The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-07-26
THAT PATRONAGE DEAL.

few days ago it was simultaneously
published in 1.-The grand circuit" of
newspapers, through which Repubh-
can leaders choose to let out their
schemes, that all friction had been
removed by an amicable division or
patronage in North Carolina by which
State Chairman Rollins was to be-
come District Attorney and Represen-
tative Blackburn was to name the new
Marshal, and all the other places We're
to be parcelled out equally between
the two factions. InaSmuch as Fed
eral pie is the only incentive to Re
publican activity in North Carolina,
it was naturally presumed that the
way to settle all the differences in the
Republican party was to give each
crowd a big slice of pie. If the story
is true-if the disagreements that nave
been aired in the papers can be COM
posed because the disputants have
been (to quote vance, hit in the
belly with a pone of bread" it would
be proof that the low estimate of Re-
publican differences would be estab-
lished.
There is one fact. however, that has
caused some people to disbelieve the
apparently authorized announcement
of the division of spoils. 1t is the
fact that they believe in the official
integrity of Attorney General Moody
and the square DEAF talk of Mr..
Roosevelt. For twenty years the
distillers and moonshiners have been
robbing the government without dan
ger of conviction or punishment IL
convicted. The passage of the Watts
law made such violations more dlfn-
cult by drawing all stills out of the
rural districts. Since then the SUITS
have been put in the towns and the
stealing has become more localized.
District Attorney Holton has prosecut-
ed the thiefs with courage and sue
cess, and when convicted Judge Boyd
has refused to permit the payment OF
a small fine which generally has been
a virtual license for them to go home
and recoup by more violations of the
revenue laws. The action of Mr.. Hol-
ton has brought down upon his head
the wrath of the revenue doOdles and
the whiskey distiller They refuse to
put up the money again for the Re-
publican campaign unless Holton is
discharged. They wish to make an
example of him and say to all other
officials: "Holton prosecuted us and
refused to accept our wink He is
now in private life. See?'
The matter of supreme importance
in our courts now is to convict and
punish the men who are violating the
revenue laws. They not only exhibit
a spirit of lawlessness, but they en-
ploy their ill-gotten gains to debauch
the politics of many counties and are
a menace to good government. Mr..
Holton has told these men-those
who steal 100000 as well as those
who steal few doliars-that he will
be true to his oath and prosecute.
Judge Boyd has made them under
stand that they cannot get off by pay
ing a little of their dirty money as
fines, but must go to prison. The
action of the Solicitor and Judge has
startled the distillers who have been
robbing with immunity. They see no
hope except to get the scalp of Mr.
Holton, and they are ready to help
either or both factions that will drive
Holton from office. They argue that
his decapitation would make his sue
cessor return to the old plan of adj
vising them to get little further
from the road" or to pay in fines one
tenth of the money out of which they
had been caught in defrauding the
government.
The agreement" will not be &C
cepted until it has the 20. K" of At
torney General Moody and President
Roosevelt. The removal of Mr.. Hol-
ton at this time would be regarded as
a rebuke to his wise and vigorous
prosecution of the violators of the
internal revenue laws, and that would
be deplored by all men who wish to
see the internal revenue laws executed
and the State temperance laws given
a fair trial.