The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-12-17
PRlTcHaRD's ALTER EGO.
SENATOR THURSTON WILL TAKE
HIM IN SPITE OF SILVER VIEWS.
a Gauzy Estimate of Pritchard's Con-
sistency ard Greatness For North
Carolina Consumption.
iYYnshington Posl.l

washington Postl
| Reports have. been current Of late in
North Carolina to the effect that the
National Republican committee was
seeking the reelection OF Senator Pritch-
ard. whose term expires March 4 next,
in order that his vote might be secured
to aid any Republican financial PROPOSE
tion that might come before the next
Congress. 1t has also been alleged in.
Populist sources that Senator Pritchard
has agreed to support any measure that
the gold monometallists OF New York
may advocate. To these reports vigor-
ous denial has been entered, particularly
by Senator Thurston, of Nebraska, who,
knowing Mr.. Pritchard quite intimate
ly. is, perhaps, better able than any other
member of the committee TO speak with
some authority on the matter. With these
campaign stories in his mind. Senator
Thurston yesterday afternoon said:
$50 far as l am advised OF the views
of which | am member, concerning the
of the Republican National committee,
Senatorial situation in North Carolina,
they are these:
s"rhe Republicans seem certain Of for
ty-two seats in the next Senate. II Mr..
Mantle. of Montana, should act with us,
as l hope he will at least on tariff mat
ters, we will have forty-three. We would
then need at least two more votes to-
gether with the vote of the Vice-Presi-
dent, to secure the passage of tariff act.
We hope to secure those two votes from
Kentucky and North Carolina.
1.-THE members of the National COM
mittee. so far as ] know their senti-
ments, are very anxious that a Republi-
can tariff measure should become opera
tive at the beginning Of the next fiscal
year. July /. 1t seems almost evident
that no tariff legislation of satisfactory
character can pass Congress- and become
a law at this session. The expectation is
that such law can be passed at the
extraordinary session. to be called soon
after the 18th of March.
Senator Pritchard is the choice of the
Republicans of North Carolina He
came into the Senate two years ago with
views very Favorable to the use of sill
yer as money. We understand that he
is still a friend of snvers For my own
part / thoroughly understand that Sena-
tor Pritchard has been opposed and is
opposed to anything which tends toward
gold recommendation. His silver views,
however, furnish no good reason why
we should not desire his return to the
Senate. He is strong protectionist;
has always been so. North Carolina has
vast interests that demand protection.
| feel certain, therefore. that in spite of his
| silver views he would be willing to assist
us in passing q tariff act with reasonable
| protective provisions, and / do not think
he would carry his friendship for silver
to the extent of trying TO force free
| silver amendment on our tariff bill.
| The National committee, if | under
| stand the feeling Of its members, is not
| particularly concerned about financial
! legislation; it has no such legislation to
| propose; it recognizes the fact that the
! country has declared in favor Of the Re
! publican policy Of projections; that the
] unemployed people of this country have
the first right to demand relief, and Sen
/ at0r Pritchards reelection may be abso-
lutely necessary to SECURE the passage of
Republican tariff measure. If he Il
/ defeated we are one vote more short in
the Senate; our ability to pass revenue
act is doubtful, and as a result the coun-
try may be left to suffer under the vii.
son bill without any chance of relief foI
the next two or three years. In add
ton to this, Senator Pritchard has won
the good will, esteem, and friendship OF
the members of the Republican Nationa
committee by the honest and manly man
ner in which he has carried on the can
yass OF the Republican party in Nortf
Carolina. He has not sought to misrep
resent his position on the silver question
or to mislead his own people or the Re
publicans of the country. If he come,
back into the Senate we know he will
still be friend Of silver.
Il understand it is claimed in som,
4 of the Populist papers in North Carolina
that the National committee is anxiou!
to secure Mr.. Pritchard's reelection il
the interest Of the so-called goldbugs o.
New York. If any assurance were nee
essary that the Republican National com
mittee is not dominated by the gold sen
timent or subservient to the demands OF
the gold men, it is found in the fact thai
we are practically united for tariff Iegis
lation and shall assist in every possible
way in securing it,