The evening times., 1898-12-26
POLITICS IN THE
TAR heel State
Colonel Lusk Likely to Sue
ceed Senator Pritchard.
DETAILS OF THE DEAL
Ewart's Defeat as United States
Judge Considered Probable.
Governor RusselPs Part i'm the Pro-
gram, and His Recent Visit to
This City.

Hamilton c. Ewart for confirmation as
judge of the United States Court for the
western district of North Carolina, the
nomination and instant confirmation OF
Senator Jeter G. Pritchard to succeed
Ewart, and the appointment of Col. Virgil
S. Lusk of Asheville by Gov. Russell as
the successor of Pritchard, is the new
deal that is now on foot in this State,
and the facts in corroboration thereof
are in the following story:
1t is well konwn that Senator J. c.
Pritchard desired TO be appointed United
States judge for the western district OF
this State to fill the vacancy caused by the
retirement of Judge Robert p. Dick. AT
the time Judge Dick retired from the
bench it was thought by President Nc
Kinley and the Republican Senators that
1t would be inexpedient for Mr.. Pritchard
to leave the Senate at that time, as the
legislature to be elected in 1898 might con-
tain a majority of Democrats, and the
successor of Mr.. Pritchard would in that
event be Democrat. This precaution
was we'll taken, as the recent election
proved. Now that the elections in the
StdltS nave SItdiIS iltItdotu lut NJ
publican majority in the Senate after
March next, the reason against the re-
tirement of Mr.. Pritchard from the Senate
does not exist, and the control of that
body would not be imperilled by the cleo
ton of a Democrat to succeed Mr.. Pritch-
ard. In view of these facts, it is now said
that when the name of ex-Congressman
E-pra n Sem
ate some months ago as the successor of
Judge Dick it had a string tied to it. 1t
is believed that Ii was understood by Gov
Russell and Senator Pritchard that
Ewarts nomination would not be acted
upon at the session when he was nominat-
ed, and that il should go over until after
the election of this year. This delay was
for the purpose OF taking in the whole
situation after the result of the election
was known.
The plan thus far has been faithfully
! carried out. Ewart has not been con-
firmed, and the result of the election
opens the way for Senator Pritchard To
retire from the Senate and accept a lie
position on the United States bench. Gov
ernor Russell is very anxious to have
Pritchard made judge. When in Wash
ington few days ago Governor Russell
| had Il long conference with Senator
SpcOIitir Is St llcuiDtL VI tIlC sun
| committee which has been investigating
| the charges preferred against Mr.. Ewart.
| 1t IS given out that the Governor unfold
| ed the plan in full, and that he urged the
| Senator to prevent the confirmation of
| Ewart 1t is we'll known that Ewart was
| not the choice of Pritchard for judge, but
| that he was the personal choice of Presi-
| dent Mckinley. because Ewart was Il
/ strong supporter of the President when
! he was a candidate for Speaker against
! Mr. Reed. Russell wants to get Pritc h
! ard out of the Senate, so that he can APP
/ point his successor and thus have i
! friend in the Senate who will control and
/ direct the Federal patronage for the next
| two years.
/ The man selected by Governor Russell
J for Senator is known TO be Col. Virgil
| S. Lusk, of Asheville. Lusk has bitterly
| fought Ewart's confirmation, and is
| keeping up his antagonism. A few weeks
ago Governor Russell was IN ASheville,
/ and talked this matter over with Lusk
| and Pritchard. The latter said, of course
that he must Loyalty and faithfully stand
by Ewart, and while he may do this the
| Republican Senators we'll know thai
| Pritchard desires the Judeship in the
! event of Ewart's defeat.
| When in Washington few days age
Gov. Russell saw President Mckinley
and talked this matter over with him.
! in view of the failure of the Senate tC
| confirm the nomination of Ewart. The
! principals heretofore did not desire theil
plans to reach the public before they
! were executed, but they say they are
! willing to take the public into their con-
fidence. The President can and vii
| doubtless provide for Mr. Ewart some
| thing equally good the judgship.'
| The opinion has been expressed that
the North Carolina legislature being
Democratic, Pritchard will not leave the
Senate. 1t is not intended that the va.
| cancy in the Senate shall occur until af
| ter the legislature adjourns, which vii
be about the middle of March next. Ther
the governor can appoint, and his ap
pointee will serve as Senator until the
! legislature elected in 1900 elects his sue
cessor.
This part or the plan may be upset b,
| the adjournment of the legislature, q:
has been suggested by the Democratic
| leaders. and which seems to have beer
generally agreed upon. This threa tened
destruction of a portion of the deal be
tween Russell and Pritchard will not in
terfere with the plan which has beer
carefully outlined, and which is in courst
| of accomplishment.
1t is desirable that Lusk be permitted t
serve in the Senate until his successor i
duly elected by the legislature, and tn.
proba bility that this part of the plan ma,
fail of success will not be allowed to Sc
cure confirmation of Ewart. The best lie
gal minds of the Senate are against Ew
| art and with the understanding tha
Pritchard desires the judgeship, it is cas-,
to predict the defeat of Ewart by a vot
or by the failure of the Senate to act up
| on the nomination. Senator Butler is il
favor of the deal. He is intensely hostil,
to Ewart, and is using every effort to de
feat his confirma ton. He prefers Lusk t,
Pritchard and Russell. Butler and .Lusl
| would pull together in the effort to say,
| something out of the political wreck o
| last month. Pritchard is convinced tina
he can have only one term in the Senate
and he is very willing to step out, provid
ed he lands in a life situation.
OF course Senatorial courtesy would in
stantly compel his confirmation. 1t is no
supposed that Mr.. Mckinley is a part,
to the conspiracy to defeat the confirma
ton of Mr. EWart; on the other hand
| is believed that the President earnestI,
desires his confirmation. 1t is equally Ger
tain that the President would be delghte
to nominate Pritchard for the judgeshi
| should Ewart fail of confirmation. TIL
recent trip of Gov. Russell to Washington
was given out to be for the purpose o
looking after the war claims of the State
which are hung up in the Treasury De
partment but it now appears that it wa
| for the purpose of pushing along and Civ
ing impetus to the deal which is here sc
| forth.
| Hntol .y0hn90r CRfax