The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-09-12
GOVERNOR RUSSELL'S "CLEAN,
ADMINISTRATION.

A~(S -NAN@O ~ SAN~@-O 49, SoAASS VI ing
fusion administration of Governor Rus
sell, but the convention Of this year
saw fit to give that administration it's
full endorsement. The only reason
we can give for this latter action on
the part Of Pritchard and his henchmen
is that they thought the people of the
state had such short memories that
they could not ~recollect any of the dis
graceful occurrences of that administra-
ton.
1t was an insult to the intelligence
of the people of the state for Pritchard's
vest pocket convention to talk to them
about the clean, able and economic
administration" of Governor Russell.
To give an account of all the unclean,
despicable and e~xtravagant acts of hat
administration would require the space
of a large volume. To talk about that
administration being clean is so. absurd
that one is inclined to think Pritchard
was guilty of attempting to purpetuate
a joke on his party. Perhaps he was
trying an OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES to see
how far they would follow his lead
SAANO ~ - AHo P""NA ~ A(tA-
We can not account for such a declar-
alton in any other way. Why, some
things were done during Russelrs term
of office as governor which made Loge
Harriss blush and so took away Bill
Days breath that he could not utter
an oath for five minutes. Then for
Pritchard to come forward at this late
1nx aNI 1rIz tha D4a~Io + n on10rcn thof
regime of rascality. fraud and deceD-
ton as "clean!"
AS an Illustration of how clean" was
this Russell administration we copy the
following from The Raleigh News and
Observer. being part of an editorial re-
garding the scandal against one of Rus
sells appointees, Hancock. the pres
ident of the Atlantic and North Carroll
ma railroad. 1t was nothing against
Mr.. Russell. of course that one of his
appointees should, after his appoint
ment, ave gotten into a d~isgraceful
scandal but the Cleanliness of the
Russell administration is shown in the
manner in which the governor of the
state tried to take advantage of this
mans alleged crime to wreak vengeance
upon a political enemy and use the man
as a tool, urged on by fear of losing his
office, to commit a breach of the GRIM
inal law of the state. The News n
Observer referring to this matter says:
IT will be recalled that on the day of
his removal, Hancock addressed a let
ter to Russell, which found its way into
T~ +hfc oft H0n- 4
cock charged that Russell, who was very
angry with Josephus Daniels, editor OF
The News and Observer, because or his
short comings, made him a proposition.
This proposition according to Hancock, |
was that if Hancock would make q |
violent assault and battery upon the
person of Josephus Daniels, editor OF
The News and Observer he would re-
tain him in his position as president of
the railroad, otherwise he would nave
him removed. Commenting upon this
alleged proposition of Governor Rus
sells, Hancock in his letter said:
Ct felt that indeed you were trespass-
ing upon sacred grounds. L was COM
PEELED to decline to continue In q POSI-
ton purchased at so great a cost en-
deayored to move you to a sense OF JUS
tice, because 1 was fully ~congnizant 81
the effect my removal would have upon
the charges against me, but 1 have
found that our SeltishnesS has destroy
ed your sense of justice, and that graf
itude is a sentiment to you.
subsequently 1 have received sever
al messages from you indirectly, urgins
this violation of law, (referring to the
suggested assault upo the editor OF
this paper), in order, doubtless, that
YOUR private thirst for revenge mlgnt
be satisfied, and each message contain
ed an assurance h a this act wou'( pc
absolute guarantee of my retention ~
office: but. your excellency, 1 declined to
be your INSCRIPTIONS tool, and, hoWe'-
err. great the cost, 1 am thankful that
nv manhood repealed the temptatoin-
even in my present unfortunate conul-
tion.'
Think of it. The head of this clean:
able and economical administration,
then the governor of the state, telling
q subordinate officer, under charges on
account of which he was threatening to
eject him from office, "go and assault
the editor Of The News and observer,
my personal enemy, n you may retain
your position, although
charges have been preferred against
YOU. Refuse and I will remove you.
1t would be hard to find a parallel 1or
the infamy of this proposition
Every clean indeed. But the repubn-
can platform declaration makes Rus
sells administration its ideal OF a clean
administration. 1t boasts or It's Cream
ness. and challenges the democratic
marty on it's record. 1t imagines that,
ostrich like, it can hide its head in \
sand of q sham platform declaration
ord CONCEAL its ~scandalouS deeds, but
the people have long memories and its
sins will not down at its bidding.
Now, is not his a nice thing Tor
Pritchard and his crowd to boast Oh
hold up to the gaze of an Intelligent
and lawabiding people and ask them 10
endors-the governor urging an ap-
pointee, under threat Of removal from
office under circumstances that would
disgrace him in the eyes OF all decent
peopIe, to commit a grave onense
against the laws Of the state when
borh had sworn to observe and enforce
q governor whose conduct was so vile