The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-02-05
Shuford Ready to Sacrifice Of
fee For Him.
THAT TAX ON COTTON TIES
Will be Ready to Explain at the
Proper Time.
WHY HE HASN'T MADE A SPEECH
Settle Looks Wise as a Real Statesman
But Saws Nothing When Asked
About His Negro
Secretary.


Shuford few days ago. He said he
wanted it understood that he would
sacrifice all the matter of office for
what he deemed to be loyalty to the
farmer: that he himself was farmer,
and thought he knew their interests.
He said that the Populists had not yet
been able to get proper recognition
from Reed, else he would have been
heard from more. | asked him about
that vote on the tariff bill, which taxed
the farmers ~ cents a bale on their
cotton-ties and bagging. He said he
knew what he was doing when he
voted for that and would have his
reason ready when the proper time
came.
1t is said that the Hog-Combine got
to be SO greedy that they turned out
a laborer on the Democratic side of
the House who had been there twenty
years. In retaliation, | am told that
the Democratic representatives are
boy-cotting him, and so he stands like
a statue tacitly labelled: Mud, or
Watching and Waiting
Senator Edmonds, who has been
about here for some days, is quoted as
having said that he thought it a bad
move in the Republicans to assume
the responsibility of reorganization
when they had no certain powers; but
that having gone too far in this re-
gard, did not warrant them in making
matters worse by bringing about any
change now in Senate officials. This
comes to me pretty straight, and,
though it is not thoroughly confirmed,
| give it for what it is worth.
Representative Hill, of Connecticut,
Yesterday introduced a bill to increase
the circulation of National Banks, and
TO provide for the retirement of United
States legal tender notes and Treas
ury notes.
[ am told by prominent Louisville
politician that he considers 1t almost
a certainty that Breckenridge will be
returned to Congress next time. This
gentleman said that Breckenridge was
beat by only 200 votes last time. and,
moreover, by a queer coincidence the
leaders of the Blackburn forces now
were the leaders of the Breckenridge
forces during his campaign. The
theory is that should the Senatorial
election be STAYED off until the nxet
legislature, Blackburn would withhold
his opposition of last time in order to
catch the force of the Breckenridge
people during the next time. Tins,
said the gentleman, would surely elect
Breckenridge. But even should this
not happen, he thought that Breck-
inridge could easily overcome the
majority against him which was, as
stated, only some 200. Moreover, it
was considered that the present in
cumbent. also, Mr.. Owen, was not al
together free from assailbale points.
| wired last night the story of Mr..
Thomas Settle and his negro private
secretary. At least that is how the
negro introduces himself, and how he
regards himself, and how others re-
gard him, as proved by my despatch.
When Mr.. Settle went to the post
Office for his mail yesterday morning,
why did he not correct the impression
of the post-office officials, if their inn
preston was erroneous? He must
have known what their impression was
because it was stated In the News and
Observer of both Saturday and sun
dav that this negro introduced himself
TO the post-office as his private secre-
tarv. Mr.. Settle was quoted as saying
that there was no truth in the state
ments that the negro was his private
secretary: the negro made the state
ment: then why did he not tell the
post-oflice men what he is alleged TO
have told the Raleigh correspondent OF
the Charlotte paper?
This is a very pertinent question Tor
Mr. Settle to answer.
Those who know Mr.. Settle can well
recall his expression when he waves
off a newspaper reporter by saying,
Its no good, etc." they may recall
that supercilious droop Of the eye, and
the lift of the head and the bnncombe
racket played by the "dry-smoke
trick with cigar twirling important
Nv i'm the corner of the mouth. That
'sdry-smoke' draw is "busted-fiush"
affair which don't win pots every time.
1t is an worn trick with politicians
who want to look old and world-wise,
and Drowned in the service of their
countrv-as a meerschaum pipe--meI-
low men of deep minds-the self
imagined leader of complex movements
and the centre of midnight caucuses-
in your mind. If Mr. Settle wishes TO
audible on the word Private Secre-
tary" by way Of difference in defni-
ton. the fact remains that the negro
Corbett has been doing the duties OF
private secretary. so pFociaims nm
self. and bv corroborative agreement
is so considered. BY the bye, does NOT
Mr.. Settle pay Corbett out of the allow
ance given Congressman for clerk,
which is not of record IT matters
not here about the smallness or great
ness Of the offence 10 the white voters
of the fifth district--the matter Is
that Mr.. Settle don't want 10 come
playing big statesman with bis TWEEN
fs-six-year-old ways, which are 4. y
('s 10 men whose observation has not
zen confined to the fifth district Mr.
$ lr is young, not as awful cute as
he thinks he is, maybe little top
heavy on account of imagined pull with
s.ra a little too SeIf-cOmplaisant OF