The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-09-18
FvFRY CONGRESSMAN
MUST PROMISE TO VOTb FOR
THu REPEAL OF THIS LAW.
HOT FIGHT FOR EASTERN DIST. ATTY.
Radical Politicians Contend That the First Dis
tict IS Getting Too Much and This Plum
viii Not go to Bernard Without
desperate Struggle.

UeSpeIdte ouuSStc'
.'There's many a slip between the cup
and the hp'' and the truth of this proverb
was never more fully realized than 1t Is
by the Republicans to-day. A victory
without the offices is no victory at ALL Is
the opinion Of every Radical politician.
The existence of that party here de-
pends ON being able to bestow Office ana
hence their zeal to wipe out the present
civil service laws which are so odlous
in the eyes OF their office seekers. Ihelr
antagonism arises not from principle,
but from greed. A prominent Republican
said yesterday that il something wasn't
done In this matter Pritchard and, as far
that, the party too were doomed IN TINS
State.
The same feeling seems to prevail in
other States for yesterday Mr.. G. Il.
Bailey received the following letter from
w. D. Lester, secretary of the National
Republican Anti-Civil Service League
with headquarters at Hotel Zurich In
Washington.
Dear Sir: Knowing your views to be
thoroughly antagonistic to the present
civil service law, this league has no hes
itancy IN writing you to assist In futher-
ing it's plans to secure at the coming ses-
sion of Congress the modification or re-
peal OF the law.
1.-THE League is composed entirely of
Republicans representing every State III
the Union, who, while they have hereto
fore endorsed a reasonable civil service
system, do not approve of a system
which continues in office for life the ST.
600 office holders of the Government.
'This League does not believe that
the theory of life tenure in office for
any set of officials Excepting the Su-
nreme co,1rt) is consistent with the
genius of our free American instltu-
tons. and are determined to fight this
principle which, is so thoroughly English
In origin and long step toward a mon
archial form of government in this coun-
try. The law is generally obnoxious in
all its features.
1--WE wish to encourage the local press
to take up the question; to form Leagues
IN the various counties and voting pre-
cincts of the country; and to petition
Congress at its coming session to act
upon the question.
please give the latter your early at
tention and if you find it impossible ito
act, the League would like to have you
designate some energetic and trustworthy
Republican in your section who would
push forward the organization of the
League in the districts surrounding you"
The president of the League is A. M.
Clapp, OF New York, and the other Off
GERS are scattered all over the Union.
All the Republicans here seem heartily
with the League. Clerk of the District
Court Junius Brutus Fortune says that
he never heard of a Republican in North
cnd RI vii
service.
The plan for the Leagues work is not
definitely known, but it is understood
from one in the movement that every
Republican candidate for Congress in
every district in the United States viii
be made, if possible, to pledge himself to
vote for the repeal of this law. This
Republican politician says that the party
doesn't need Mugwump votes now and
they can afford to take this course every
where. This League may lead to bit
ter fight with the President if they are
in any wise successful and if he contin-
ues to hold his present views on this
question.
There is one other matter which is be-
ing much specialized upon by the Repub-
leans now and that is who will be the
next United States attorney for this, the
eastern district or North carolina. I'm
til recently the opinion seemed to pre-
vail that Solicitor Claude Bernard would
succeed District Attorney G. Il. Aycock,
but, while some may still hold this opn-
ion, many of the members Of the ring
here say that it will be G. A. Cook, of
Warren. Cook is sand to be now in
Marshall, the Canton of North Carolina,
closeted with Senator Pritchard and ac-
cording to reports when he returns he
will virtually have the plum in his pocket.
The politicians contend that the first
Congressional district is getting too much
and if this appointment goes there they
say that it will raise howl from the
other districts 1t is understood that
Duncan or Cobb, both Of the first district
will be appointed collector of internal
revenue and Wheeler Martin, of the same
district is said to be slated for assistant
district attorney, hence much opposition
has developed against any first district
man for the attorneyship. This promises
to be a merry fight and which ever way
it goes some body and his influence will
be against the Senator in future.
PONIES ASSESSMFNT