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


into line by saying thata voteaganst this
report is vote to endorse Russell. 1t
is not so. In this instance God sent
blessing to us and the devil brough, it.
If the gift is good we should not turn
our backs upon it or refuse it.
Il have spoken tonight OF n man to
whom | am not a friend, because | ID
not know him. God knows | have moth
ing against him, and to oppose him is no
pleasant duty. If h. woui come to-
night and say to the people Of North
Carolina: Father | have sinned and
am no more worthy to be called thy son,
then | would throw the mantle of
charity around him, and join my voice
to the pleading that he be spared. but
he comes not on that ground. He bases
his claim on the law and the evidence
He makes me a juror and i cannot vio-
late my oath and periurc my conscience.
even for his old age.
Did he do it? That is the question:
not did he intend to do it, There is not
one word in the statute about intent
IF old age is to he revered to the eX-
tent OF influencing my vote then ask mo
not 10 base that vote on the law and
evidence.
Il feel now like the vote is going
to be to adopt that report; if it is, it
will he because you have psen swayed
by their oratory and eloquenca.
You may sustain this report. But if
YOU do you will justly receive tic rght-
eouS vengeance Of an outraged people.
Major Wilson whom they believe inn
peached, Ohio Wilson in whom they
recognize the imperial impersonation ef
all that is bad and of evil repute-arc
these to be turned back upon them?
warn YOU that there are going TO he
some ugly questions asked You, if you
do.
Senator Cooley was the next speaker.
He begged members not to be influenced
ny Major Wilson's age, "r otter out
side questions. On the other side was
the bad character of Ohio Nilso1. The
friends of Major Wilson, lie thought,
were rs extreme in their praise of
Major Wilson as he in pis nblse of
Ohio
You can't keep these outside ques-
tons outA of your mind and you'd rs
well come to it. II you want to put
Major Wilson on the pension roll come
with the direct proposition. III help
you. But don't come with your pnling
sympathy for his age, for his children
and ask us to be swayed by them in
our votes on oath"
Mr.. Cooley argued that Col. Andrews
and the Southern Railway Company
were Synonymous terms in North Caro-
lima, and transactions with Col. An
drews were the same as transactions
with the railroad.
Mr.. Cooley pointed out several minor
conflicts and contradictions in the evil
dence of Major Wilson.
Coming to the lease and conduct Of the
hotel he said:
"Otho Wilson, with a mother to sup
port, goes to Round Knob and flourish
ed. And this, too. when the man be-
fore him had nearly persisted and had
finally deserted the place. why this
difference? Why one man thriving there
and the other starving?
There's missing link here in the
evidence.
You may tell me that mans not in
hueneed by a mortgage.
me that a $4,000 mortgage rests lightly
upon this old man. But | wouldn't
like for him to sit in Judgment between
me and Col. Andrews.
"When does Major Wilson go to Col.
Andrews for a favor? 1t doesn't appear
that he ever didso till he became Rail-
road Commissioner. Then he went CON
fidently and asked the loan of $4,000.
Did he get the money? Tie got it
at once. And now do you tell me he
was not influenced by this? If you were
trying case against Col. Andrews
would you have Major Wilson on the
jury? That is the test. / venture to say
You would exhaust your challenges try
ing to get him off,
To vote against the report was, said
Senator Daniels, to perform one of The
most painful duties of his life. When
Governor Russell suspended these men.
denied them a trial by jury he had felt
outraged and he came here expecting to
vote to re-inState these men; if the evil
dence should justify, but since being
here he had investigated the ease. tried
to investigate it fully and impartially.
and he had come to the conclusion that
he'd be false to his oath did he not
vote that these men were disqualified to
act as impartial jurors.
Il want to say, however. that in doing
so | do not believe Maj. Wilson is cor
rupt. / expressly disclaim any belief in
corrupt intent on his part
You take the matter link by link.
Here is a railroad commissioner; he's
financially embarrassed; he wants to
borrow money; he goes to the head of
great corporation, this man his friend;
he borrows from him-or his bank-the
money to relieve his distress. This is
Maj. Wilson.
''Then take Ohio Wilson. Great ques
tons are before the Commission-ques
tions of rates and railroad regulations.
The road is going to make Maj. VIII
sons property an eating house; one of
the Commissioners makes the bargain
with the other; secures a reduced freight
rate for him; he takes the hotel.
Let me ask this question: Is it al
lowed a member of the Commission 10
write letters for fellow Commissioner
and ask for him special rate? Let me
ask another questions Us it usual for
one Commissioner on his own motion to
SUSPEND n rate for the benefit of his
co-commissioner!
"These are questions that must be
asked and settled here.
''There is not a particle of evidence
that tbis rate given to Ohio Wilson was