The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-12-23
THOU SHAFT NOT BEAR FALSE
WITNESS"

Rev. DR.. Swope, rector of the
church generoufy built by Mr.. George
Vanderbilt at Biltmore, near Asheville,
has recently made an affidavit that
puts him dangerously near violating
one of the Ten Commandments. Mr..
Vanderbilt has some cases pending in
the courts of this State, which were
set for hearing in Buncombe court.
He WISHED to remove them to the
Federal court. Why? Why do all
monopolists and millionaires rush to
the haven of the Federal courts
which often show them favors which
thwart the ends of justice?
In order to remove his case to the
Federal court Mr.. Vanderbilt found 1t
necessary TO file affidavits of citizens
to the effect that he could not get
justice in the courts of Buncombe
county. Among them was an af1i-
davit of Rev. Dr. Swope. rector of All
Souls church, Biltmore (Vanderbilt's
church) who said that 1.-The articles
published In newspapers in Buncombe
county and elsewhere have been great
DR.. Swope has no doubt heard en-
ployeS and vassals of the Vanderbilt
estate say that the people are pre-
JUDGED" with reference to the Bit
more estate, he has heard that the
papers helped to bring about that
prejudice, and, when asked to make
an affidavit to that effect. readily
agreed to do SO. 1t was unfortunate
that any affidavit at all was made by
the rector of the church built and
supported by Mr.. Vanderbilt. Minis
ters of the gospel ought not to leave
work whereunto they are called to
"serve tables or t. take part in legal
controversies. Those who know DR..
Swope know that he would not make
an affidavit he did not believe to be
true, but they will regret that he has
become mixed up in this affair at all.
Those who do not know him will say
that as Vanderbilts spiritual adviser
he rushed to the defense of his patron
and was too ready to help him. The
wise course for ministers to pursue
is to let laymen mix up in such mat
tiers, hold aloof from it, and thereby
not shut the door whereby they can
enter to serve men of all shades of
opinion.
1t is "up to" DR.. Swope now to prove
his affidavit. Both the Asheville pa
pers deny that articles published IN
them nave been ''prejudicial to the
Biltmore estate" They ask him to
specify the grounds of his indict-
ment.'
Instead of publishing articles "prej-
JUDICIAL to the Biltmore estate" the
Asheville papers have been uniformly
most kind in their treatments of. every.
thing relating to BiItnnore. Now and
then a ''yaller" journal published iii
the metropolis has had swat for
Biltmore. Instead of ioining in criti-
cism of the estate or it's manage
ment. the Asheville papers have either
not printed such articles at all. or
have corrected the errors. Under such
circumstances it is a serious wrong
to the Asheville papers for Mr.. Wand
erbilts pastor to swear that cases in
which Mr.. Vanderbilt is a party should
be moved from Buncombe county be-
cause the papers have produced preju-
dice against the donor of Bitmore
church.
North Carolina courts are fairer
than any of the inferior Federal courts
and the attempt to remove cases from
these courts on the ground cited is an
unjust and unworthy aspersiOn upon
the courts and jurors of North Caro-
lima. a4xis .aaF