The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-03-08

The Gideonite again.
Otho Wilson claims Through his at
torney) still to be Railroad Commits
sioner.
When the Legislature 'whitewashed'
him last week, the none was expressed
that he would never be heard from
again.
But Ohio had string to that resig-
nation. He had been taking lessons
under Judge Norwood and yesterday
Loge Harris. his attorney, turned up
and said that Otho had surrendered
none of his rights as Railroad Com
missioner
I.oge didn't stop at that. He went up
TO the Railroad Commission and for
mally notified Mr.. Samuel l.. Rogers.
who had been installed as Otho's sue
cessor. that though he hadn't prevented
his going in, he still claimed TO be
Commissioner and had waved none OF
his rights
And Loge still further and, being
pressed hy Mr. Rogers. said that he
was acting as Otho's attorney, but that
he was taking this particular proceed
ure without consulting his client. who
had gone into the country. Strange,
wasn't il. for Otho to be out of town
where nobody could see him, while his
attorney was exhibiting the string tied
TO his resignation: And Otho didn't t
know a thing about it! Too bad for the
vhitewashed Gideonite. with his new
coat of whitewash dripping wet from
his clothing. to be way off in the country
while his attorney was repudiating his
resignation written before he was re-
instatedi
The news few to the capitol 1t went
like the March Winds blowing up n
very cyclone of dust in its path. As
the members. who had voted to white
wash G tuu heard it, their faces turned
pale. and there was general talk of inn
neaching the man who had so recently
been made a prosecuted immaculate
Some of the members discussed how he
could be impeached. some regretted that
il was too late now to hehead him. and
others sought consolation in the report
that Otho was in the country. and was
not responsible for his wicked attor-
ney's actions. Strange, isn't Il, that
the guileless Otho is always being made
to do something wrong by some bold,
bad man! Otho in the country getting
ready to make a|crop: Loge IN RalelGh
exhibiting to the public gaze the string
TO that resignation.
There was CONSERVATION for time
in the camp of those who had helped
to apply the whitewash to the Gideonite.
They were confounded until news came
from Loge Harris that Otho had no
idea of really contesting the place with
Democrat. but fearing that the SUI
preme court might set aside the new
Corporation Commission act. and leave
a place for the Governor TO make an
appointment, he had decided to exhibit
the string of hat resignation and con
sent to serve merely ~ save the Sta'"
from an appointee of Governor Russell.
Considerate S. Otho! Before he would
permit Russell to name Railroad Com
missioner, his attorney said Otho would
actually sacrifice himself at S166.66 %
cents per month to take the office Was
such self-ahnegation even known before:
Those who know Otho We're not in
the least surprised at his action They
were surprised that he waited four days
before repudiatng his resignation. and
serving notice upon his successor. They
know that no amount of whitewash
would stick
The Railroad Commission was in ses-
sion yesterday morning when ]. c. J..
Harris. attorney for s. Ohio Wilson,
walked in and served notice that his
client was still Railroad Commissioner
This account of the notice is taken from
the minutes of the Commission, as re-
corded by Secretary Brown:
MIR. s. Otho Wilson, through his
counsel, j. C. l.. Harris. protests against
the assumption of the duties of railroad
commissioner by Mr.. s. l.. Rogers as
the successor in said office of the said
S. Ohio Wilson, upon the ground that
the said $. Otho Wilson is, according
to the law of the land, railroad com
missioner, under and by the virtue Of
the act, chapter 800. Laws of 1891.
and the fact that the said s. Otho VIII
son was not present in person to make
the protest at the time of the assump-
ton of these duties by Mr. Rogers is
not taken as an abandonment of said
Wilson to the title of the office, and he
does not abandon the same, but Claims /
that he is still railroad commissioners |
by the provision of said act
"The above statement was made by