The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1902-05-20
AN INTERPRETATION OF THE CLARK
VICTORY.

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But there is grave danger that this
result of the controversy in which
he and others have been recently en-
gagged, will be misinterpreted by the
mass of people.
It does not mean that the people
of North Carolina T prejudiced
against corporations, or that they
are disposed TO be unfair and unjust
toward capital. Nor does it mean
that they think that a judge should
meddle with affairs in which it has
heretofore been thought improper
for a judge to be involved.
It does mean that the fight on
Judge Clark was so managed as to
give it the appearance of an attack
by certain corporations, and that the
people feared its uocess would have
a d~emoralizing effect on the judici-
airy, by making judges fearful
for a long time to come of the power
of those corporations that would
have been regarded as responsible
for Clark's humiliation. This and
this only accounts for the fact that
Judge Clark's strength has been so
little shaken, and that no lawyer in
the State is yet ready TO run against
him for the nomination for Chief
Justice.
1t is not hard to see the errors in
the management of the anti Clark
side of the controversy. Take the
letters of Henry A. Page and Maj.
J. W. Wilson. Both said that they
we're speaking in behalf of the State
and it's people, but the Clark forces
replied, page is speaking for his
railroad that it is said is not assessed
for taxation at it's full value, and
Wilson is moved by malice OF is a
oats paw for the Southern Railway,
with which he is supposed TO be in
timately connected and see the work
of Day and Busbee, the Southern's
attorneys. The dog may be danger
Gus to sheep, but they will not be-
he3e 1t if the charge TO origi-
nate with the wolves"
And so the average man sat him
down to read the charges with the
haunting conviction that they we're
inspired by improper influences that
the acousers wer only the mouth
pieces of corporations seeking undue
influence in the States judicial
affairs. Is is not our purpose TO
argue as to the justice or injustice of
this superstition. We simply set it
down that most people apparently
came to this conclusion in a rather
early stage of the proceedings, and
this belief put a coat of mail about
Clark that broke by half at least the
force of the charges brought against
him. But for the appearance of per-
sonal malice and corporation infu-
enoe in the controversy, the case
would have been different, as the re.
suit might also have been.
And then the breaking of conf
denoe, the publication of Clark's
private letters to Governor Russell
this was generally regarded as an
unfair mode of warfare. We have
heard no inc say worse things of
Judge Clark than a man who said to
us a few days ago.: 81 could not re-
sort TO such methods of fighting him.
And while he did things unbecoming
a Judge, l am not now joining the at
tack, for his defeat at this time would
make it appear that certain powerful
corporations could kill or make alive
in the judiciary at will. If must
choose between two evils, 1 take the
lesser"
And this is the feeling that Is re-
sponsible for CIark's easy victory. 1t
is not that he Is so popular. 1t is
not that the people would set the
stamp of their approval on the things
of which he has been accused-for
the people + DESTROYS of keeping
the Judiciary above the shadow of
suspicion and we have been told
that only last year Judge Clark him
self wished the Senate to impeach
5wo of his honored colleagues for
nothing more than ordering the pay
ment of Theophulus Whites little
bill against the State.
The conclusion of the whole mat,
ter is that the anti Clark campaign
has been so conducted that in case of
his defeat, it would have been said