The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-06-24
A man OF HIS WORD.
Crisp Stands Boldly by His
Proposition.
VIII Resign the Craftsmanship of His Party
and Get Off The Ticket But He Win
Not Violate His Pledge.
Especial TO News and Obscrver.)


Lenoir, n. c., June 23.-NIr j. A.
Crisp, the man who pledged to Ay
cock to vote for the Amendment, is
chairman of the Republican executive
committee of Caldwell county, and
nominee for the House. He called the
executive committee to meet on the
goth, as has been published, to take
action in his case. At the time APP
pointed only one member of the com
mittee met him. A considerable num-
Der of Republicans, not members,
however. met and caucussed about the
st.eet corners. In the meantime, n
document was prepared and presented
to Mr.. Crisp for his signature by one
II. J.. Sheriff.. a lawyer, Populist and
quasi-Republican. the purport of which
was to make Crisp take back water
and renounce the obligation he had
taken Crisp positively refused to
sign the document. TO Sheriff. he
said you were present when | de-
clared | would take an obligation to
support the Amendment if Aycock
would make affidavit it would not
disfranchise native born white men
and said you would do the same. Sup
pose Aycock had taken you up, what
would you have done?
81 should have backed down." re-
piled Sheriff..
Perhaps YOU would, but | am not
made of that kind of stuff"
A wrangle eusued, during which
Crisp exclaimed: ''You contemplate
little devil. Go first and vote the
Republican ticket yourself before you
jump on me-"
Crisp has called mass meeting
of Republicans, to convene next week.
At that meeting he will explain to
them his position and resign as chair
man, also as nominee for the House.
He says he will not have anything
more to do with it under any circum-
stances At the meeting he will call
upon all who, after being satisfied
that the Amendment will not dis
franchise white men. intend still to
vote against it. to hold up their hands.
Every man who holds up his hand
will brand himself as being in favor
of negro rule.
Mr.. Crisp. while freely admitting
that if he had known at the time
proposition, would not have made the
proposition, still asserts he is in favor
of the Amendment, especially since
the changes made by the Legislature.
He has been seen standing on the
streets arguing the Amendment.
1t is clearly case of from Jest
to earnest.
He has been the trusted leader and
81
can party in Caldwell county. He
has now some followers among the
Republicans. and there are many of
them who believe it would be good
politics to retain him.
Some of the Republicans. however,
are furious. Among these is the pres
ent solicitor. Moses y. Harshaw. He
says htat this fasco is forth more to
the Democratic party than one thous-
and dollars in cash for the campaign
fund. and that he would rather raise
that amount and give it to them than
to have had it to happen.
The Republicans are all at sea.
They have evidently lost their pud
ding stick and don't know what to
do.''
The Democrats say that Aycock
made one of the greatest speeches
ever heard in Caldwell. and revolution
lied things. Capt. Edmund Jones,
one of the level-heaGest men in the
State, SAYS there has never been any
reasonable fear of not carrying the
county, but until now. it was feared
the Amendment might not run With
the ticket. He now thinks the Amend
ment will run ahead of the ticket.
Aycock's name will run ahead of the
ticket. Aycock's name is on every
ones lips. If he should come back
again and make a speech he would
have one of the largest crowds ever
assembled in Lenoir.
II. A. CHAPPELL.