The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-05-06
WAIT ON JUDGE CLARK
And Present Him With Letter From
Elk. Governor Daniel L. Russell.
SURMIsE AS TO CONTENTS THE LETTER Is
A Man Who Usually Knows Thing or Two
Makes a Guess as to What Such
Letter Ought to Con.

tain.
On Sunday afternoon, when most of
the good people of Raleigh were taking
a nap or quietly reading their Bible,
two railroad vangelists-Fabus H. Bus
bee, ''in all capacities and William H.
Day, next friend of Ex-Governor Rus
sell-rode up Blount street and caused
their carriage to stop at the door of
Hon. w. NJ. Russ. They looked as sleek
and pious and as well satisfied with
themselves as if they had been in
church. Were they on a mission of peace
and goodwill on this lovely Sabbath af-
ternoon-these two eminent railroad at
torneys?
Let the sequel show.
They knocked in vain for admission,
Mr.. Russ having driven in the country
to read sermons in stones and running
brooks" and to ''see good in every
thing. That good man had taken his
Bible with him and at that very hour
was reading, by the side of gurgling
brook, the commandment Remember
the Sabbath day to keep it holy" Finding
Mr.. Russ not at home, these railroad at
torneys, evidently feeling that they had
an important mission from very impor-
tant person, went across the street to the
residence of State Treasurer Lacy. who
Informed them that Mr.. Russ was in the
country. They then told Mr.. Lacy that
they came ambassadors extraordinary
and ministers plenipotentiary from ex-
Governor Daniel l.. Russell, of Whining
ton, and bore on their persons a letter
with a great seal addressed to Hon.
Walter Clark
Eve wish a friend of Judge Clark to
go with us to present this letter." chirped
the twin attorneys.
WELL" said Mr.. Lacy, eff you are
looking for friend of Judge Clark you
need so no further. | am his friend and
there are 5000 more Democrats like me
in Wake county,
Mr.. Busbee thereupon withdrew and
Mr.. Lacy and Capt. Day went to Judge
Clark's house to deliver the important
letter. Mr.. Lacy, being a blue-sto
ing Presbyterian, demurred at first
about going on Sunday Arriving at the
residence of Judge Clark, the letter was
delivered and Capt. Day retired after
Judge Clark had said he would give an
answer later
What did Russell write to Judge
Clark about? Did Fabius Busbee and
Bill Day go to Wilmington and help
write the letter? Why didn't they trust
the mails? These were some of the
questions asked on the streets yesterday.
They could not be answered, but last
night a gentleman who keeps up with
politics brought the following copy of a
letter, which he said sounded very much
like what he thought the letter con-
tanned. Whether true or not, he said.
he was certain that no other letter
could have been written if it dealt with
facts. Here is what he handed in:
Hon. Walter Clark, Raleigh, N. C.
Dear Sir:-In 1896 was elected Cover
ror. receiving the votes of 12U 00G duali-
fed negroes, 5000 imported negroes and
5000 dead negroes and ., 1877 white men,
When l came to Raleigh, 1 had not
decent friend outside of my party, but
l was given a grand reception by South
ern Railway officials who expected to
run" me- l kicked out of their harness
next day Cor seemed to do sol made a
rampant anti-lease speech. and began
crusade against the Southern Railways
political domination. l did so much
against them and cussed them so Wig
orously that you and few other decent
men believed me to be honest | can
readily understand how you were, de-
CeiVed. In my messages and papers I
denounced the Southern Railway:
rallied against government by Injunction;
l denounced the packing of the Federal
bench with corporation lawyers; l swore
that the Republican party had been sold
out to the Southern Railway; | assailed
Mckinley and the national Republican
party: l charged Pritchard with being a
Southern Railway tool; l praised Bryan
as the true leader of the people; | de-
manded lower freight and passenger
rates; / fought the 99-year lease; ! de-
manded higher valuation for taxation of
railroad property-in word | declared
myself in favor of those policies for
which you conSpicuously stood. Do you
not sec how deep was the game / played?
When / had fooled you into believ-
ing was actuated by desire to serve
the people, | requested you to examine
an order removing the Wilson's. You did
SO and wrote me several confidential
notes. | have no doubt you have forgotten
all about them, but / marked them Eek
hbit to c. and have preserved
them against this day. There was method
in my madness.
OF course l know and so does every
-, lawyer that the matters upon which you
advised me did not so before you as a
judge. and could never come before you
but most people cannot see the diStnc-
tion, and when they read these letters
they will say in the language of the
Southern Railway henchmen: AHA,
have thee. You have been advising the
Governor about a matter and then sit
ting i'll judgment upon it You see we
have dtgSed pretty deep pit for you,
and we will make the people think that
you fell into the bottom
about a year or more after my grand
stand antirailroad play, l openly went