The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1898-08-23
Mr. SMITH

Correspondence of The Progressive Farmer.
In a speech made at Newton by Hon.
A. Leez r, he attacks the management
of the penitentiary. After speaking
OF the splendid management under
Democratic administration, he alleged
that it was self supporting. He and
Treasurer Worth differ. Mr.. Evans,
also, a Democrat and an expert book
keeper of Wilmington, after a thor
ough investigation, says the peniten-
tiary lost under his administration
$1O4 900.
Mr.. LeRzer says that there was 1919
bales of cotton turned over to me at
the Wadesboro Farm. When l went
into Office I had a great many COM
plants made to me charging Mr.
Leazer with buying and selling beyond
the borders of the State and refusing
the North Carolina trade a fair show
ing. I was determined to avoid this if
| could. / sent a man to Wadesboro
to get samples of the cotton, then gave
notice that I would sell on a certain
day. I sent a man there to attend to
the sale; several. buyers were present
and the man whom I sent collected
the money, paid the expenses, and
made his deposit with the Treasurer.
Mr.. Graves, of Selma, a Democrat, was
sent to the Roanoke Farm, got samples
of cotton, which Was put upon the
market and sold for the best pric5s OBJ
tainable. This gentleman sold the cot
ton, got a statement and put the money
in the Treasury.
Mr.. L9azer says the cotton was sold
to a friend and neighbor of mine below
the market price. Mr. A. Borden, a
Democrat, Of Goldsboro, bought the
cotton referred to, but other buyers
had the same chance.
Mr.. Leazer says that I had to buy
large quantities of fen tiIizar, and that
| made the purchases from this friend
and neighbor at four dollars a ton in
excess of the market price. I never
bought n ton from this neighbor. Mr..
Leez9r and / talked over the matter of
the purchase of the fertilizer, and he
advised me to have special brands
made for the Wadesboro Farm, 90 3
goods. Mr.. Leazer remained with me
for n month after my appointment
and drew my salary for that time.
While with. me, at his own sugges-
II &SN~ %0 w1mAkn oovow0I 0NwN ~0rSoc RI ono
what they would put up this fertilizer
for. I got their prices and they were
all 30 near together that I decided to
divide the purchases between the Ma
vassa and Acme companies, of Viii
mington, and the Goldsboro Oil Mile.
The 932 goods from some company
whose agent was at Wadesboro, for
which 1 paid SIZE per ton, the 9 8 8
goods $18 45. payable 1st of December,
1897.
Now as to the money collected by
one of the employees. One bill was
collected by my son, (now dead who
shortly thereafter was taken sick and
did not return for several months. AS
soon as I found that no return Of the
collection had been made, I made the
payment myself.
I UNDERSTAND that MI. Leaz9r claims
that there was no need for an appro-
priation for the penitentiary for the
year 1897. The records show that for
the year 1895 Mr.. Leazer asked for
$50, 600 and obtained an appropriation
LOT $44 1853 II. 1t would be interesting
to know why this was appropriated to
an institution that wesse self supporting
The records also show that he obtained
in 1896 an appropriation of $25, 600, and
later an additional appropriation Of
IS. 900. And yet, this man who had
been imploring Democratic legislatures
to make him appropriations, was be-
fore the legislature of 1897 stating that
no appropriation was necessary.
We are warned in the ancient law
not to bear false witness against thy
neighbor." JOHN r SMITH
It is now in order for the Recorder
to attack Bro. Whitaker, Of the Win
ston Sentinel, who says: ITO call
Christian Education that line of
thought which exsits wealth above
patriotism Rad sacrifice is a misnomer
agd a r; fl ,cti0n mon Christianitv