The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-02-25
The Mission of Smith and Pee
bIes Accomplished.
THEY TURN AGAIN HOME
Their Statesman-Like Program
in Full.
CONGRESSIONAL HonoRs EVEN
Either Judge Clark, Col. Julian S. Carr
or Capt. Thomas w. Mason to
be Allowed to Run For
(9avernor
Governor

Washington, Feb. "a (SpeciaI-
The mission of Capt. r.. B. PEBBLES and
Mr.. Ed Chambers Smith having been
satisfactorily performed, to them
selves, these two gentlemen returned
last night via the Norfolk boat. / saw
Congressman Lockhart and Wood
ard to-day touching the recent confer
ence and its object and while they
said they were ignorant as to the de-
fined limits of the purpose in view,
they were yet in favor of abiding in
the Ship" to use the expression of Mr..
Lockhart, and both of the gentlemen
We're disposed to endorse fully the in
teryiew with Congressman Shaw,
which appeared in Saturdays News
and Observer.
The entrance of Ed. Chambers Smith,
Esq, into the city of Washington was
luminous with that atmosphere which
always envelopes this prematurely
young barrister from Wake.
Mr.. Ed. Chambers Smith may always
be relied upon to be in advance of the
procession. He is gentleman with
long intellectual antennae. He feels
ahead. He sees way of getting the
thing. His speculative wings play
around an eternal center of sweetness
and light. But he must not forget
that he is fooling with fox-fire and blue
blazes when he gets to monkeying with
Messrs. Butler and Mott.
And it may be just as well to insert
parenthetically right here that the
prominent North Carolina Democrats
in Washington believe in maintaining
the integrity of the party organization
come what may. Among these are
Congressman Shaw, an interview with
whom / sent last week, Col. John S.
Cunningham and others. They all
say that this is no time for fanciful
theories, but for close cooperation.
| referred last night to Mr.. Smiths
plan. 1t contemplates coming to-
gether of the Populist and Democratic
parties through the medium of a So
called Silver party in some such way
as the different branches of the South
ern Railway were consolidated through
the amalgamating force of a. Richmond
Terminal Company. lit is ITO save the
State to the white people, says Mr..
Smith, and moreover, to instruct the
delegates to the National convention
to retire from the convention, in case
satisfactory silver plank is not insert
ed in the platform. The older faads
look upon this venture as DANGEROUS
While the remedy is not yet pointed
out they agree that even though such
plan as Mr. Smith suggests should be
able TO save the State, the Democratic
organization would find itself adrift
in case it retired from the National
convention. But there is no chance of
disintegrating the Democratic party
in the State by this method, OF any
other. Speaking to Congressman Lock-
hart on this subject he says that there
is q very considerable element Of the
Democratic party which would not
join IN such movement, for many rea-
sons, and specially for the reason that
this element referred to lack confidence
in the leadership Of either Mr.. Mott or
Mr.. Butler.
There have been impressions formed.
rightly or wrongly, that DR. Mott will
bring the Republican party out ct the
big end of his horn before lie gets
through, and nobody has any idea
that Butler would leave him out as
leader. This the Democrats would
never brook. That Mr.. Smith is not
influenced by patriotic motives is not
under discussion, but it is very peril
nent, as Col Cunningham remarked
to-day, to define the words patriot"
ard principle" before being baited by
these catch-words, so lately coined BY
Butler and his brethren.
Later information warrants me in
saying that the arrangement contem-
plated disposition as to the Congress
sionaI delegation also III the event
that the Democratic Congressman as
scented to the Smith-Peebles pro-
gramme, they were to be rewarded
with a return to Congress and no
mistake" But this wasn't an. "The
conference was even willing to reie
gate to private life Lord Pearson and
Thos. Settle and his "niggsar But 1T
was to be understood that Shuford.
skinner and Shaw were To be presery-
ed. But there were yet more Christ
mas gifts in their socks. Butler had
signified his willingness TO let either
one Of the following three gentlemen
ebe goyeI1lor-if the Democrats would
fall into line: namely, Judge Walter
Clark, Col. Julian S. Carr or Capt.
Thomas Mason. And all this was
stated to me by one who was author
lied to talk, with as much gravity as
solemnized Senator FrYe's reading Of
Washington's Farewell Address, on
Saturday last.
BY the bye, speaking Of senator
Frye's performance, one would have
thought that in the midst Of the full
attendance Of Senators that the two
from Virginia would have been there
ont Of respect to their late feilow-citi-
zen. George Washington. But no,
neither was there, nor was either Of
the North Carolina Senators. nor was
Tillman, except probably, for few
moments. And Senators Cockrill and
George both went to sleep during the
reading
Congressman Woodland says he will