The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1898-08-09

-Se "A6A W vi AROH 0NASAS
and newspaper statements, and re-
quested me to address the communica-
tions hereto attached, asking for the
and facts therein re-
quested, as a basis of their discussion
OF these subjects.
l did hot think for q minute that the
asked would not be
promptly given, and in a way that
gentlemen usually conduct their cor
respondence.
1t was not thought by them or my
SELF that if the information was given
it would show a state Of affairs to the
advantage Of the present administra,
ton, but no State officer has ever be-
fore concealed from the public the re-
ports and records of his Office, because
they might initiate against the party
to which he belonged, and it was
therefore believed you would, as a
matter of duty and decency, supply
the information.
It has generally been supposed that
every tax payer of the State has a right
to see the records of all public offices
and to ask and receive, without being
insulted, information concerning the
management by the officer of his Office.
As a representative OF a great party,
which polled in the last election 145, 900
votes, constituting two.thirds OF the
taxpayers of the State. Ibid not think
it would be impudence or e fcontery to
ask you in their name and aa their
representative for this information.
1t has been an old-time tradition in
North Carolina that public officers are
public servants. 1 did not know that
since the advent of you and Governor
Russell that this time honored rule had
been reversed, and that the people had
become the servants of the officers.
I did not address you as q servant,
because, being one of the people, and
representing a party of las, 900 tax pay
ing voters, I was old fogyish enough
to suppose that in your official capacity
you were the servant of the people, and
that both law and custom forbade you
from hiding and c~oncealing from the
public your eff ,ial acts and those OF
your Immediate predecessor.
Shortly after my letters were sent
and delivered, the Board of Directors
Of the p~enitentiary met in Raleigh, and
I am informed that at their several
sessions hotly debated whether /
should be given the information asked.
A member who insisted that as a citi-
zen and tax payer I was entitled to the
information was, so I am told, farcely
reproached by you. Having failed to
reach any agreement on this all absorb
ing question in open meeting, your
board did what was never before done
in North Carolina, to wit: Met in what
you were pleased to call executive ses,
sion, for the purpose Of considering
this sur ct. When the board rose
from this secret meeting, I am in.
formed that newspaper reporters and
inQuirers were told that the meeting
was an executive session, and its pro-
ceedings therefore secret. I do not
know, and the people do not know,
what trRnspired in that Pecret meeting,
but / am reliably informed after the
meeting Mr.. DCckery, the Chairman,
said the Board would have preferred I
had not asked for the information, but
I would get an answer which would
MAKE me sorry that l had requested it.
/ presume the board decided in this
secret meeting that your party could
not eff Drd TO let the people know the
real facts concerning the management
OF the peDitentiary by the present ed
ministration, and il was determined to
try and betog the issue, and that as q
result you refused the information re-,
quested, and instead Of the courteous
reply, which I reasonably expected,
and, as q further result you decided
upon the infamous and slanderous per
sonal attack upon me, which this morn
ing was published in The Raleigh Post.
Your party shall not by this low and
dirty device, befog the issue or escape
exposure.
1 shall continue to use every avenue
open to me to lay bare before the people
OF North Carolina the facts concerning
the disreputable mismsuagement of
the penitentiary, and all other depart
rooDtS ~ tho Groro UoUorrmo1t nv tho
present discrediEed and ~disgracetul ad-
ministratiOn.
It will be observed by reference to
the section OF the law quoted in my
letter TO Mr.. Dockery that two things
are required. One, an inventory to be