The gold leaf., 1910-10-13
The GOLD LEAF.
The Overshadowing Issue In The
State.
From Democratic Headquarters.

From Democratic Headquarters.
The rambling and indefinite attacks
of Republican speakers on the Demo
cratic State administration show
that these orators are unable to put
their hands upon Il single failure OF
the party, and IN the minds OF
thoughtful men the question is con-
stantIy arising, "Why are they so
anxious to capture the Legislature?
Do they dare to promise better gov
crnment? Do they dare declare any
definite program? The real purpose
is being rapidly disclosed, and it is a
banefuI purpose. 1t is a still hunt, a
secret. but doubtless well devised and
financed, a scheme by Mr.. Butler and
his hackers to force the people OF
North Carolina to pay the bonds
that the State has declared over and
over that it will never pay. Nearly
every Southern State that was con-
troIpd by Republicans prior to 1876
was looted OF everything in sight
and bonds were issued as fast as the
presses could turn them out, and the
carpet-bag and scalawag thieves in
control Of those State governments
disposed Of them for a song, for their
enrichment. The State got little or
nothing from these issues, and when
the Reconstruction knaves were
driven from power and the white
people came back in control OF their
own affairs, these fraudulent and dis
honest bonds were repudiated, and all
men who know how they were issued
approved the reputation. There are
now outstanding OF such bonds more
than hundred million dollars
owned by syndiCates who are willing
to risk little money to try to COM
pei Southern States to pay them. In
1879, Colonel William l.. Saunders
estimated that North Carolina owed
(ii the bonds were not fraudulent)
seventeen million dollars on the spe-
cial-tax bonds alone. Inspired by the
action Of Butler < Russell in working
II fraud upon the jurisdiction OF the
Supreme Court, the syndicates hold
ing these bonds have been seeking to
extOrt payment by following that
precedent, which they helped to Sc
cure, for the bigger game OF the spec
ial-taX bonds. TO that end, their
agents have offered to make
large presents OF these special-tax
bonds to any State that would bring
suit against the State of North Caro-
lima. They tricked the Rhode Island
Legislature into accepting a donation
If fbocn Frorlr,lOrE bonds II,
that compelled that State to bring
suit against the State of North Caro-
lima; but when Governor kitchin
brought all the facts to the atten-
tiOn Of the Governor and the people
of Rhode Island, the act was repealed,
and the bonds returned. Rhode
Island repudiated the attempt to
make it a collecting agent of fraudu-
lent bonds But the Bond Syndicate
is not idle. 1t is trying to induce
some other State to accept what
Michigan, New York and Rhode
Island spurned. If they could,
through Butler, secure control of the
Legislature of North Carolina, they
would not need to make donations
and bring suits, for they are confident
that the man who while Sena-
tor took Il fee to prosecute a suit
against his State would not hesitate
rs private citizen and the leader OF
his party, to find a way to enable
money from North Carolina for a
part, at least, OF the special-tax
bonds. Who, in view of Buffers
moral treason, while he was Senator,
believes he would hesitate to again
help to sue, harass. and extort money
from the State? In 1906, the Black
burn forces warned the people Of
North Carolina to beware Of the
Butler-PettiSrew bond scheme, and
in 1910 the Greensboro News, Re-
publican organ, said: Many people
want to know if the holders of the
fraudulent State bonds are behind
Marion Butler in his efforts to get
control of North Carolina.