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

| hereto attached. asking for the infor-
nation and facts therein requested, as
| a basis of their discussion of these SUBJ
| jects.
| did not think for Il minute that the
| information asked would not be promptly
given and in Il way that gentlemen
| usually conduct their correspondence.
1t was not thought by them or myself
| that if the information was given 1T
would show Il state of affairs to the al
vantage of the present administration
but no State officer had ever before
concealed from the public the reports
and records of his office, because they
might initiate against the party to
which he belonged. and it was therefore
believed YOU would as matter of duty
and dccency supply the information.
1t has generally been supposed that
every taxpayer of the State has right
to see the records of all public offices
and to ask and receive without being i'll
suited. information concerning the man
agcment by the officer of his office.
AS Il representative of Il great party
which polled in the last election 14o,O00
votes, constituting two-thirds OF tn
taxpayers of the State, | did not think
it would be impudcnce or citrontery to
ask YOU in their name and as their rep
rcsentative for this information.
1t has been an old time tradition III
North Carolina that public officers are
public servants. | did not know tina
since the advent of you and Governo
Russell the time honorcd rule had been
reversed and the people had become tn
servants of the officc-holders.
| was old-fogsh 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 ana
conceaing from the public your Official
acts, and those of your immediate prcde-
ceSSor-
Shortly after my several letters were
sent and delivered. the Board of Direct
ors of the penitentiary met i'll Raleigh,
and | am Informed that at their several
sessions hotly debated whether l should
be given the information asked. n mem
Der who insisted that us a citizen and
taxpayer, / was entitled to the informa-
ton, was. so | am told. ticrcey re-
preached by you. Having failed to reach
any agreement on this ali-abSofblhg
question. in open meeting, your Board
did what was never before done i'll North
Carolina. to wit: Convened in what you
were DIcaStu W call tAtCullNt StoSi'h,
for the purpose of further considering
this subject. When the Board rose from
this secret meeting, | am informed that
newspaper reporters and .inquIrers were
told that the meeting was an executive
session, and it's proceedings. therefore,
secret. | do not know and the people do
not know what transpired in this secret
meeting, but | am reliably Informed
after the meeting Mr.. Dockcry, the chair
man. said the Board would have pre-
ferred | had not asked for the informa-
ton. but | would get an answer which
would make me sorry that | had re-
quested it.
| presume the Board decided in this
secret meeting that your party could not
afford to let the people know the real
facts concerning the management OF the
penitentiary by the present administra-
ton. and it was determined to try and
be-fog the issue. and that as n result
you refused the information requested.
and instead of the courteous reply. which
| reasonably expected. you decided upon
the infamous and slanderous personal at
tack upon me. which this morning was
published in the Raleigh Post.
Your party shall not, by this low and
dirty device. be-fog the issue or escape
exposure.
| shall continue to use every avenue
open to me. to lay bare before the people
Of North Carolina the facts concerning
the disreputable management Of the
penitentary, and all other departments
of the State government by the present
discredited and disgracefu administers
ton.
1t will be observed by reference to the
section of the law quoted in my letter
to Mr.. Dockery that two things are re-
quired. One, an inventory to be made
by the superintendent under oath, and
the other Il report by the Board itself.
1t will appear from my letter to Mr..
Dockery, that / asked for both Il copy
Of the report and copy of the inventory.
l especially requested a copy of the re-
port because it is much more comprc-
hensiye.
Mr. Dockcry in his letter to me, only
promises Il copy of the inventory, which
he speaks Of as the report of the super
intendent.
1t is apparent from Mr. Dockery's let
ter that he is himself doubtful whether
| will ever get this report or Inventory,
for he only says he BELIEVES it will
be i'll the hands of the Governor III a
| SilOCI WHlc. lie tOtS HOl Shy tiliI liz
KNOWS it will be i'll the hands of the
Governor at all.
1t will he remembered that the law re
quires that this sworn inventory must be
filed on December 31st.
1t is said and generally accepted, that
the Governor wrote or dictated your
cowardly assault upon me and the Demo
cratic party. Certain it is, it was ssent
out directly from the Executive office
and is in the coarse and vulgar style
that characterizes all that emanates from
him. Every line in it shows that it came
from vicious mind. There is not a
statement in it, personal to myself, or
about my. course in politics. which in any
way reflects upon my personal Integrity,
or the integrity Of any political methods,
with which | have heretofore been CON
nccted, that is not Il wiful and prcmedl
tatcd lie. without any foundation III fact.
and made by you and yo.r abcttors for
the purpose of raising Il fog behind
which you hope to retreat from the po-
sition i'm which you have placed your
self before the public. by declining TO
| come to an account with the people for
the manner in which the affairs of the
npnitppti upy have lnan mis- u n cod Sinoa