The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-11-06
CORRUPT BARGAIN
Radicals Promise Protec-
tion to Moonshiners
Who Support Black
burn.
In Their Desperation the Blackburn
Supporters Are Waging the Most
ShameIessIy Corrupt and
DamnabIe Campaign
Ever Waged in the
Mountains.
Especial to News and Observer)

Especial to News and Observer
Wilkesboro. n. c., Nov. 5.-Hon. L.
Spencer Blackburn has his headquar~
drawing to a close his managers show
evident signs that the situation is
growing desperate. They are bringing
into requisition every expedient. foul
or fair, to effect his election. A more
shamelessly corrupt and damnable
campaign has never been waged in
this section. Every Federal office
holder is his heeler. More revenue
officers are in this county than usual.
The Republicans in order to cast dis
credit on the Watts law charge that
there is far more blOckading in this
county than has at any previous time
been for many years. This is prob
ably true but the Republicans are re-
sponsble for it. 1t is openly charged
and generally believed that there is.
through the evidence of confidential
"go betweens' a perfect understand
ing between these officers and the
blockaders and that there is being
levied tribute upon these blockaders
for Blackburn's campaign.
There is a steam blockade Whiskey
distillery running in a few miles Of
the town of Wilkesboro. not far from
one of the public thoroughfares OF the
county. It's existence for many weeks
has been no secret. 1t is said that a
few DAYS ago a reputable though
somewhat eccentric Baptist minister,
who lives in the vicinity. in company
with his brother. went to this distil-
lery and demanded to know whose ii
was and was naturally met with the
answer punctuated with an oath. that
it was none of his business.
A few days latetr this minister
preached on the streets of Wilkesboro
near the hotel, where he was listened
to by certain revenue officers. He is
reported to have said to these officers
that they were charged with certain
duties and were sworn to perform
them that if they did not already
know it. he knew where a blockade
diStillery was and if they would not
suppress it he would write to AShe-
willie for more officers. This distillery
has not yet been interfered with It's
reputed owner. formerly a Democrat,
is now doing all he can for Blackburn
and is hand in glove with the revenue
officers. Has he been promised i'm
munity and grace by the revenue Off
GERS? Blackburn is prolific of promi-
SEES? Has he promised these poor
dupeS protection from the State and
Federal laws? No doubt of it. VIII
he carry out these promises. or even
attempt to. do so. after the election
His past record. and that of his party,
answers an emphatic no.
Another one of their .disreputable
methods is their Yesterday mailing out
hundreds of a dirty little circular to
Democrats attacking Hon. w. G. New
land. This circular stinks with putri-
flying falsehood. 1t assaiis his record
on temperance and charges that he
had liquor shipped here with which
to influence the delegates to the Con-
gressional convention. This charge is
absolutely and unQualifiedly false. viii
famous and slanderous and known to
be so by Democrats and Republicans
alike here.
Another indication of the despera-
ton of Blackburn's managers is
shown in their lassoing r. Don Laws.
editor Of the yellow Jacket Laws
fought Blackburn'S nomination Vici-
ously. published a card in the Char
lotte Observer under the non de plume
of Voter" bitterly assailing Black
burns mid-winter convention. openly
declared he would never support him
and even went so far as to threaten
to run as an independent candidate
for Congress to imperil Blackburn s
election. He continued his Oppositioi.
UP to a short time ago. Blackburn
had secured the appointment of one
Smith as postmaster at MoraVian
Falls. a person entirely non-grata 10
Laws The latter mounted the cars
and sped away to Washington where
he fought with all his powers the in
stallation of Blackburn's appointec.
He obviously saw he was beaten. At
any rate he came home and treated
with Blackburn and Smith will never
be postmaster at MoraVian Falls. This
week Laws paper, which he claims is
not in any sense local paper. has
several columns of billingSgate VituDer-
alton of Newland and sycophantic
laudation of Blackburn, nauseating
to people of even moderately decenl
tastes. The yellow Jacket will. Of
course, explain it's departure from its
repeatedly announced policy not TO
deal with local affairs. by saying that
Blackburn is a nonresident OF this
district and therefore it can consist
entity advocate his election. But the
yellow Jacket does not stop with
advocating Blackburn's cleo
ton. If the statement of one of its
a reputable man, is to b.
believed Laws notified his employers
that unless they voted the Republican
ticket they would be discharged ana
this particular employee and alo an
other. are now out OF JOBS with the
yellow Jacket.
Upon what meat has this our Caesar
fed
That he is of late grown 50 fat?'
Upon what does Blackburn depend
for his election? Upon the union OF
the two most incompatible elements
in our society. to-wit: revenue officers
and blockaders At this union. decent
Republicans stand and look aghast
and wonder at what evil plight the
good old party has come.
I<rvftErN MORE THAN HIS MATCH.
WhirIwind Wind Up OF the Poiittcas
Debate Between Him and Rey-
noIds.
(cnec.a1 IN News and Observer