The review. [volume] (High Point, N.C.) 1908-19??, 1913-09-04

to- define felony"
A page hurried to- the reading clerk
with his bill.
The hum of voices ceased. The five
or six representatives of the white
race left their desks and walked to-
ward the speaker. The clerk read in
clear voice:
1.-THE general assembly Of North
Carolina do enact: =
''I. That all citizens of the state who
took part in the Rebellion and fought
against the Union or held office In the 80
called Confederate States Of America shall
be held guilty Of felony and shall be for
ever debarred from voting or holding Of
flee.
III. That the married relations of all
such felons are hereby dissolved and their.
wives absolutely divorced, and said fell
onss shall be forever barred from con-
tracing marriage or living under the
same roof with their former wives"
Instantly four carpetbagger members
Of some education rushed for Tins
seat. Withdraw that bill, man, quicki
Ny God, are you mad?' they oil cried
in a breath.
Tim was dazed by this unexpected.
IUEu anu SIIAAcu dA OUSIkudCC way.
II can't see it, gentlemen. That bill
will kill out the breed of rebels and
fix the status of every southern state
for: 500 years. It's just what we need
to make this state loyal"
You pass that bill and hell will
break loser
"How so. brother? Amt we on top
~ 4l~l Nj iy,Sk
the army here to protect us?' persist
ed Tim.
There was a brief consultation
among the little group in opposition,
and the leader said:
"Mr Speaker, move that the bill
be at once printed and laid on the
desks Of the members for considera-
tion.''
Tim was astonished ut this move Of
his enemy. Legree looked at him and
waited his pleasure.
'Mr. Speaker, withdraw that bill
for the present" he said at length.
That night the wires were hot be-
tween Washington and Raleigh and
the entire power of congress was
hurled upon the unhappy Tim. His
bill was not only suppressed. but the
news agencies were threatened and
subsidized to prevent accounts of it's
Introduction being circulated through
out the country.
Tim decided to lay this measure over
until congress was off his hands and
the states autonomy fully recognized.
Then he would dare interference. In
the meantime, he turned his great
mind to financial matters. His sue
cess here was overwhelming.
His first measure vas to increase the
per diem of the members from So to
81 day. 1t passed with whoop.
Uncle Pete Sawyer, coal black,
fatherly looking old darby from an
eastern county, made himself immor-
tai In that debate. .. ..@.-...-
"Mistah Speakahr' he bawied, draw
ing himself up with great dignity and
holding pen in his left hand as
though he had been writing. what
do these white gem'men mean by ex-
posen' this bill? Eff we doan' pay de
members enuf, dey des be erbleeged
ter steal. Hit amt right, sab, ter
fo'ce de members er dis hon'able
body ter prowl after dark when day
otter be here 'tendin' ter de business
O. de country. En- | moves you, sab,
Mistah Speakah, dat desc rema'ks er
mine be fled in de arkibes err grabity"
They were filed and embalmed in the
archives of gravity, where they will
remain q monument to their author
and his times.
AS Tins great financial measures.
made progress, the members began to
wear better clothes, assumed the white
linen shirts, had their shoes BACKED,
and put on the airs of Overworked
statesmen
When they had used up all the funds
Of the state in mileage and per diem,
they sold and divided the school fund,
railroad bonds worth half million.
for a hundred thousand-re ready cash.
1t was soon found that Simon Legree,
the speaker of the house. was the
master of financial measures and Tim
Shelby was his mouthpiece.
Legree organized three groups Of
thieves. composed of the officials
needed to perfect the thefts in every
branch of the government. while he
retained the leadership of the fcder-
Rted groups. The treasurer. who was
an honest mali, was stripped of power
by a special act.
The capitol ring merely picked up
the odds and ends about the capitol
building. They refurnished the legis-
lative halls. They spent more than
100000 for furniture. and when 1t
was appraised it's value was found to
be ST. 900 at the prices they actually
paid for it. The ring stole $4,000 on
= this item alone.
An appropriation Of 100000 was
made for supplies, sundries and in
cidentals." With this they built a
booth around the statue Of Washing