The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-08-01
WAS DREWRY TRYING
T0D|CTATE TO THE
POLICEMEN
Writing Letters to Them Urg-
ing Them to Work For
the Bond Election.
THEY ARE RESENTING IT
But the Fate of Some Former Police
men Canses Them to Fear For
Their Jobs.
THEY ARE RESENTING IT
TEXT OF THE LAST LETTER HE SENT ITEM
He Declares That The Success of This Admins.
traiion Depends Upon the Bond Ekc-
lion Being Carried and Says
il Will Decrease Taxes,

With the rise in temperature, the bond
fight has grown hot.
Bondman and Anti bondman areA hard
at work. Each is trying to get ma
jority of the registered voters, and each
is claiming that the registration SO far
presages victory for him.
OF course both cannot be correct in this
prediction. Only one can win and there
fore one must lose. Which one? The reg
istration during the next ten days will
probably decide, for ten days only are
left in which the books will be open.
Something of the intensity of the con-
test may be gathered from the efforts the
bond advocates are making to solidify the
administration on the issue and to put
all officials, policemen and city employees
at WORK ''crystalizing public opinion for
bonds.
The effort to do this is being conducted
through Alderman Drewry the leader of
this and previous bond movements. He
has written letters to all members of the
police force telling them that "the sue
cess of the present administration" de-
pends on the success of the bond issue
and urging them to roll up their sleeves"
and "go into the fight
But it seems that these letters, instead
of accomplishing Mr.. Drewry's purpose
have hurt his cause, for many of those who
received the letters have considered Mr.
Drcwry's words unwarranted and his ac-
tion an attempt to dictate to, If not to
threaten, those who occupy subordinate
positions in the city government. Many
of them declare that though they are
at the mercy of the board they are still
men and freemen who will not be led
Ivy the nose nor dictated to in matters
of this sort. A number of policemen will
nos vote for the bonds and at least six
members of the board of aldermen are
said to be opposed no them.
Mr.. Drewry begins his letters by tell
ing the policeman that he has "never att
tempted to influence anyone connected
with the city government in their political
views because he ''felt that in matters
of politics everyone had right to think
for themselves"
But in business matters touching the
welfare of the town, / think we ought
to reason together, 8 so that VIC
may all come together and work in har-
mony.''
Then he goes on to say that the bond
issue will soon be presented to the peo-
PIE" that 1.-The board of aldermen is
unanimous in the opinion that it would
be the best thing for this town to issue
these bonds" He gives at length his
arguments in favor of bonds. Among them
are these: That bonds will have ten
dency to decrease taxes" will give EN-
ployment to idle labor" and that dol
lar spent on the streets now will do
double the good that it would year
ago These statements are made for the
apparent purpose of arming the recipient
of the letter with arguments to be used
in his canvass for Mr.. Drewry adds:
II realize that the police force which
is daily in touch with the people can
do great service to Raleigh if they
are honestly and conscientiously in favor
of this measure. If you are not in ia
vor of the bond issue we cannot ask you
TO violate your opinions, and leave you
free TO act as you think best, but if
you do agree with us concerning the ad-
visibility of issuing these bonds, we
think now is the time to go to work and
do all you can to aid us in crystalizng
public opinion in favor of them"
So much for the suggeston-a sugges-
ton. however. that has a pretty broad
hint attachment.
month later the suggestion has dis
appeared the hint is full grown and with
it there appears the grim though yelled
features of a command. This is the let
ter
My Dear Sir: The fight for the bonds
for street improvement is now on, as
you know. The success of the present
administration depends largely upon this
issue. and | do hope that every member
OF the city administration will feel that
1t is his duty to go actively to work
in this case. We must all roll UP our
sleeves and go into the fight with a de-
termination to win
"Our rate of taxation is now lower
than il is in almost any other city of
its size in the South and our bonded
Indebtedness is smaller.
u honestly feel that ii is very es-
sental for the welfare of our town that
the work on our streets should go on
hope that you will look at this mat
ter as | do, and will do all that you