The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-06-19
A FORCOTTON MAN
A Monument to Josiah
Turner Proposed.
Captain Ashe Says it Ought to be
Erected to Commemorate His
Work in the Trying
Days.

To the Editor: There ought to be
a monument erected to Josiah Turner
to commemorate his action in the try
ing days when he played SO great
part in the struggle for liberty and
government in North Carolina.
1 would rejoice to see such monu-
nIent placed by the State near the
principal entrance of the Capitol
building. On it should be inscribed
the. dates "1867-1S72."
As great as Mr.. Turner's services
Werekto the people in that period, 1t
is proper to say that the gratitude Of
the people for him was commenSur-
etc with them.
How came it then that Mr.. Turner
received no substantial token of pub
lie appreciation?
The answer is to be found in the
idiosyncracies of the man. He prefer
red being editor, apparently, to enter
ing public life. AS editor, there was
only one way i'm which the State could
help him, and that was to give him the
Iublic printing.
In 1872 he was nominated for Con-
gress, no other name being proposed,
and he would have been elected; but
he came into the convention and alb
solutely declined to accept the nomi-
ration. The salary was large; and the
position of member on the floor of
the House was exactly suited to Mr.
Turner's disposition and talents. Still
lie utterly refused to accept the nomi-
nation. His friends never suggested
that he preferred a nomination for
Governor: nor did he ever seek a
nomination for Senator. Nor indeed
was he we'll fitted for either of those
offices.
When the Republicans in 1869 were
Gisbursing immense amounts from the
treasury through the agency of the
Public Printer, the few Democrats in
the Assembly asked Mr.. Turner about
the printing contract and he advised
that it should be let out to the lowest
bidder; and these Democratic men,
bers took that position at the last ses-
siCn Of the Republican Legislature.
When the next year the Democrats
controlled the Assembly, these Demo-
Gratis stood by the record they had
made under Mr.. Turner's advice and
along with him; and the printing was
offered to the lowest bidder; and Mr..
Turner (Mr. Moore being only his
agen) obtained the contract.
At the subsequent session, it was
found that Mr.. Turner had drawn
from the Treasury some $4,000 more
than his work called for, measured by
the only rule known to the printers
trade; and it should be stated that
with the printers trade, Mr. Turner
was not at all familiar. When that
fact was made known to the Demo-
cratic caucus, it resolved that Mr..
Turner ought not to draw out any
more money until the over-payment
lad been squared by new work done
by him; but the view which / had en-
tertained from the beginning now pre-
vailed; and the caucus abandoned Mr..
Turner's idea of letting the printing
out to the lowest bidder and fixed the
r~tes at a fair price, and / was put
Gu the printing committee, and direct
ed to draw bill investing the COM
mittee with power to make a contract
based on these new figures which
would give the public printer fair
profit. The contract was made with
Mr.. Turner, and it ought to have been
worth to his paper more than five
thousand dollars a year.
1t was not long, however, before Mr..
Turner's disposition to assail persons
led him to antagonize some of the
leading men in the Democratic party,
and he became a thorn in their side.
II was commonly said that he was a
good hand at tearing down, but had
no aptitude for building up; and as
Yet the Executive and the Supreme
Court were in the hands of the Re-
publicans. My impression is that his
Taper was not published after 1876.
by that time, his erratic course had
Il st him much sympathy, for he was
entirely out of harmony with his par
ty.
But looking back to the time of his
failure. l think the party ought to
have done something for him, if that
were possible. / will not say that it
Was possible; for he was the most Un-
manageable man to deal with that
ever was in the State. Still if SOM
thing could have been done for him,
it ought to have been done. His :s'.h
Saquent course-aS an independent.
and afterwards. / believe, as regular
Republican-should not be remem-
bered with bitterness against him; for
lie had an excuse, from his own stan1-
point, that his people had been un-
grateful; unappreciative; and after
great services rendered by him had
not concerned themselves about him,
but had left him to sink into oDscufC
poverty.
For my own part while it seemed
to me that his claim against the
treasury which the Fusion Legislature
allowed, was not just claim against
the State; yet as he thought it IL just
cred it a just one, | was glad to see
him get the money, as some compen-
s.:tion, in his old age and dire need,
for public services which had not
received merited compensation.
In connection with Mr. Turner's
great fight against the Holden admin
istration. however. it should be re-
membered that Mr.. Turner did not
stand alone There were strong men
all over the State who gave him coun-
tenance; and here at the capital we
had constant communication with able
and bold friends. Among them was
Judge Merrimon, an old Union Wing
like myself, who wrote much and
strongly for his paper; and also it
should be recalled now in Dr. Kings
bury'S life time, that he was the .asso-
ciate editor of Mr.. Turner in those try
iEg times, and that he wrote also
strongly and boldly in the editorial
columns of The Sentinel. In weaving
Chaplets of laurel, there should be
che for DR.. Kingsbury, as well one for
the more heroic figure in the great
historic controversy. The editors of
the State ought not to be unmindful of
the part which members of the fra
ternity have played in perilous times.
S. A. ASHE.
RALEIGH N O. II1np 12 1904