The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-03-26
IS SKINNER On TOP?
Does His Written Contract
Make Him Dictator?
PRiTCHARD'S MINOR PLACE
1--WE MUST STAND BY COMPACT
OF DECEMBER NINTH.
SILVER MEN FULLY CONFiQENf


Japans Adoption of the Gold Standard
Silver Victory--Senaror Jones
Talks Sense-.Capt. Lemly Hon
ored--Other N. c. News.
Washington, March 25.-(Special)-
The settlement of the judgeship contest
has been postponed for thirty days, ow-
ing to SINNERS ''pernicious activity
The Republicans are all upset about it.
skinner is the meanest man in North
Carolina" said one of them to-day.
1t was in order to head off Skinner that
Pritchard and Linney agreed ON Milli-
ken for the marshalshp of the Western
district, Milliken being from the same
Congressional district as Undertake, a
fact which would block SINNERS game
since two such offices as marshals and
judges would hardly be given to the same
district, even if it were represented by
Republican.
Pearson kicked against Milliken be-
cause he wants his friend, b. B. Nc
Gaia, sheriff of Pennsylvania county to
be marshal and Skinner kicked because
he wanted Undertake Cor judge, and
hence, Milliken's appointment has been
indefinitely postponed. The matter fur
nishes Q pretext for row between Pear
son and Pritchard, however, and IS there
fore important
Purnell will start homewards tO-mor-
row. He hopes to be the compromise
candidate between Price and Undertake.
Marshall Mott arrived here to-day and
registered at the National Hotel. He
will inquire into the situation with ref
erence to the attOrneyship of the West
ern district and compel Pritchard and
Linney to show their hands.
Claudius Dockery is also at the Nation
al Hotel, which is crowded tonight with
North Carolinians.
A general upheaval and a new deal
all around is said to have taken place
during the day. The result of which will
probably be the shelving of Holton, Mil
liken, Rollins and Purnell.
The President and the Attorney Gen
eral are amazed at the fickleness Of
North Carolina politicians. They can't
understand the shifting ground on which
Tar Heel ofice-seekers stand
There is fun here at this time. Skin
ner is showing his teeth to Andrews and
Pritchard and is giving the Republican
leaders more trouble than he ever gave
to Ransom or Butler. In fact, he has set
out to boss the whole job so far as
North Carolina patronage is concerned
and it is said that he has the necessary
documents to accomplish his purpose
One of these is dated last May, another,
last August, and another last Deem
Der. These documents are said to put
him in the same position as if he were the
Senator from the Eastern part of the
State. As these facts have leaked out by
degrees there has been marked change
in the situation. Republican headquar-
tiers for North Carolina has been trans
ferred from Pritchard's Office in the
Maltby Building to the National Hotel.
Pritchnrd has lost his place on the Sen
ate steering committee and the sceptre
has departed from the prophet of Nola-
chucky. He realizes the situation and
is trying to let himself down easy. Last
Sunday he said:
II am a believer in the home rule
theory, and if were to go outside of the
respective districts, would be setting a
precedent which would return to plague
me for all time to come"
This amounts to an abdicatiOn, and
means that it won't do to ignore Skin
ner'S ''indentureS in writing, which
make Skinner practically the autocrat Of
the -Populist combine in the
State and place Pritchard in the attitude
of a mere creature of the man to whom
he sold himself and his party for the
sake of an Office. For it is now claimed
that Skinner bought Pritchard and the
Republican party instead of Pritchard's
buying Skinner and his II Populists.
This is the reason why the Republican
Senators deposed Pritchard from his
place ON the steering committee Pear
SON, Boyd, Settle, Holton, and Linney
are inclined to fight their new boss, but
Hanna and the President know the real
state Of the case and will not help the
rebels. eve must stand by the compact
of December g." say they. And so the
gentlemen who went to SINNERS house
for wool have foundthemselves shorn.
1.-The best laid schemes of men and
mice gang aft agley."
Senator Jones, chairman of the Ma
tional Democratic Executive Committee,
shares the faith Of all other silver men
that the cause will continue to grow in
popular favor. The Republicans and gold
Democrats declare in public that ''the
craze is dying out" but admit in private
that it will sweep the country in 1898
and 1900 unless good times are restored.
Mr.. Jones has just returned from trip
West, whore he travelled as far as Salt
Lake City and conferred with number
of silver leaders. In conversation with
. representative OF the Star Mr.. Jones
said:
II foxnA the people still pinched for
money, and inpatientiy awaiting that
wave Of prosperity. 1t was first booked
for the 9th Of November; then for the
9Th instant, and now the promise held
cut is that ii will certainly arrive as soon
az the tariff bill becomes a law. They
DO not, OF course, expect it at all by the
means new being employed to produce
it. They know that it cannot be pro
iuced by Increased taxation. They are
Pnv al l.