The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-02-25

tween Representative Settle and Sena-
tor Pritohard-settle Winning
Fighter.
Raleigh, N. c., February 24-Although
the Republican State Convention which
will select delegates to the st. Louis
gathering has not yet been called by the
State Executive Committee, a red hot
contest is already on between the Nc
kinley forces and the partiasns of
Speaker Reed, with chances at present
about even. The contest will be an in
teresting enc, both in and out of the Re-
publican party, as two of the strongest
Republicans in the state are .pitted
against each other for the first time
These party giants are Senator Jeter c.
Pritchard and Representative Thomas
Settle. both of whom are more or less
prominent in party councils. Senator
Pritchard is looking after the interests Of
Mr.. Mo Kinley, and Mr.. Settle is the
champion of the cause OF Mr.. Reed. In
this direct fight the interests of Messrs.
Morton and Allison are seemingly suffer-
SETTLES RECORD.
Representative Settle has a better fight
ing record than the man against whom
he is working. Mr.. Settle first became
an important factor in North Carolina
politics when he was elected solicitor of
his judicial circuit by q very creditable
majority in the face of an unbroken
record Of Democratic victories. Within
two years after this success he was elected
to Congress by majority which seemed
to change that district from Democratic
to a Republican stronghold. In this CAM
palen he WAS opposed by a Democrat, a
Popuiist and a Prohibitionist, and the
returns after careful sitting, showed a
big Republican majority over all.
Sentor Pritchard, while he has a good
record as a Republican leader, never
gained purely popular victory. In 1894
he was candidate for Congress in his
district but was beaten by his Democratic
opponent. he was, however, prominent
as representative of the Republican
topulist fusion and for that reason was
brought forward as a successor to Senator
| Vance. The fusion Legislature reoog-
Dized his claim, and he was elected.
Prominence as a fusionist will not be
| likely to add to the Senators popularity
rs Republican leader. Fusion appears
to DO dead in North Carolina. Senator
Butler and Senator PrItchard do not
act in unison in political matters as they
did hope of the success Of either Populiste
or Republican. This may he because the
Populist Senator representing the views
of the most radical Of his party has not
had that unwavering support he expected
from his Republican colleague in the
Senate. The free coinage rock is where
they have split.
It is easy to see that the Repu blicanf
of the State-those who are identified
with the party because of their devotion
to its principles-are going to line up be-
hind the man who has made success
through steadfast devotion to his party
rather than the one who has gained tenn
porary ascendanoy through trade with
a party whose principles differ so widely
from Repubiicanism as do those of the
Populist. II there ia no chs nge in sent IT,
ment and prospects are like present con-
ditions Representative Settle will un-
quetsionably have the call on the delega.
tion in support Of Speaker Reeds candi-
daCy