The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-04-28
COMMISSIONERS YERKES STILL
DOING NOTHING.

1t has been two weeks now since
two revenue officers in Wilkesboro
made a murderous assault upon Mr..
r. A. Deal, editor of the Wilkesboro
Chronicle, because the honest editor
of that journal printed what every
body else in Western North Carolina
is saying. The records Of the Federal
courts show the rottenness of the in
ternal revenue methods in North Car
DINA and in his paper Mr.. Deal was
doing the cause of law and order a
real service. for which he has been
widely commended. If the revenuers
think they can stifie the press of North
Carolina by the employment of the
thug methods employed to nominate
Blackburn they will find themselves
mistaken. Press and people are re-
solved to put an end to the internal
revenue and distiller rottenness in
North Carolina. If Mr.. Yerkes, who
remains silent in seven languages, de-
clines to make the service "respecta-
ble'' by firing the unworthy men,
"help and deliverance will come from
another quarter" We will appeal to
Caesar"
In this weeks Wilkesboro Chronicle,
Editor Deal discusses the evil and de-
mands investigation. He is not
scared and stands to his guns like
man. We quote from his paper:
"Investigaae The Matter.
ssE0r q lrnn6 Uhilo If has haon the
common talk that there is plenty of
wrong, graft, and such like connected
with the revenue system and its en-
forcement in this county and section.
1t is not one man but most of the
men who are talking along this line;
and it is known of all men who have
ears to hear Such a state of facts is
very unhealthy and disgraceful. If
there be truth in the general talk, the
stencil in the noStrilS of decency
should be removed. If there be no
truth in the common talk, then the
officers should be indicated so that
they can perform their duty without
suspicion resting upon them.
1T is due to all concerned that
there be a thorough investigation. 1t
is due the government, due the people
and due the officers. 1t is the common
talk that the officers are not doing
their duty, but have an understanding
with the blockaders. 1t is the COM
mon talk that there is a bureau of
information for which the distillers
pay in order to find when the visits
will be made. It is common talk that
the cussing of the State law is a blind
to cover up the rottenness in the Fed
eral business. With all this common
talk and information, besides a lot of
specific matters, there should be a
thorough investigation. 1t is due to
the government. 1t cannot afford to
carry on a collision or suspicion of
collision with the blockaders. 1t is
due the people who live in this sec
ton and every other section-the law
abiding citizens of the land-that they
have honest, law-abiding citizens to
enforce the laws honestly, fearleSsly
and efficiently. 1t is due to the Of
flcers that these serious matters be
investigated and if they are not guilty
they should be indicated; if they be
guilty of the negligence, collision,
etc, which common talk attributes to
them, then they should receive the
full measure OF punishment. The Of
ficers should be anxious and more than
willing to have an investigation, in
stead of by brutal force attempting to
shut peoples mouths.
There should be an Investigation
by all means.
eff the revenues would put their
ears to the ground for moment they
would hear it coming in from every
direction in a great deal worse form
than The Chronicle had it,
There is a lot of information COM
ing out showing a mighty rotten
state of affairs in the management of
the revenue business in this county.
1t is probable that there will be a
little something doing in these dig
gins that will not be as palatable as
pie to these grafters."
Those revenue officers probably
feel very much like the fellow who
hitched himself up by the side of an
OK and the OK ran away-they'd like
for somebody to head 'em, especially
the OK But you see the OK didn't do
any of the hitching up business any
way and of course is too frightened
now to stop and try to ON hitch.
Some of the papers are stating that
there were thirteen distilleries destroy
ed in Lewis Fork by revenuers on
their recent raid. That is a mistake.
There were none destroyed. The stills
were out and hid away in accord
ance with information sent ahead,
and only a few leaky tubs were de-
stroyed. The report is only a ruSe
of the grafters to smother suspicion.
If Mr.. Yerkes would take hold OF
this matter with a firm hand, he would
put an end to the rottenness before
the year closes. But he is in fact aid
ing the continued violations when he
directs Judge Boyd to accept $4,000