The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-07-28

where are asking. If the penitentiary
authorities had obeycd the law and fur
nished u statement. the information
would have been accessible to every
Taxpayer in the State, and it would not
now be necessary to be trying to extract
common information belonging to the
people as you pull refractory tooth.
For months Republicans have been telling
their friends of the rottenness of the
pcnitentiary. Some months ago, the Re-
nublican Governor secured the transfer
Of the superintendent of the penitcn-
tiary after telling certain directors that
it was necessary to get rid of Smith,
who was characterized by him in such
terms as led them to believe he was
wholly Enthusiastically. The Governor
and other Republicans are largely re-
sponsblc for the estimate people have
of Smith, for they have denounced him
one day, the next day apologizcd for
him, and the next day been extremely
careful not to offend him. Why?
The people of the State of all parties
have reason to believe that there have
been and still are many crooked things
going on at the penitentiary. Some of
them have been exposed. Nobody has
been able to find out about the business
dealings. and only the fragrant scandals
have come to light. When the rascals
are turned out and the people take Il
look ut the books" the rottcnncss will
be exposed and some men who now draw
big salaries will be working on Castle
Hayne farm wearing the garb of con
victs.
A public office has been understood
to be Il public trust in North Carolina
in all its history except when the Radi-
calls were in power in 1869 and again
during the present reign of corruption
and incompetency. Is it any sin for
the chairman of the Democratic com
mittee to ask for information that the
law requires to he sworn to and print
ed? There is no theory to justify Gov
ernor Russell's rant (for his ear-marks
are seen in the .billingsgate signed by
Mewborne) except that the whole gang
knows that if the real truth ever gets
out the people will damn forever every
cd with the State penitentiary since it
left the clean and honest management
that prevailed under Mr.. Leazar. The
minority Populsts last January said,
"IF WHAT WE HAVE DONE TO
NIGHT is EVER FOUND OUT WE
ARE RUINED" 1t is the same with
the whole gang that is and has been
in charge of the penitentiary. They
know that if all the transactions of that
institution from Mr.. Leazar's retirement
until today are put under the calcium
light of publicity they ARE ruined. "
There is no other explanation for the an
ties. of Mr.. Mewborne and his COLA
borers.
Mr.. Mewborne seeks to justify his
refusal to give the information on the
ground that the Democrats wish to
obtain it for distortion, misrepresen-
tation and fasehood.' Passing by the
lack of common decency which
should forbid any gentleman making
such an answer to Il civil question, let
us see if it is possible for any man to
''distort" a report that is correct.
/. The penitentiary has received from all
sources Il certain amount Of money. Mr..
Simmons asked for this information.
If there is IA book keeper worth ii cent
he could easily tell from whom and in
what sums it has been received. If the
sources are honest, if there have been
no Doodle transactions, why not silence
distortion" by furnishing them to the
public?
3 1t has to spend money. Mr.. Sim
mons merely wanted to know for what
purposes it was spent. If the disburse-
ments are clean and honest, what objec-
ton is there to publishing them in ev-
cry paper in the State?
3. 1t is said to be in debt. If the
obligations were honestly incurred there
is no reason why the character of the in
debtedness should be concealed. AT least
that was the view Mr.. Simmons had
when he wrote his polite note.
4. 1t has employees. Mr.. Simmons
simply asked for a list with the saar-
les paid, and the date of the creation Of
the office. If none but men who earn
their salaries have been supported by
the penitcntiary why should their names
and compensation be denied to the men
who pay their salaries!
). 1t leases farms. If there have been