The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1907-09-24

Them ard Mr.. rlan; have stood look
ing on and bursting into almost ercn-
rled appeals whenever those who were
going through the eecane
warm" Now. in desperation at the
fact that the examination Is ee4as
made: TN fhe knowledge that facts arc
already being disclosed; IN the dread
and the certainty that more disgrace
full trutns are impending. they make
q motion that the Maxier fx a tine
for the examination 10 conclude
whlch the know. and the Master
knows. and everybody else knows
viii prevent an y report and q
fall disclosure
Mr.. Plan rolled in a carload OF
books and smiled confidently at the
mass OF them. Mr.. Thorn stated that
IL would AXE ten months to complete
their examination. Now that the in
vestigation has already proceeded
through much ground in five days
they are demanding that IL conclude
in ten:
The attorneys In the Interest % the
State are taking a look at the books.
Where there was confidence. there
IS fear; where there was impudence
there is where there was
pompous hypocrisy there is a cring-
ing apprehension. From all over the
State there goes a silent cry TO Wash
ington 10 stop this look at the books
The investigation is going on MI.
Thorn IS frantic. Mr.. Plant is frantic.
In North Carolina the men who laugh
ed with the Jingle OF the railroad
money in their pockets go bou hop
ing against hope. The men who drew
their vouchers TO buy nominations are
wondering through wakefui nights
how deep the probe has gone. The
men whose ewspapers represented
the people" upon salaries from the
%Southern's treasury. are cogitating ex-
plantations against the disgrace of con-
fession. There Is n silence
in North Carolina that finds
it's voice in the chorus of protest in
Washington; that rests its hope on
the cutting off Of the examination:
that says its prayers against the tell
Ing Of the truth,
Let us have a look at the books.
The Southern Railway gave the
right when 1t entered upon the liti-
CATION. What its expenses are. what
its expenditures have been and their
character, are matters that are per-
tinent to the litigation and of
even more value to the people. The
people have been ha7boring enemies
who have been appealing to them for
power while accepting money to work
against their interests. There are
traitors in the camp. More than
once have the people Of the State been
m~ysteriously sold out" They have
been delivered at a price. And the
men who made the bargain have
pocketed the price, While processing
to defend the interests they have dis
posed Of.
If this investigation shall go for
ward to it's right conclusion it will
show the ownership OF agents Of the
people who have been bought from
their allegiance. 1t will show the
market value Of legislative votes. It
will show the handspring of editorial
opinion. 1t will show whose cleo
ton was bought with railroad money.
It will show who, appealing to Dem
ocratic voters in DemocrG-ic counties
for primary nominations, wore the
collar Of the Southern Railway. IT
will show the brief from which many
of conservatism when in reality they
were bought at so much a line in the
interests Of extortion and corruption.
1t will lay hypocrisy bare and expose
.treachery in the stocks.
Let us take a look at the books.
If the opportunity be given-if the
look be thorough-the people Will
learn in part at least who their enc
mics are. They will see beyond the
shadow Of a doubt that re-
s~pectabiiity frequently covers inner
debauchery. They will ascertain that
the most dangerous enemy is he who
can wear the most conspicuous mask
Of virtue. They will know what men
to trust; what newspapers to believe;
what men to damn.
If we tax a look at the books. the
people will know where to
to purge. They will know where to
look for motives! They will know the
inspiration Of acts!
Let us take a look at the books.
No matter how high he stands; no
matter what his protestation Of pub
lie spirit" no matter how fervent his
pubHc prayers; no matter how pious
his a~ffectation Of motive, the man
with the railroad money in his
pocket as the price or service to the
people can be depended Upon to vote
the money and not the wishes Of his
constituents. Such a man is ripe for
t~reachery, is bought for tina
Is patriotic" for that en1!
When ne is discovered, he will be
punished as he deserves in the exc
Grafton Of the people whom he has
betrayed and in the stoppage Of the
patronage upon which he fattens.