The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-06-11
FOES IN THE CAMP
Vicious Attacks BY So-Called
Democratic Organs
The Opposition TO Judge Clarke. Declares Mr.
McGrffin Has Made Him Well Nigh
Inyincib!e.

/ views expressed therein by certain cor
respondents. The Post, / believe, claims
| to be Democratic paper; and yet it
never fails to say unllind things of GER
tain men high in the councils Of the
party, Judge Clark in particular, or the
large number of Democrats who stand for
the same principles these eminent gem
tlemen have fought for, and who in my
humble opinion, will continue to con-
troll the principles and policy of the
grand old party. Former declarations
may be modified, new men come to the
front. and cessions and concessions made
for the sake of harmony and for the
best interests of all the people, but when
II comes to allowing that element of the
party known as gold bug or Mckinley
Democrats to dictate the party's policy,
and mark certain loyal and efficient pub
lie servants for slaughter for no other
reason in reality than that such officers
are considered by them as Extensively
partisan, the people will not permit it.
What has Judge Clark done to call forth
the vicious attacks made upon him? 1t
seems to me, after having carefully read
all the charges and specifications, that he
is bold, aggressive. honest and fearless
Judge, ignoring jargon or precedent when
conflicting with the conscientious execu-
tion of his duties, just the same kind of
man as the now famous ex-Chief Justice
Bleckley, of Georgia, who startled the
legal profession by departure from pre-
cedent whenever he thought it necessary.
Who is it making the attacks? Mr..
Henry Page, the president and general
manager of a little railroad who attacks
the Supreme Court, and calls it "Clark's
Court Mr.. Page says he is a gold bug
CT Mckinley Democrat OF a mildly anti
Kilgo type" He admits that he has a
private little grievance of his own, and
that Judge Clark wanted to increase the
taxes against his railroad.
/ have heard it related, that once upon
time, this gentleman with whom I
am unacquainted) was interested as de-
PENDANT in a railroad case which was
tried before his Honor W. S. OBJ. Robin
son, judge, and that on the day previous
to the trial he invited the judge and a
small coterie of friends to go on a junk
citing excursion and dine on the train at
his expense: and that on the following
day when the case was called for trial,
his honor was Informed that the defend
ant was the same road which had Just
furnished him the pleasurable ride and
dining; that the judge then grew wrathy,
and declared in open court that he I'M
derstood the motive, and was under no
obligations to bride feasors.
Next Maj. Wilson, who was fired from
office, comes with his tale of woe" He
numbers his charges and says he is ready
to prove them in a court of law if sued
for libel The Post seems to think this
settles the matter, and sees no other
course left for Judge Clark than to with
draw from the race as candidate for
Chief Justice, and sue Major Wilson for
libel. Mr.. Hocutt makes some very
proper enquiries concerning the Wilson
charges, and the Post, with all it's cir
cumlocution and quotations from the
Constitution is unable to prove anything
at all. 1t reminds me of the family who
knew the art of throwing stones.
1.-THE name of the family, was just plain
Jones,
But they were death on throwing stones.
They hadn't been in town a week
Till out little things began to leak
About certain peoples reputation;
And nearly all around the block
They'd hit some person with rock
This and that began to spread;
In fact, the first stone they threw
Hit the preacher on the head
And slightly grazed a deacon, too;
Love and harmony had been complete
Till this new family struck the street"
They tried the preacher-had a trial,
Stirred up sacriligious war,
And though they smoothed it DER awhile,
loft n
There was many a sneering grin and
doubt,
Though not single thing found out
Well, then comes Mr.. Busbee and Mr..
Day, representing each respectively the
two largest railroad corporations in the
State. They proceed to cast a few stones
at Judge Clark on their own private ac-
counts, but they wish it expressly I'M
derstood that the railroad interests
which they represent are wholly indif-
ferent in the matter. Does anybody fail
to see the motive?
The Charlotte Observer, like the Post,
nocracy copies all letters of a hostile
nature to Judge Clark, and is alarmed
if he should be nominated How long
terest in the welfare Of the Democratic
party or it's candidates?
But last comes Ex-Governor Russell,
stalwart Republican, and ho declares,
through the Post in referring to Clark,
1--WE were all fusionists together" and
tCy. laughed and l laughed" Governor
Russell's letter shows the whole diaboli-
cal conspiracy between railroads, both
great and small. their hireiings and
speaking trumpets" who wear brass
collars riveted around their necks and
do their masters bidding. and the Re-
publican Ex-Governor of North Carolina,
all in solemn conclave, seeking to tear
down and destroy the only Democratic
Judge we have on the Supreme Court
bench. But do not believe it can be
done; I believe the very opposition Judge
Walter Clark is having now has made
him well nigh invincible. and that the
rank and file of the old party love him
as never before-among other reasons,
because of the enemies he has made
The Post names prominent lawyers for
the position of Chief Justice, and in
a recent issue, through its Washington
correspondent, SAYS Republicans would