The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-01-22
He USED 1T THIS WEEK
PROSECUTES THE SOUTHERN AS
ATTORNEY GENERAL.
THEN DEFENDS IT AS LOCAL COUNSEL
This is Pretty Situation and Another Evidence
Of the Hypocrisy and Corruption of
The Gang" What viii The
Commission Do?


Commission Do?
Here's more work for the Railroad
Commission. VIII it do it?
This time it's n game that's worth the
candle, too. It's investiga ton of it would
make a most interesting chapter
Mr. Zeb Vance Walser rides on free
pass.
This pass was given him by the South
ern Railway Company, as local coun-
sell" at Lexington, n. G..
Mr.. Walser has been in Raleigh this
week. He came here on this pass; he
went away on it. No doubt this very
minute he has it in his pocket
The beauty and fitness of all this will
be seen when it is remembered that Mr..
WaLser is our accomplished Attorney
General.
As such he is popularity supposed to be
the States prosecuting attorney. For
this the State pays him first and last
So, 3,4Gcc, or $400 more than the Governor
gets.
Now, among the cases the State now
has in the courts, is one against the
Southern Railway Company trying TO
set aside the ninetynine year lease. In
this aIr. Walser is supposed to represent
the State. and ON this supposition the
State pays him fee for it. The South
ern, on the other hand, seems to think
Mr.. Walser represents it, for it issues
to him d pass as local COUNSEL" and it
may be that it pays him ''fve or ten dol
lars besides
Now. Mr. Walser. whom do you rep
resent? Both sides, as it seems to n
disinterested on-looker; or neither side,
as your enemies say your lack of ability
will show? There's much truth in the
latter position, but its not the whole
truth.
I've watched Walser for long time.
He's doing the best he knows how for
the corporations. He's their chattle.
Who that ever heard of mis- advice TO
the Railroad Commission to compro-
mise the telegraph rate case can doubt
this statement.
He was constructed for corporations
and is moved by them, vide his advice 10
the Commission touching the reduction
of telephone rates.
He looks on railroads as the Hindus ON
the sacred gray apes of India-they
must be permitted to live rent free in the
public banyan tree. sucking sustenance
from the people. Else why has he been
so reluctant in the North Carolina Rail
road lease investigation: Mentally
water-logged nobody expected any mate
rial assistance in the case from him,
but his powers of Wis inertia have been
something too wonderful. Has the
Southern railway got him with little
old pass as Local COUNSEL and he won't
move till they tell him!
Must it be free to do what it pleases.
this corporate gray ape, as long as Mr..
Walser Is on guard? As long as he rides
free can it take anything it pleases--
food, fumls or half the States property
But ifsit were otherwise, Mr.. Walser
couldn't get that pass and no reasonable
man could think of denying him that.
He has that beauty and childish SIM
plicity which makes us proud of him,
and the widest imagination could not
think of denying to him the opportunity
of spreading himself over the country
and communicating himself to the world
between here and Lexington.
Last September Judge Robinson
created II sensation throughout the
whole country by his famous charge to
the grand jury here in regard to Tree
passes.
Several presentments We're made as a
result. Then there was "a mighty fiutter
among officials to hide the little pieces
of cardboard on which they had been
travelling
But the pressure was too great. The
people had become interested. They
wanted to. know. They suspected that
somebody had been yelling, "Stop thief,
when they had the stolen goods in their
own pocket
Now began process similar to that
of smoking a rabbit out of Il hollow tree
The first hare to drop was Governor
Russell He rode on pass 'be.lusc
Judge Simonton did" Then tumbletl
Judge Robinson. He too had been rid.
ing on a free pas, but mot in his official
capacity" The next old NIOlly-cOtton.
tail to give up was Father Worth. who
is ex-officiO u member of the finance
committee of the North Carolina Rail
road" Next came down Auditor Aver
then Dr. Ramsey and Otho Wilson and
SO on.
Now comes Attorney General Walser
A sight for gods and men, and shame
upon the high office he thus deglasles.
How long will the people stand such
hypocrisy and dorable dealing?