The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-04-08
WHITE MEN MAKE A vow
solemnly Pledged to the Adoption of
the Amendment.
A CUNNING TAX COLLECTORS SCHEME
Mr. PearsaI Talks interestingly of the Con-
ditions in His Section The Newbern Fair
This Year to be Great One. An
Increase in Cotton Acreage.
Increase in Cotton Acreage.

Increase in Cotton Acreage.
The first delegate to arrive to at
tend the State convention is Mr.. +.
NJ. Pearsall, of Newbern.
Mr.. Pearsall was seen at the Iag~
borough last night and asked as to
the conditions in his section of the
State--and most especially in Craven.
Jones and other counties which he
visits in the practice of law.
'The farmers are Il little behind in
their work. he said, owing to the
rather bad weather this spring, but
they are now hard at work, prepar-
ing for an unusually large crop. |
notice that there is Il spirit of de-
termination among the people, more
decidedly marked than usual, and
Il greater absence of the calamity
howl, such as inflicted our country Il
few years ago. The farmers in Jones
and Craven will probably not increase
their tobacco acreage, but Will plant
more cotton. This increase in the cot
ton acreage will not be more than
was planted a few years ago, for after
the low prices of cotton, the acreage
was decreased and the tobacco acre
age was increased. The cotton acre
age this year will be about as it was
formerly. Our truck around Newbern
is not so far advanced rs usual, owing
to the cold and backward spring, but
its condition is good with prospects
for a splendid yield. One of the most
beautiful sights one can behold is our
truck fields at about this time of the
year. The lands are perfectly level and
cultivated as beautifully as a flower
garden. 4 ride through these fields
of thousands of acres presents a scene
of beauty surpassed by nothing / have
ever seen. And by the way, these
fields will be in a state of perfection
along this line at our State Fair and
they, to my mind, win be our greatest
attraction
And what are the prospects for
your Fair?" | asked Mr.. Pearsall.
"Well, YOU know we Newbern peo-
pie always say this VIII be our great
est Fair. | think we can truthfully
say so this time. Heretofore it has
been held in February. when the
weather was damp, cold and generally
disagreeable: but even under such
conditions it has been successful. And
this fact causes us to assert that this
year it is bound to be a greater sue
cess. You know it will be held a
whole week. beginning the 10th of
April. opening on Easter Monday
The racing will be unusually fine.
They tell me that mid winter is not
the best time for horse racing.
''Col. John S. Cunningham. Of North
Carolina, will open our Fair
"What about politics in Craven
county?"
''Wel, we held right lively con
vention down there the other day and
one that our people took good deal
of interest in. but we were then, and
now are. united All resolutions in
the convention were passed unani-
mously. We are going to carry Craven
county this year. Every man and
every faction in the good old county
of Craven is solemnly pledged to that
end, and | declare to you that we,
the white manhood of that county
will redeem our pledge thus solemnly
made"
He was asked what he thought of
the suggestion made that the negroes
do not intend to vote in this election.
"Any one who thinks the negro will
not vote is decidedly mistaken. The
negro is the most cunning creature
on earth and especially so when it
comes to politics. He just simply is
fOolin0 us when we think
he does not intend to
vote. Why don't you know
that down in one of our eastern coun-
ties just before the first of last
March, the tax collector hired two or
three negro preachers to announce
from the pulpit that if the negroes
did not pay their poll tax by March
lst, they could not vote in this cleo
ton. This was a negro section. and
on the following day the tax collector
had to get the assistance of two dep
uties to write receipts, there being so
many negroes around to pay their
taxes. They have no idea of not vot-
ing, as they now feel. OF couse we
can't tell what changes will take place
between now and the election
You say Your people are interest
ed in the election?"
They surely are. More than !
have ever known them, and they Just
simply are determined to carry this
election. There will come up to the
convention next week from Jones, Le-
noir. Craven and Carteret counties
large and enthusiastic delegations,
doubtless twice as many as ever came
before. This shows. as 7 have al
ready said that our people are in