The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-03-17
Holton, Russell and Settle Al
ready on the Spot.
JocKEYING FOR PLACE.
Candidates Presidential and
Candidates Gubernatorial,
Dockery, Pritchard and Grant WIi' pc
Here To-Day--The Fanfare Before
the Batte---Will Republicans
Take their" Straight
or Mixed.

The assembling of the Republican
clans in Raleigh yesterday and last
night reminds us of old times. The
State Republican committee meets on
Wednesday, and every train since noon
Yesterday has had about half a dozen
or more of the scramblers for position
and pie. Chairman Holton and Con-
gresham Settle came in from Green's
boro yesterday afternoon, and took
rooms at the Park, and Docllery rolled
in on the Atlanta Special last night,
completing the Holton-Settle-Dockery
combine Russell landed yesterday.
Loge Harris is already here, and Grant
is expected in the morning. Ihen the
Harris Grant-Russell combine VIII be
compIeta, Each of these combines
has a colored vanguard in the persons
of Leak and Young. Leak does the
pathfinding for the Holton wing, and
Young hustles for the Harris wing.
Leak went to the Nashville convention
cunning for game, and came away with
the whole game preserve, and declared
that he hardly heard the popgun OF
Grant and Dobson, the two State COM
mitteemen. and Loge, the Chief of the
Russell combine, each of whom were
present. Flushed with the Nasheounty
victory, the Hoiton combine comes TO
the committee meeting in high feather.
But Grant and Loge are here to ex-
plain that the Nash county business
was done in the most snappish sort of
snap fashion. and, besides, it's a small
matter. anyhow, and that the Republic
can organization in Nash county don't
amount to much. as is evidenced by the
vote for Harrison in that countyin 1892,
and besides that, the balance of the
State, except Richmond, and a few
others, is solid for Russell, Pritchard,
Mckinley and fusion, all along the line;
and besides that, if they don't have fu-
sion along lines satisfactory to Butler,
he fButler) will come in a little later
and do dance and smash act for the
whole china shop.
Fusion on local issues is sracking'
away" said Congressman Settle.
"A straight Republican electoral
ticket and Republican for Governor
we must and viii have" says Chairman
Holton.
I'VE are not even dreaming about
anything but straight Republican
electoral ticket and Republican Gov
ernor," said Leak. "Oh yes, a straight
Republican to succeed Strowd. Fusion,
if necessary, on the balance of the
ticket
Capt. Bill Day went early to the
Park Hotel, last night to get himself
re-initiated into the g. @. II. When he
joined before Mott was the High Muck
a-Muck, and Eaves was the Vice-Muck-
a-Muck. The initiation is now being
conducted by Settle. Hoton, Harris
and Young, but whether he win join
the Russell or the Dockery fraternity
is not yet known.
Pritchard has engaged rooms at the
Park by wire and will be here to-day,
probably to ask for a committee en-
dorsement.
Chairman Holton expects that every
member of the committee will be pres
ent. No proxies are allowed and there
fore a member must be present or his
vote doesn't count.
Dancy, the colored editor from Sails
bury, whom Grant accuses of having
gone over bag and baggage to the
Holton-Settle combine, will probably
land to-day. Abe Middleton, who
wants little more assistant door
keeper fusion; John Beckwith, who has
not yet found out where he is at, and
WaddeIl. from Fayetteville, who fought
SO hard against fusion before, is on his
way, said to be boiling over with com
plete fusion for '96.
Buffers coming has not yet been an
nounced. If he has bene invited, or if
his committee has been invited, the
fact has not yet been made manifest
by the presence Of any one of them.
And Mott, oh, where is he2