The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-02-28
SOME HOT SPARKS
And Burning Cinders Are Fly
ing from the Pc itical Anvil.
Mr.. PRlTCHARD's LETTERS
LETTERS FROM HIS COMMITTEE
ROOM TO BOLTING POPS.
NO. Mr.. teNRr; NO. MR.. ABBOTT
Say The Bolting Pops---How the Breth
rem Are Dwelling in Peace and Har-
mony--The House an Organ
lied Mob Yesterday.
ICED Mob Yesterday.

monY-- The House an Organ
lied Mob Yesterday.
Friday morning the mail for the Sena-
tors was larger than usual.
Resting lightly in the mail box, just be-
hind The chair of the presiding officer,
were four letters, one in the "B'' box, one
in e." one in TO- and one in "W."
They were all post-marked Washington
the committee Of which Senator Prateh-
ard is chairman. They may have been
addressed by Senator Pritchard, or some
body in Washington may have borrowed
four Of his envelopes for four certain
boiling Populists by the names Of Bar
ker, of Lincoln; Early of Berthe; Odom,
of Anson and Wakefield, of Caldwell.
On the previous night-that is the say
/ Thursday nigiht-these four Popuhsts
who voted for Pr1tchard, attended a eau
Gus in which it was unanimously resOlV-
ed to support the anti-lease bill. There
was one exception. Mr.. Earnhardt, a
Populist Senator, was excused because
he lives under the shadows Of the new
Southern Railway shops at Salisbury.
The rest were all standing on the plat
form of the Populist State convention
which demanded the annulment of the
lease No railroad shops were building
in their neighboI'hoOd to give them cause
to reptldiate their party platform and
campaign pledges.
Why should Senator Pritchard write
to these Senators, so timing his letters
that they should reach the four-and
exactly to the right four-on the morn
ing of the day when the lease bill was
TO be considered?
Following the receipt Of these letters,
as has been chronicled already, Senator
Wakefield was taken aside by Col An
drews in the Senate chamber for a brief
interview. 1t would be interesting to
know what passed between these two ar
dent friends in their short whispered con-
ference. 1t will. perhaps, never be known.
All that is known Is that Col. Andrews
returned to his seat looking happier and
better satisfied, and Senator Wakefield
took his seat with an expression of Henry
Clay compromise" on face
that seemed to carry an indictment and
conviction Tor rather lack Of conviction)
of itself. Later in the day, though hav-
ing always said he would vote to annul
the lease, and declaring on the Senate
floor Il came to Raleigh against the
lease" he voted for what he termed a
Henry Clay compromise" though those
who saw him talk to Col Andrews said
he voted for a Wakefield compromise"
1t has also been published that Senator'S
Early and Odom, after the morning ses-
sion, made a call by way of the back
door to see Yice-President Andrews, the
blinds of whose office were closed during
the interview If these Senators called
merely to pay social call or to transact
business, why did they sneak in through
the dark cavenous back entrance, was
it an accident that the blinds were closedy
Had Barker already seen the great rail-
road magnate? or did he slip in unOb-
served? or when he betrayed his party
pledge to vote for Pritchard was it then
understood THAT he was also, as a part
of the transaction, to also repudiate the
platform declaration against The lease?
Did the letters from Washington City
and the visits to Vice President Andrews
have any connection?
What persuasons We're employed to in
duce Barker, Wakefield and Odom to
vote against their party platform through
out? Early voted in the interest of the
railway on one amendment. There was
evidently a struggle going on with him.
In his speech explaining his vote this
struggle got to the surface for a moment.
He suppressed it, and voted against the
substitute.
There was a story going the rounds yes
terday about Senator Sharp, of
Wilson. He is a life long Republican.
Ten days ago he was understood to be
in favor of the bill to annul the lease,
and in the preliminary motions when
the bill reached the Senate, Mr. Sharp
voted with those who desired to annul
In the calculations Of both sides he was
put down for annulment A few days ago
he began to express doubt whether, UNI
der a six per cent law, the State ought
to exact higher rental for the railroad.
This was evidence unmistakable that he
had weakened. But he had not gone
all the way. He voted on the railroad
side every time but one, and then he
voted for the amendment to make the
rental per cent
Why did Senator Sharp flop? 1t is not
believed by those who know him that he
would take br:be, or that he could be
influenced by money. Here is a possi-
BILE explanation: Pritchard promised him
in january TO make him postmaster at
Wilson. The term of the postmaster
there would not expire for few months
to come But shortly after Pritchard's
election. the postmaster at Wilson died.
This made a vacancy. Representative
Woodland secured the appointment Of
VIII Harris, chief deputy in the office,
a nephew of ex-Chief Justice Shepherd.
That was three weeks ago. A telegram
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