The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-03-27

ed that Wilmington's White Su-
to Labor and is a Farce-ColoncI
WaddelTs Answer ate the Facts.
1t would seem that the circulation
OF campaign lies about Wilmington
and her establishment of white SUI
premacy' are already being ~circulat-
A very fragrant one has just been
nailed hard and fast" by Colonel A.
NJ. Waddell, mayor of the city. 1t is
to the effect that recently some forty
or fifty white men employed in one of
the cotton congresses were discharg-
ed and negroes employed in their
stead and that when the outraged
white men threatened retaliation the
espoused the cause of the ne
groes and guaranteed them protection.
The object in circulating this lie is, as
they express it. to show that Whining
ton is not living up to the changes
which they inaugurated November
10th, or the democratic attitude be-
fore and after taking"
Sheriff T. G.. Wright, Of Richmond
county, has written to Colonel Wad-
dell, apprising him of these charges
and asking hin for the real facts and
in reply Colonel Waddell has written
a ringing denunciation of the misrep-
r~esentation n a statement of the real
situation here.
SHERIFF WRIGHT'S LETTER.
Sheriff Wright's letter of enquiry is
as follows:
Rockingham, n. c., March %, 1900.
III. NJ yIyol1aI1
Wilmington, n. c.:
Dear Sir: A prominent populist of
this county has circulated the report
that recently some forty or fifty white
men employed at the compress in your
city were discharged, and hat ne
groes were substituted in their places;
that the white men became aroused
and abusive and threatened trouble,
and that you addressed the negroes
and told them to stick to their jobs;
that you as the mayor of Wilmington
would look after them and see that
they were protected against the wrath
of the mad whites.
The populist above referred to con-
trasted this act with your conduct be-
fore the last election and just follow
ing it, and gave it as an illustration of
the democratic attitude before and
after taking" charge of affairs in Will
mington.
AS this report is not calculated to do
the democracy any good, we will thank
you to let us know:
First-Whether or not any number
of white laborers in your city subse-
quent to the election of 1898 have been
discharged and their places filled by
negroes?
Second-If so, whether or not you
addressed them?
Third-The relative opportunity of
the white laborer to obtain employ
ment in the city of Wilmington during
the fusion administration and your
own.
Thanking you in advance for your
kindness, and with high regard,
Yours very truly,
T. G. WRIGHT,
Sheriff.
MAYOR WADDELL'S STATEMENT.
In reply to Sheriff wright's letter,
Colonel Waddell has written the fol-
lowing answer, to-wit:
Mayors Office,
Wilmington, N. c., March "a, 1900.
Mr.. T. G.. Wright, Sheriff,
Rockingham, n. c.:
Dear Sir: / AVE just received your
letter, saying that a prominent p
list was circulating a report in your
employed at the here We're
discharged and negroes put in their
places; that the white men got mad
and threatened trouble, and that 1
addressed the negroes and told them to
stick to their jobs and 1 would protect
them against the wrath of the whites,
ETC., and thereupon you say, Gas this
report is not calculated to do the de-
mOcracy any good, we will thank you
to let us know:
"First-Whether or not any numbers
of white iaborers in your city subse-
5000 \ - 49, - 1OnO 1--- 49,
discharged from their places filled by
negroes?
"Second-If so, whether or not you
addressed them?
"Third-The relative opportunity of
the white laborer to obtain employ
ment in the city of Wilmington during
the fusion administration and your
own?"
L take pleasure in giving you plain
w to your questions.
FirSt-No white men were diScharg-
ed from the at all. In load
ing vessels negro StevedOreS are en-
ployed. At the upper compress some
time ago there was a shortage of ne
gro laborerS, Int Is vessels were wait
ing to be loaded a number of steve
dores were telegraphed for to Norfolk.
They came and some negroes went in
disguise and threatened them. They
were alarmed and prepared to leave,
and the proprietor OF the compress
asked protection for them. took
some police officers UP there, had the
negroes put in a line and told them
they had committed no offenSe and
Should be protected as long as they
behaved right. NO WHITE MAN WAS
CONCERNED. IN 1T, n we had no
evidence against anyone 1t was jeal-
ousy on the part of negroes against
other negroes. The Norfolk negroes
stayed and that was the end of it.
They loaded the vessel and then left
here. This covers your first two ques-
lions
Third-The city Ices not control the
labor market, but it is a notorious fact
that white labor has superseded ne
gro labor in employments of all kinds,
and to an extent never before known
herein fact, it is n Of the most
marked features of the change here.
The city employs no negroes except in
a rock quarry where there is much
mud and water, and where white men
will not work. Every white man who
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