Medical Society, held in June
1897, speeches were made denouncing
the shylocks that prey upon the help-
less insane" and resolutions were
adopted condemning tie prostitution OF
public institutions to partisan ends.
Early in the yea- 1897 Mr.. John r.
Smith was elected superintendent Of
the penitentiary. In few weeks this
man established a Statewide reputa-
ton for incompetence and corruption.
Some of the facts of his administration
are as follows: His son, DR.. Kirby
Smith, was placed in charge of the
criminal insane, the Legislature having
recently transferred this class of the
insane to the penitentiary.
On the 18th of September, 1897, DR..
Smith fed to New York State pursued
the insane female patients under his
care. The board of directors conducted
a reluctant investigation, but finally
rose to it's duty and found him guilty
of "gross immortality and vacated his
office.
Rev. Thos w. Babb was selected by
Superintendent Smith as chaplain of
the penitentiary, and assigned to duty
at Halifax convict farm. 1t soon came
to light that Babb had some years be-
fore been arraigned before a council
of his church and found guilty of de-
falcation falsehood and questionable
attention to a young lady, and he was
requested to retire from the ministry.
These facts compelled the directors of
the institution to take some action. But
instead of discharging him, the board
honored him with another position that
of steward of the same farm. He re-
tanned this job only a short time and
was finally removed for incompetence,
along with several other employees.
Upon his discharge he uncovered to
public gaze a condition of things at the
farm that cannot be adequately detail
ed in print According to his published
statement in the News and Observer,
January 16, 1897 Capt. Peter Hughes,
supervisor of the convicts, was dis
charged for incompetence, lack of dis
cpline and fondness for negro female
convicts" Babb also alleges that the
overseer, one e. r. Harden, was init
mate with negro females and that he
was seen by a convict to climb from
the room of Alix Morgan notorious
wench Harden beat the convict for re-
porting him. At another convict farm,
Dr. John r. Pearson, a physician in
charge, got into trouble for intimacy
with negro female convicts," and was
forced to retire. The directors of the
penitentiary found it necessary to get
rid of superintendent Smith, but in
stead of retiring him in disgrace, a
trade was consummated with the Board
of Agriculture, whereby he was trans
ferred to the head of that department.
Mr.. B. d. Smith, an employee of the
penitentiary, having incurred the dis
pleasure of the authorities by disclos-
ing the scandalous condition of things,
was dismissed from office. However,
being a competent public servant, he
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