The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-01-23
A PRE- ELECTION SCANDAL.

A day does not pass without some new
scandal coming to light, showing the
unfitness of the Republican party and
their allies TO he entrusted with power.
These columns teen with public sean
dals: if we touched on half the private
scandals affecting men put in high
places during the past four years when
the worst MEN have reached the top, the
odors would sicken the whole State. The
slime and filth is much nastier than can
be printed.
Yesterdays Winston Sentinel told of
a trial in that city growing out of an
illegal and disgusting trade made by the
Republican politicians of that busy city
that has. just come to light. At the
last city election, the Republicans
triumphed. The Democrats believed il
was by tricks that are dark" Time
proves 1t. Yesterdays Sentinel says:
Before the last city election, in May
1896. Detective Pfobl did what soulc
politicians term 'bUsh.whaeking,' for
-
for Alderman, but withdrew upon an
agreement that he was TO have Il good
job-either chief of police tax-collector
or something equally as good. This con
tract was signed by eight members of
the present Board of Aldermen and it
YVES read before the court this morning,
but Justice BesseIit ruled it out holding
that the men who signed the contract
were not at that time officials, hence
their action was not legal
a fter the election Thomas was put
on as general city detective ut a salary
of $40 for the first month Ton triaD and
if satisfactory he was to be given $50 per
north for the remaining five months.
the original contract calling for SIX
months work, Later the Board declined
to paysmoGe. than $40. ~
's1'he original contract between Pfohl
and the eight Aldermen reads as fol
lows:
This agreement or contract made the
1st day of May, 1896. between w. T,
PfohI, of the city of Winston, in the
county of Forsyth. and State of North
Carolina. of the first part, and chairman
of the Republican Executive committee
of the eity9of Winston. ~. c.. and the
chairman of the City Board of Aldermen.
of Winston, y. G.. of the second part:
witnesseth that the said w. Il. Pfohl.
in consideration of the covenant on the
part of the party of the second part.
hereinafter contained doth covenant and
agree to apd with the said Chairman of
the Executive Committee and Chairman
Of Board of ALDERMEN, that w. L. Pfohl.
whose na1lfe appears on the Republican,
ticket as Alderman of the Third ward of
Winston " c.. doth hereby agree to
withdraw in favor of - and for the
same we hereby agree and pledge our
Selves if elected to give him the office
of Chief of Police or some other goo,i
position other than policeman III THE
city of Winston n. c.. for the full term
of two years. In witness whereof we
have bereunto set our hands and seal.
the day and year written above"
s'tEhe names of the Aldermen who
signed ting contract may be published
later with other interesting proceedings.
Pfobl won the suit, and District Attor-
ney Holton counsel for the Republican
Aldermen appealed. The contract, So
dsgracefu and demoralizing as to be
revolving to all good citizens, was illegal
being a violation, of Section A. Chapter
100 of the Laws of 1895, as amended By
the act of 1897. That section reads:
That any person who shall at any time
before or after an election either d.
rectly or indirectly give or promise f.
give any money property or reward q
am elector. or to any county or district
in order to be elected or TO procure any
other person. to be elected ii member OF
the General Assembly. or to any office
under the laws of this State, shall be
guilty of mis,lemeanOr: and any person
who shall receive or agree to receive any
such brfhe shall also be guilty of a mis-
demcanor."
Section 73 Of the same act makes such
conff.ictszas the aldermen and politicians
made punishable by fine, not exceeding
FIVE hundred dollars, and imprisonment
for not less than six months. nor moro
than one year.
Keep your eyes open. There's not &
dozen Of the entire gang" not tarred
with some scandalous stick.