The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-08-28
REPUBLICAN REVOLT.
Baskerville Citizen.)

IT is no longer Il secret i'll AShevllLe
that the most formidable revolt ever
known in Western North Carolina Re
Duhlicanism is new on. The "lnsur-
gents" as they are called, constitute a
very large portion OF the old time Re
puhlican element who refused to lon
ger sit quietly by and watch Il favored
few distribute to themselves and the
renegade Democrats the offices which
the votes of these insurgents placed III
the hands of the Republican party.
4 ne revolving Republicans say they do
not base their grievances upon the fact
that they have not gotten office, but
by their actions they intend to express
their resentment at the conduct of a
few Federal and county officials whom
they have placed in positions only to
maze it possible for them to ignore,
,.sregard and treat with contempt the
men through whose influence and votes
they have risen.
That the revolt is prevalent through
out Western North Carolina is well
known, and the extent of it may be es-
timated when it is said that IL white
Republican club has been organized
right here in Asheville during the past
few weeks composed exclusively of men
who say they propose to show the
would-be bosses that there is some self
respect and manhood left in the rank
and file of the Republican party yet,
This club has a membership of between
60 and 20 and is growing every day, and
the widest confusion and cOnsterna-
ton are being manifested by the office
holding Republican bosses.
l.. IN hn xUh InCnPOnntC
there is Il colored Republican club
which has been organized for SINH
lar purpose, and its membership is
about so, and their work is being press
ed along the most aggressive lines.
In Buncombe the revolt is declared to
be against the arrogance and dictation
of Congressman Pearson and the ring
of government officials he has named
in the internal revenue and pOstOfficC
departments here, and also against the
present county Republican officials in
Buncombe.
During the past few weeks this re-
volt has grown wonderfully i'll num-
bers. At first, it is said, the office hold
ers paid little attention to it. They
quietly wagged their heads and declared
that few government positions distrib-
ulct dl TIC pIOuGl tllllG WUulu uuiCL d'i
the trouble. But still the matter grew.
1t was thought time to put on brakes.
Some of the leaders were asked to meet
the bosses in conference. The invitation
was declined. An office or two was
placed at the disposal of the insurgents.
These were likewise declined with thanks
but firmness. The bosses could not un-
derstand this. 1t indicated a spirit past
tneir comprehension, and in no way relat-
ed to their own.
Senator Pritchard, Congressman Pear
son, Internal Revenue Collector Har-
kins and all the great lights in Republi-
can bossism have been summoned, and
throughout yesterday there was Il contin-
ual caucus going on i'll the Federal build
ing. Pie was plentifully promised with
words so soft that it was thought surely
all wrath must be turned away, but all
overtures, it is claimed, were met with
the quiet but firm response, I'VE are
not in this fight for pie, but for princi-
pie"
Pritchard is threatened with nervous
prostration; Pearson is aging so rapid
ly that few of his constituents know
him: "Hesh" Harkins has lost % pounds
of honest pie-made flesh; Chief Clerk
Grant is sweating at the rate of three
quarts a day and Postmaster Rollins life
is becoming a burden, but the insurgents
are all standing by their guns with
''deatn to ring rule" on their banners
and the end is not yet.