The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-09-09

Pritchard's candidate, and that | was
Governor Russell's, and that it would
be grievously discOurteous to the Sen
ator to have his candidate turned down
| in Il convention right here in his own
home district. My friends tried to
counteract the effect of this argument
by letters and kilograms from Senator
Pritchard contradicting it, but the mat
ter had gone too far for the Senator +
disclaimer to do me any good.
II. Mr.. Hendricks had written let
tcrs to the delegates, or many of them,
stating that Senator Pritchard had en-
dOrsed him to Governor Russell for APP
appointment to this judgeship in case Il
vacancy had occurred in the office by
Judge Norwood's impeachment by the
last legislature, and claiming that Gov
ernor Russell had promised to appoint
him: that he had made this promise i'll
specific terms to Senator Pritchard;
that Governor Russel's appointment
Of me was an act of bad faith towards
Senator Pritchard, which ought to be
rebukcd by my defeat. My friends had
Il telegram from Governor Russell de-
nying cmphaticalIy that he had ever
made any such promise, but it came
too late to do me any good.
-. 1t was very strongly urged that
my nomination would lose the election
of Mr.. Pearson in this Congressional
district; that it would cost him 300
votes in Madison county alone, and
fabulous numbers elsewhere: that his
interest was paramount to mine; that
n this alleged conflict of interest be-
tween Mr.. Pearson and me, mine of
course should yield. The delegate from
Cherokee county, who seconded Mr..
Hendricks nomination. as | am inform
ed, made this contention the burden of
his speech.
IF there was anything else urged
against my nomination at the convcn-
ton it was not made manifest. Sing,
the convention adjourned, | have heard
WhisperingS of underground villainy
against me in the four western coun-
ties, perpetrated just few days before
The meeting of the convention, and to
which | had no opportunity to reply.
With all the persuasive eloquence
which my friends could bring to bear.
not a single delegate from any of those
four counties could be induced to give
me his vote. And yet / had letters
from both Clay and Graham counties,
dated less than two weeks before the
convention, saying | would certainly
get the solid vote of both those counties.
The letter from Clay was from IA dele
gate, and the one from Graham was
written by one of the leading Republ-
cans of the county, who said he had
cen and talked with both the delegates.
and that they were both heartily for
my nomination. The mysterious change
n these counties, within a period of
two weeks may have been in part
wrought. | suppose by the underground
;illainy TO which | have already refer
red
My friends insist that the following
reasons had much to do with my de-
feat:
1T is well known fact that | am Il
special friend to Governor Russell and
Colonel Lusk; it is also well known that
both these gentlemen think the people
If the State have some rights and in
erests paramount to the rights and in
erests of certain corporate Influences in
The State. They may both be guilty of
astonishing temerity in SO thinking, but
hat they think so remains Il fact, never
.heless. 1t is a well known fact that
Mr. Hendricks is a railroad attorney:
I is asserted by a delegate who saw it |
that he went to the convention on a
rec pass. My friends, therefore. think
hat the corporate interests referred to
lid not want me. the friend of Governor
Russell and Colonel Lusk on the bench
and used its influence against me and in
favor of its attorney. | do not know
low that was.
My own opinion is that the claim
that Mr.. Hendricks was Senator
pritchard's candidate, and the still
stronger claim that my nomination
would put Mr.. Pearson in jeopardy,
we're the two contentious that caused
my defeat. The fact that IA majority
of the delegates were made to believe
hat Senator Pritchard wanted Mr.
Hendricks nominated, of course. gave
his candidacy Il strong lead over mine;
and it is a well known fact of current
political history, that when the ambi-
ton Of any man in the Republican party
II this district conflicts with Mr.. Pear
sons interest something must be done
with it. 1t is sometimes thought best to
smother that ambition with an office
sometimes it is thought best to beat it. |
In my case ii was thought best to pursue |
the latter course, and so | was done up
in fine style.
Il believe | will add, if you be kind
onough to print it, that some of my |
friends claim that Major Rollins, the |
postmaster mt Asheyile. from motives |
of personal enmity secretly stabbed my |
candidacy. This must be IA mistake. |
+Or | was assured by the major and
ONE of my friends were assured by
him, that he was not only not opposed |
20 my candidacy, but was really my
friend in the contest; and his high
character ESPECIALLY for truth would |
seem to fully Justify my doubling this
ehargc of duplicity against me-"