The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-09-06
ARE PAID SIS A MONTH
BOTH OF THEM ARE MEMBERS
OF THE BOARD.
ANO LOGE HARRIS APPOINTED THEM
There are Also Five Regular inspectors, None
Of Whom are Doing AnythingsNow,
Except Attending Political Con-
uentinnS and Me- tinns
ventions and Nee tings.

The people are justly indignant at the
offensive activity of Collector Duncan
and his red-legged grasshoppers in
political conventions.
But there are others. For instance
fertilizer inspectors. Notably our friend
John Brady, OF Gates county.
This bitter Republican and leading
fusion light in that section was appoint
cd a special inspector whatever that
may mean--a month ago, his commission
to hold good until after the election.
Now Brady is II member of the Board,
and made statement before the board
to the effect that there were great
many tons of fertilizers smuggled
through the lines from Virginia, on
which there was no tax paid. Every
body here. though, especially the board,
understood that to be "a cock and bull
story gotten up by Mr.. Brady himself,
rs an excuse for the appointment of
additional inspectors at this season of
the year, for political ends. The mat
ter was left in Loge Harris hands. He
appointed John Brady, of Gates, and
Howard Browning. of Warren, both
members of the board. Until this no
body ever heard of such Il thing as
Special Inspector" as Secretary Ram
sey calls them. or "Supervisor of lnspec-
tors as Brady dubs himself.
All this making new offices occur
red at the July meeting. On their re-
turn home inspectors implements or
the appliances for inspecting fertilizers
were sent to Brady and Browning by
express from Raleigh. Some days
after that Brady announced to his
friends in Gates that he had been APP
pointed supervisor of inspectors in the
eastern part of the State. Since then
he has been making occasional trips
through the lower counties, as | am in
formed, ostensibly ms an inspector of
fertilizers, but really for the purpose of
arranging fusion between the Populists
and Republicans. Brady is a Republi-
can of the blacklist type, but he poses as
a Populist. and is chairman of their
committee in Gates county.
AS to Browning's activity | am not so
well informed, except that | am told he
is earning his $50 a month by attending
conventions and preaching the beauties
of negro rule rather than by inspecting
fertilizers.
To know the purpose of Brady'S and
Browning's appointment by Loge Har-
ris. one need think but a moment: 1t
is time of the year when little or no
fertilizer is sold. and even the four regu-
lar inspectors have nothing to do, and
yet here they are appointing extra in
spectors for 80 days BRADY and 80
days tBrowning). The inspector"
eipanlv nycucp. nOliticS is
the real reason In other words the
Board of Agriculture has voted $3.50 a
month. and the Lord only knows how
much more. of the funds in its hands to
campaign purposes. And this money
is being spent entirely in the east by
putting two emissaries of fusion in the
field.
In addition to these two extra inspec-
tors the Department has five regular
INSPECTORS. as follows: j. H. Kelly,
Vance county; w. b. Henderson. tcoi),
Vance county; ID. A. Shoaf, Lexington;
j. l.. Sheek, Mocksville; w. Il. frog
den. Reidsville All of them, so far as
| have been able to learn are pretty ac-
tive in convention, but doing absolutely
nothing as inspectors. Unlike Brady
and Browning, though, they don't pre-
tend to do anything.
Kelly, who is Ohio Wilson's brother
in-law. and the negro Henderson, who
succeeds Jim Young, get $1,000 year.
The others get $50 month.
Loge Harris being the most accom-
plished politician on the board has the
appointment and control OF the extra
inspectors. y. l.. Ramsey, the Secretary
of the board, has control and direction
Of the regular inspectors"