The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-02-10
MUST BEGIN TO ORGANIZE
ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY
SPRTILL TALKS.
STATE COMMITTEE MEETING HERE
Mr.. SpruiII Thinks It's Time to Quit Talking
and go to Work.-He Points Out Some
Weak Points in Democratic Cam
paign Methods.

Assistant District Attorney Frank ).
Spruill, who has been here this week
attending Federal court, is Democrat
of the straightest sect. He is a silver
man from way-back, and he is very
anxious for the State to be regained by
the politically honest and decent men in
it, Hence he naturally looks forward
with much interest to the meeting Of the
State committee here soon.
Mr.. Sprull is himself worker in sea-
son and out of season, and he wants to
see the committee take some aggressive
steps looking to organization and active
campaign work.
Discussing the general outlook now
and the prospects for Democratic sue
cess next fall. Mr.. Spruill said:
The policy of the Democratic party
in its campaign, by reason of it's long
ascendency in the State, has come to be
more a matter of demonstration than of
actual work. We pay more attention To
the symbols of war than to the actual
war itself. We are great at throwing
our broidered flags to the breeze and
posing as veterans; but while we are
marching and conference.-the, our
enemies make a sudden sOrtie and cap
ture a whole detachment of our forces.
Now as an illustration of the truth
of what l say, just refer to the Demo
cratic literature Immediately succeed
ing the two last elections. Every Dem
ocratic newspaper in the State. in cast
ing up the results of the elections. said
in chorus, If the campaign had lasted
ten days longer we would have won
easily
Il think it was David B. Hill, or if
not he, then that Gamatiel at whose feet
he sat-Samuel j. 1ilden, who said that
the three things which won elections
were first, organization, second. organ.-
cation, third organization. Yet | doubt
if there has been even a meeting of a
Democratic county Executive commit
fee in the State in sixteen months. On
the other hand the Populists and Repub-
licans rarely let a month go by without
having meeting of their executive
committees and leading men to discuss
ways and means.
Tickets in n great many Of the eOun-
ties of the State have already q been
agreed upon. plans have been fOrrhulat-
ed, and methods devised to hold and to
increase present strength.
why, in the two last campaigns we
were whipped before ever the battle was
opened.
Il am glad that the Democratic Ex-
ecutive committee is called to meet
soon. Certainly the trend of sentiment
is in our favor. The Thought and opin-
ion of the great rank and file is most
apt TO be correct, and assuredly the
chronicle Of scandal and inefficiency. of
corruption and debauchery. that has
been recorded in the newspapers from
day to day. has made the people who
turned away from Democracy in all sin
certify of purpose and intention. draw
back in loathing and disgust. and yet
even this evident change which is going
on in the public mind has been the pro-
duct not of Democratic missionary work.
but rather of natural reaction 1t seems
to me. therefore, that the policy of our
committee soon to meet should he to
mobilize, as it were. the great Demo-
cratic army in the State. The command
from headquarters should be. Demo-
Gratis. attention! forward march, The
greatest military product Of history, with
few exceptions, is the Duke of yelling