The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-12-20
THE SECRET OF THE SOUTHERN
RAILWAY ORGANS ADVOCACY
OF RUSSELL FOR CHIEF
JUSTICE.

VIII Lie vi
wrong doing, though long concealed. will
soon or late become public property.
Many people could not understand why
in December, 1900, the Southern Railway
organ, the Morning Post, was so earnest
and jealous in trying to have Governor
Russell made Chief Justice of the Su-
preme Court. 1t had, until he was added
to the assets of the Southern Railway.
assailed him viciously. From the mo-
ment he went over bag and baggage to
the Southern and became their man, the
Post was his champion and his defender
and when the office of Chief Justice be-
came vacant the Post moved heaven and
earth to have him made Chief Justice.
Why did the organ of the Southern
Railway and certain officials of that road
in North Carolina so earnestly desire
to elevate Russell to the position of
Chief Justice? 1t was not beca use of per-
sonal affection alone, though they loved
him enough to pay him more distinguish
ed social honors than were paid to any
of his predecessors. 1t was not for love-
1t was not for what he had done in the
last year of his administration. They
do not wish to elevate men to high office
for past favors. The only man who can
secure their earnest support is the man
service in the future-a man who is SO
related to them or under such obliga
tions to them that they know in advance
that he will take orders from them and
carry them out.
The Morning Post would not have
sought to make Russell Chief Justice if
the Southern Railway bosses had not
been behind some scheme in which they
needed him On the Supreme Court bench,
and if they had not believed he would
look at the matter in which they were
interested in a way to further their de-
signs.
What was the secret of the earnest
desire of the Southern Railway organ to
have Russell made Chief Justice? This
paper declared at the time that they had
some measure that would come before
that court and they thought he looked
at the matter through their glasses.
Exactly two years have passed.
Though suspected by many, the true
secret of the Posts advocacy of Russell
has at length come to light. and, strange
furnished by Ex-Governor Russell him
self. In his evidence in the South Dakota
suit, in which he is trying to make
| North Carolina pay about million and
quarter dollars. Governor Russell testi-
| fed that it was the purpose of the hold
rs of these bonds at first to bring the
matter before the Supreme Court of
North Carolina, but that this plan was
| abandoned-and abandoned when? These
are his words: "a little while before
| the Legislature met in 1901" 1t was "a
| little while before the Legislature met
| in 1901" that the Southern Railway organ
was booming Russell for Chief Justice.
1t was "a little while before the Legis-
| lature met in 1907 that Mr.. Fab Bus
bee, attorney of the Southern Railway,
called to see Governor Russell and talk
ed to him about the way to proceed to
get the bonds validated. 1t was "a little
while before the Legislature met in 1901"
| That Governor RuSSellS former law
partner, attorney for the bondholders,
| Mr. Ricaud came down from New York,
| and talked about the same matter with
| Governor Russell. 1t was "a little while
before the Legislature of 1901 met that
| Governor Russell instructed State Treas
urer Worth to hold up issuing new bonds,
upon which South Dakota is now suing.
| for bonds that had already been
cancelled. 1t was "a little while
before the Legislature of 1901
met that Senator Butler, attorney
mot of record" of the bondholders talked
| to Governor Russell about these bonds.
1t was "a little while before the Legs-
lature of 1901 met that the News and