The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-07-24
HE EXPRESSES His VIEWS AS TO THE
FRANCHISE AMENDMENT
SAYS 1T WILL BE RATIFIED
He willNotv Vote for It-Says the Cues
ton Will be Carried to the Federa
Courts-His Plan for Carrying the
state for Mckinley Fusfonist In
Conference With the Attorney Cen
eraI-To be no State Guard Encamp-
ment This m
Especial to the Messeager.j

Raleigh, July Ex-Governor was in
terviewed tonight. When asked if he
would vote for the constitutional
vote for it. I am against it. I am
against it for many reasons. One good
reason is enough; that n is it is I'M
constitutional. It violates the fiji
teenth amendment; but it will be car
ried through. 1t will be counted in. 1t
will be adopted and unless restrained
by the federal courts it will be put in
operation l know that SOME Of its
lawyer advocates mir they AVE got
a poser in the South Carolina case
where the court of appeals overruied
Judge Golf, and so smile loud at the
idea of it's getting in the federal courts
Some Of them are delighted with their
own expositions of his ruling. They
are very gay in explaining it to is
who knew all about it before they dis
covered it"
How would you go about to get it
in the United States courts?
"Oh, we'll, I a not answering co1Cn-
drums this morning. When I am prac-
ticing law and you bring me a retainer
suited to the occasion, perhaps l may
tell you"
Then you think the amendment will
be adopted?
with a free and fair vote it would
be defeated, but of course it will be
adopted. There is no way to prevent
it. The democratic managers nave got
passion and prejudice aroused and
have established a reign of terror in
many localities. This they started
out to do and have done it."
What do you think the negroes will
do? VIII they try to register and
vote?
mo I don't believe they will to any
great extent. My advice to the color
ed people is to let this amendment
thing alone. They are helpless. Let
to be adopted and remain so until SET
aside by the courts, and their opposi-
ton only makes bitterness against
them and puts them in peril. I have
advised against the policy of permit.
ting this amendment to be made a
party issue, but the machine managers
ordered the contrary. After they have
wrecked the party, there will be moth
ing left but for us to try to gather up
the fragments and go in to try and save
the state for Mckinley. If the proper
ty holding and conservative elements
who favor Mckinley viii meet and
bring out an electoral ticket composed
of business men and no politicians,
the republican machine tick should
be taken down and the attempt made
to try to give the state to MLKiniey.
Republican chairman HOlton and At
torney General Walser are here in
conference with Butler and Carl Dun
can.
Aycock spoke at Troy to an audi
ence of between four and five thousand
Chairman Simmons tells me.
The governor commissions c. 3. Ell
lott as captain of Company I, Second
regiment, at Edenton. 1t is positively
decided there will be no encampment
of tn state guards this year. Funds are
insufficient.
The weather observer here says the
present drought is the SeVereSt ever
known in July. The rain fall so far is
only a third of an inch, while h nor
NAL for July is Az inches. He says
great damage to crops is imminent and
there is no sign of rain