The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-11-02
Mr. Harris Declares That the Senator
and His Heelers Have Sacrificed
ALL For Federal Patronage.
He THINKS THE BUSINESS MEN
MIGHT HAVE BEEN ORGANIZED
The Negroes Seem to Have Forgotten That an
Election is to be Held and Mr.. Harris
Says Many White Republicans
Are Taking no interest

The North Carolina Republicans are
dispirited and absolutely hopeless in this
election
They have not the remotest chance of
carrying the State for Mckinley, and
they know it. Their only hope is that
they may elect their candidates for Con-
gress blackburn and Moody in the
Eighth and Ninth districts. And even
this is doubted by many of the faith
full"
North Carolina will give at least TO-
coo for Bryan" said Col. j. c. l.. Harris,
one of the most prominent Republicans
in the State, yesterday. His majority
may reach $4,000 or even 100000; and l
doubt if we elect single Congressman. "
Oh you'll carry the Eighth and Ninth
districts, will you not?" he was ased.
Il hope so, but l very seriously doubt
it."
Then you expect nothing, as a party,
in this election?"
Nothing, under the circumstances; but
if we had had any sort of management
of the campaign the result would have
been quite different. The States eleven
electoral votes could have been given to
Mckinley and at least half of our dele
CATION in Congress would have been Re-
publican
How do you figure that out?"
VERY easily. The Democrats are not
taking any interest in the campaign. They
were worn out with the terrible strain
of the August campaign. If right then
the Republicans had taken up the work,
organized their forces and made still
hunt of the State there would have been
no power on earth to prevent North
Cardinals electoral vote going to McKin-
ley. The Democrats would have had no
negro cry with which to rally their vo-
tiers, and besides there are a great num-
Der of them who would be glad of q
good excuse to vote for Mckinley any
way. So far that excuse has not been
furnished them by the Republican cam
paign managers.
There is no doubt in my mind that
the business men of the State-bankers
mill men and other large property own
ers-could have been organized for Nc
Kinley. There was the finest opportunity
in the world for conducting a business
mans campaign in the interest of The
present administration. This could have
been done by keeping the Republican or
ganization in the background and putting
forward the business interest, both on the
electoral ticket and in the Congressional
nominations.
But Pritchard couldn't do this; his
greed and his ambition were too great
to permit of any such policy"
do you mean to say that Pritchard
has badly managed the campaign
"He has not managed it at all. He's lei
it manage itself, and you know that
means it has been worse than misman-
aged. Either he has not had the sense
the industry or the money to properly
conduct campaign. I'm inclined to
think he has lacked all three of these
things.
Are the North Carolina Republicans
taking any interest in next Tuesday S
election?"
Very little. How can they be inter
ested when they know they are sure to
lose? Pritchard's acceptance of the chair
manship of the State committee showed
that his close corporation management
of party affairs in North Carolina was
to be kept up; that it was his intention
to keep the party machinery in the hand;
of his heelers with the purpose of con
trolling the Federal patronage. And thi
II tue S6CISI VI the HelHOu VI CdlHpdlSl
that they have adopted. They don't car,
whether Mckinley carries North Carolin;
or not so long as he can be elected b.
the other States; in fact they rathe
prefer that he would not, in order tina
they may go on controlling the patronage
OF the State"
Are the negroes taking any interes
in the campaign"
The negroes seem to have about for
gotten that there's to be an election