The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-09-04
Are the Populists Appointing
Negro Republicans?
THE CRAVEN COUNTY CASE
Is the Clerk Bound to Appoint
Bogus Heelers?
poPuLIsT COMMITTEE TO-DAY
It Will Call Later Meeting OF the State
Executive Committee Names Sug-
gested Instead of Walser--Re-
publican Committee
Next Tuesday.

There was the report uSI6 yGSCSA~
day that negro Republican registrars
had been appointed in Vance county
by Populist chairman Aver. Mr. Aver
was seen by a News and Observer re-
porter, and said he did not know
whether they were negroes or not, and
as to their being Populists, 1T might be
that they were Populists who had
come from the Republican ranks, but
that the fact that they had accepted
the appointments and had been re-
commended by the county chairman
showed them to be Populists. Mr..
Aver refused to let the reporter take
a copy of the list, saying that it might
be changed. The list he says viii be
open to the public after the first Mon
day in September.
Section of the new Election law pro-
vides as to the qualifications of regis
trars, &C.. as follows: ''that on or be-
fore the first Monday of September
next preceding every election the
clerks in their several counties shall
appoint, upon the written recommen-
dation or approval of the chairman of
the State Executive committee of each
political party of the State, one citi-
zen and qualified voter from each of
said political parties of and for each
election precinct who shall be able to
read and write the English language,
and who shall be known for the duties
required of them under this act as
registrars of election in their respect
i've precincts"
Is it possible that, under this law,
the clerk of the court com 1anded as he
is t. appoint one citizen ana unified
voter from each of said political par
ties, &C." shall at the behest of any
chairman appoint one citizen and
qualified voter mot from each politi-
cal party" But should the Clerk of
Craven county be called upon to APP
point negro Republicans going under
the names of Populists, would he not
be doing that which the statute COM
mands him expressly not to do?
To strengthen this view the
same section is quoted furth-
er: ''and if any registrar or
judge so appointed shall die, or
fail to perform his duty, the clerk shall
appoint another, of the same political
party and like qualifications in his
place"
The English of the whole matter is
that there shall be three registrars,
representing respectively the Demo
cratic, Republican and Populist par
ties; that the chairmen of the parties
shall recommend registrars who are of
their respective parties, and that the
clerk shall appoint them, provided they
are; but those recommended must be
OF the three three ,, oltso.i parties else the
clerk cannot carry out the duty enioin-
ed upon him. There will be no bad
faith in this matter unless it shall be
known to the people, and the rehuke
will come in the proper remedy.
If a Populist chairman should agree
to fuse with a Republican chairman,
and appoint only Republican poll
holders, where would be the pretense
of three election officers, representing
three distinct parties?
The attention of S. Otho Wilson,
Populist chairman, was called to this
statement in the News and Observer
telegraphed from Roxboro:
S. Ohio Wilson, while attending
Person Superior court, August 81,
received the following telegram
from A. e. Holton, chairman of the
State Executive committee:
IS. Ohio Wilson, Roxboro, n. C.
Go to Yanceyville and attend to
your Populist friends.
(Signed.) A. e. HOLTON.''
Wilson went, called halt, and
broke up the convention to pre-
vent fusion with the Democrats.
Mark Hanna's money must be
at work. If desired, the anthem
ITCHY of the above despatch can
be proved.
81 never received such a telegram"
said Mr. Wilson. II do not know wheth-
er it was sent or not. My purpose is
to try to prevent the endorsement of
any Democrat by Populist for Con-
gress in any district unless the Demo
Gratis will endorse Populists in other
districts IL the Fifth district Popu
lists ought to vote for Kitchin to beat
Settle. the Fourth district Democrats
ought to vote for Strowd to beat the
Republican nominee. That is my po-
sition.'
Secretary Hyams, of the Republican
committee, received yesterday a letter
from his Democratic brother saying
in connection with the alleged scarcity
of money at Republican headquarters:
''Sorry you are so short of funds;
what's the matter with HANNAH" Tbs
Hanna mystery is no deeper than that
other mystery of Pritchard's signing
the Mantle free silver resolutions and
then declaring at Hendersonville for
the ST. Louis gold plank These are
twin mysteries; Hanna and the Re
publican turn-about against silver.
Clear up the latter mystery and Hanna
and his mystery come dead easy
Mr.. Theo. Kluttz found out yester-
day that if he went to Fayetteville to
keep his appointment last night, there
would have been no way for him to
get to Charlotte in time to keep his
appointment there tonight. So that
he had to give up Fayetteville, and
will be in Charlotte tonight, as sched-
uled,
The Republican State Executive
IL al tn