The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-01-17
JACK T-[2Al1y .

Some people are disposed to say to
themselves sometimes-as well az To
others: Il would like to be a political
leader like so and So and yet if they were
brought into as close personal contact
with these leaders as reporters of news
papers, they would detect many a moment
of agony that they would be gladly rid
Of For example during the Senatorial
battle that has ragged with varying for
tunes during the last say ten days, the
leaders in the fight have been under in
tense strain. Harry Skinner has been
leading the life of a veritable prisoner:
he has scarcely left his room even taking
his meals there. The locking OF his door
cuts no ice; there is always some one
to knock the next moment, and when the
door is creaked, the visitor is quite apt
10 be found to be a person who must be
allowed entrance, or must be parleyed
with outside.
To casual onlooker he battle is mar
rowed down to movements of leaders.
But there is a deep surging to and fro Of
lieutenants, watchers, newsgetters whose
movements are not seen on the surface.
placed such men for Pritchard as J. Wiley
Shook, Xxi Budger, Hendricks OF Madi-
son, Oscar Spears, while for Butler one
might well mention Jimmy Lloyd Hal
Aver, w. e. Fountain, Ohio Wilson.
y
There are not one OF these men who
were not up as late as three o'clock yes
terday morning, and most OF them until
five. OF course, this included the COM
manders-in-chief Pritchard and Butler,
though Mr. Pritchard's night was one of
intense suffering. He had n throbbing
headache, but met the stranger with his
usual urbane equanimity.
This .''urbane equanimity' is general
ly quality OF the central figure of q
political fight. Yet the peculiar manner
OF Mr.. Butler while it is encompassed
certainly by the word ''equanimity" is not
ordinarily so much 'urbane," as inoffen-
sively tolerant and watchful. The repor-
ter encounters two characters, indeed, in
these men, one about as hard to squeeze
a secret out of as the other, yet preserv-
ing his secrets each in an entirely differ
ent way. For example, Mr.. Pritchard
can tell a lot Of things To a man quite
cordially and unconcernedly and when
the words are shaken out by the reporter
he finds he has nothing left. Anybody
who may be happening to read this, let
him ask this question: "have / read any
interview with Senator Pritchard, since
this scrap began| He will be quite like
~ to answer, mo"
With Senator Butler, it is somewhat
different. When he is occupied upon any
point OF the contest, his suspicion and
coldness drop below freezing point His
voice even is frosty. but he is conscious
Of the fact that he is asked for an an
swer, and he gives one which one can
catch hold OF, but which after all is a
parry. He is the worse newsstand that
reporter can strike when he wants news
The best way for a reporter to take him
is to say that every answer has a pur-
pose, and il reporter is fighting Butler
it may be well to study out the purpose
OF his answer. For in the answer. with
tone and surroundings lies good story
IA sure as You are born.
Aud yet there is another side to both
these men. 1t is not purposed to divide
them up into Jekylls and Hydes; they
may both be Jeqylls plu something else
beside Hyde. But they are two separate
entities at different times Every other
fellow is no doubt, and no doubt every
man OF exceptional parts drops 10 the
plane Of men of less ability, when he
is not at work within the limits wherein
lies his special genius.
y For example to one who has made a
close study OF men, Butler viii be found
to have to be supreme master in the mat
ter OF organization. Some reporters in the
United States Senate gallery were listen
Ing 20 him some months ago in the midst
Of one OF his long speeches on the floor.
One Of them said: why did North Care
lima send that man TO the United States
Senate? He has no sense. Listen to
him." Well, it is true that Butler was
making poor out for he is at his worst
when on his feet, lacking the power OF
mental mastication, which is one of the
first if not the chiefest OF qualities OF the
orator, be he in the college hall or in the
Senate. Given that quality come all the
other elements OF growth as speech pro-
ceeds. But this is not about speeches or
speakers. To the reporter who had just
spoken another replied: I'm some respects
Senator Butler is as able as any man ON
that floor-in one respect, at least--he has
the gift OF organzation-gif with it
like watch full OF works-delicate
wheels, springs, cogs, polish and all.
Have you noticed that he has been in the
Senate only a few weeks? Have you no
tieed that he has been the Populist around
whom the other Populist Senators have
gathered? He has not gatherd around
any OF them?" The detractor was bound
TO admit this much. Then he went to
the convention and was the centre OF
complexus OF men, then as National
chairman he became the centre OF
more elaborate complexus. Butler is just
as safe to land in the centre OF group OF
men as a spider is to organize his elab-
crate web and take his seat on the bulls
eye.
But get him removed from his spe
cialty, and the power OF the man disap-
naarS ftar having done n brilliant niece