Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-10-23
Comprehensive View of the Present
Political Situation.
REPUBLICANS TORN WITH FACTIONS
An Election Law Worse Than the
GoebeI Statute.
STRUGGLE FOR SEN ALTO R
Special Dtspatch to The Evening Star.

election vote which is surely for Bryan,
but the senatorial fight is lively and there
are conditions here well worth study and
thought in their bearing upon the future
political aspects.
The republicans are said by some Of their
leaders to be more divided than ever be-
fore. These men say that no amount Of
party work, no amount of campaign man
agement well-directed effort will over
come the democratic mathematics. This
has dsheartened them to a certain extent
and has caused men who should have
turned their attention to party organiza-
ton in order to place their party upon a
firm footing to direct their efforts to break
ing down and in fact. destroying the in
fuence and usefulness of honorable men
inside their own party to prevent them
from having influence in the distribution
of federal patronage.
This state of affairs, If allowed to run
its course, will, it is said, forever render
impossible any swelling of republican ranks
by gains they would otherwise make from
sound money and Independent voters The
tial element of the democratic party, but
it will become Disguised with the scram-
BILE going on in the republican ranks that 1T
will feel more like taking to the woods
than joining family where the old man
and the old woman and all the children are
always in fight.
Feeling Between Parties.
There is no denying the fact said a
leader, that there is better feeling exist
ing between the democratic and republican
parties in North Carolina at this time than
has been the case for years past. Ii is a
mistake to think that all people are ostra-
cised by the democrats OF this state who
do not agree with them politically. Nor do
the democrats of North Carolina object to
any man who labors hard for the success
of his party, provided he conducts himself
as man and as a gentleman. In fact.
they have more respect for him, If they
think he is actuated by principle, has the
courage of his convictions and is honest in
his belief. AS an evidence OF this, last
Friday night, when Senator Pritchard
city composed a large part of his audience
and democratic club adjourned for the
purpose of hearing his speech.
This is a critical time in the history of
the republican party in North Carolina" he
continued The opportunity is before it,
and is within its reach, and can be seized
and improved With the proper manage
ment there can be built I'D in North Caro-
lima strong republican party and the OPP
portunity will be lost If the party is allowed
to degenerate into an organization for the
purpose Of controlling patronage. I hope
to see my party arise equal to the situa ton
but it will require firm hand fair treat
ment and discreet management to bring
about this result. Persons who desire to
advance their own interests at the expense
of the character, reputation and usefulness
of other members Of the party will have to
be given to understand that no such con-
duct will be tolerated within the republican
ranks" e., ,, ,trsS6N
II have never seen a campaign in This
state in which the democrats appear to be
as little interested as in the present one,"
said another. Had it not been for their
primary election for United States senator
at least 80 per cent of the voters would
have remained away from the polls, and
about that percentage of their count would
also have been absent. The truth is
that North Carolina democrats want to see
Mr.. Mckinley reelected. OF course, they
will vote for Mr.. Bryan. but secretly they
are praying to the Lord for McKinley's
election. In fact, l feel sorry for a North
Carolina democrat at this time. When a
child l was about in the same condition on
various occasions. 1 wanted to go some
where. and was afraid or ashamed and did
just about what they are doing now get a
niger boy to go in my stead In other
| words, they are willing for the negro to
vote for Mckinley now to protect their
business, notwithstanding the fact that in
August they voted to deprive him of the
power of protecting them"
The Election Law.
The election law of North Carolina is far
worse than the Goebel law of Kentucky
Under its operations majorities can be made
any amount desired. The great trouble
with the law Is that while it does not state
in plain terms its provisions it leaves such
opportunities for unscrupulous registrars
and judges to cheat under color of law that
a man acting as judge registrar can
take advantage Of its provisions and COM
NIT unlimited fraud. For example, the stat
ute makes no provision, as is the case in
many Of the states, for the inspection of
the books while registration is going on,
yet 1t does not forbid or prohibit 1t. Conse-
quently democratic registrar will allow
the democrats access to the lists and refuse
the same privilege to a republican. So 1t is
all along through the law from beginning
to end, and every democratic registrar is
said to have been appointed knowing that
he is expected to use all the discretion that
Is allowed him against the opposite party
The republicans find 1t a hard matter to
satisfy registrar who has been appointed
with the understanding that he is not to be
satisfied with any evidence they may SUBJ
NIT.
It is said there is not the least doubt but
what the republicans will carry the eighth
and ninth congressional districts In this
state. Mr. j. NJ. Moody, the candidate in
the ninth district, is a strong man. He is
making a gallant fight, with every evidence
Of success. If he Is elected he will make a
useful and valuable member. Mr.. Spencer
Blackburn. the republican candidate in the
eighth district, is another strong young
man. He is one Of the finest campaigners In
the state. and can make a telling and eff
fective speech. He is exceedingly popular
and numbers his friends. personal and po-
fight than Mr.. Moody, but with anything
like fair election he will be successful
The Senatorial Scrimmaxe.
The great danger to republicans in the
western part Of North Carolina Is the ma
chine which is operated under the direc-
ton Of Mr. F. NJ. Simmons, the chairman
Of the democratic party, and also a candi-
date in the democratic primaries for United
States senator. This primary election &C.
ours at the same time as the national and
congressional elections. 1t must be re-
membered that only white men who voted
the democratic ticket in August or vote it
in November can participate in this prI-
mary. The negro voter Is eliminated.
A very large majority of the vote In east
ern North Carolina is colored, and conse-
| quently cannot take part in this primary
election, so that 1t does not leave many
voters in eastern North Carolina for Mr.
Simmons to count for himself In the prima-
rles. Hence he will have to move his count
ing machine from eastern North Carolina
| to western North Carolina before he can
feed 1t on white votes. The danger to the
republicans lies in the fact that he will
have to record this vote for the democratic
| national and congressional ticket before it
| will be eligible to participate in the primary
| election. In other words, he will have to
| count out the republicans before he can