The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-10-25
Writes a Letter Based on Race Pre-
judice and Puchase Of Arms
TROOPSlN GOVERNMENT SERVICE
Only Governor Russell Can Call for
Them, but This Would Probably
be His Excuse Should He DO
So-It is stated That
There j. No Founda-
ton For IL at All.

WASHINGTON, oct. A.-speclal-It is
said. on high authority that Senator Jeter
c. Prltchard. Of North Carolina, who
was in the city yesterday has made rep
reservations at Republican headquarters
TO the effect that there is grave danger Of
race war on election day, and stating
that Federal troops may be needed to
preserve order.
II Is said he has written to Chairman
Babcock, OF the Republican Congressional
Committee with reference to the mat
ter
MR.. BABCocK SAYS. NO.
I asked Mr.. Babcock this afternoon If
such reports had been made to him or to
any one at headquarters. He said NO
The Evening Star, recognized organ
OF the administration says this afternoon:
THE possibility OF having 70 send Fed
eral troops into North Carolina was dis
cussed at the White House by the Presi-
dent at an informal Cabinet meeting this
morning. The gravity Of the situation In
that State is felt by administration Off
cials here. and nobody knows what may
be the outcome
Senator Pritchard has written a letter
to Republican officials picturing the sit
uatiOn there, and saying that Governor
Russell may have TO call on President
Mckinley fl there Is not a change in the
situation. lie says that the State troops
are I'm the government service. and not
many are available to quen prospective
riots.
AT THD WHITE HOUSE
"There were with the President, Attor-
ney-General Griggs. Secretaries Alger.
Long and Hay The facts as set forth
by Senator Pritchard were discussed. OF
course the President has no power to
send Federal troops TO North Carolina
until the Governor has made requisltion
for them and sets forth hat he is unable
10 handle the situation with the forces at
his command. The President desires to
do nothing to give the appearance Of
using Federal troops at election times
when their presence might affect the cleo
tion.
THE letter OF Senator Pritchard was
written before the riot near Lumberton /
y. c., yesterday, and is based almost on /
the intense race prejudice and the whole /
sale purchase of arms The Senator sees /
trouble ahead. The white people have |
bought arms in large quantities and the /
colored people are buying them wherever
purchasable, although IL is charged that .
the merchants. majority Of whom are
Democrats. will not sell weapons to the
coored people.
BUYING WEAPONS.
"The most serious trouble is looked for
in counties where the cOlored people pre-
dominate It Is charged that the Demo-
Gratis are buying weapons In those coun-
ties 10 intimidate the co'Ored voter and
TO keep him away from the polls
after the talk at the White House
Chairman Babcock Of the Republican
Committee saw the Presi-
dent about the outlook I'm North Carolina.
lie apprehends trouble on election day
and probably earlier
80 far there has been no extensive
rloting IN the state Gov Russell could
not call for Federal troops until the riot
ing had actually occurred, and he was
able 10 show that he had exhausted AL
the efforts Of the State 10 suppress it.
The expectation is that the trouble may
be kent in hand until election day. Wise
and cool heads in all the parties IN North
Carolina are working to prevent fighting
lt the polls and hope to succeed. but the
Of all kinds coming here is
that bloodshed can hardly be prevented
on election day.
FIRED on THE WHITES.
CHARLOTTE. n. c.. oct. PA spe-
Cial TO The Observer from Bumberton.
y. c.. to-day says. The expected riot
between the races az Ashpole this county.
Saturday night, turned out differently
from what was expected about u o'clock
Saturday night. A telegraph message
from Ashpole stated that a crowd Of
negroes who had been around
the village all day making threats had |
entered the village armed and the whites
expected to be attacked any minute and
asked that aid be sent and also stated
hat the lady in the telephone Office had
been advised to close the Office and put
lut the lights that firing was expected
Several went down from here and az the
negroes seemed 10 be queting down,
he whites dispersed a few gathering
around a small fire I'm the centre of the
street as a guard. About o'clock sew
sral blacks slipped up near the crowd
Ind fired into them, wounding three men,
lone seriously.
BLOODHOUNDs on TRACK.
They then ran and the whites imme-
lately wired to Florence and procured
,loodhounds which were met at Elrod
~ a special engine which had them at
AshpOle by 10 O'Clock. Immediately the
logs struck a hot trail and by I o'clock I 7
our blacks had been caught They were Z
AIKEN 10 Ashpole and we learn have con- ! :
essed that they were In the crowd and
ave implicated several others some of a
whom were caught 4
This morning the sheriff Is hunting {
thers The captured negroes told who I
urned Stubbs store which occurred {
here Thursday night. The negroes are /
onhned In a box ear at Ashpole and
re we'll guarded. n
1t is reported that the posse which Is b
fter the other negroes have shot one of a
hem. II is impossible to get telephone e
onnections with Ashpole to confirm or a
iscredit the report
NO INFRACTION OF PEACE. n
RALEIGH. y. c., oct. 4.-The report A
hat there Is need for Federal troops to S
ecure fair election in North Carolina Il
as no foundation TO rest upon. There o
as been no infraction of the peace ex- b
ant hv peDrpes who ahot threa whifa | =,