The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-08-02
Telegrams Sent All Over the State by
Butler Telling His Men They
Will be Protected.
THE GOVERNOR WILL BE HELD
RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS OUTRAGE
The Soldiers We're Called Out at the Request
of a Private Citizen and Are Kept Under
Arms When No Trouble is Fear
ed or Expected.

The members of the Raleigh Light In
fantry were in their armory under arms
all day yesterday.
Inquiry at the Governors office as to
the cause, elected the reply that there
might be trouble, and if there was the
Governor wanted to have troops ready"
Nobody could tell where trouble was
expected, or whether any was expected
at all, but all day long uniformed men
were in the armory and about on the
streets awaiting orders.
Certainly further trouble could not
have been anticipated at Smithfield, for
Parker, the Radical at whose request
the troops were called out on Tuesday
afternoon, was in this city, pouring his
tale of woe into the ears of all who
would listen.
Then where was trouble looked for,
and what trouble? Did the Governor fear
that the Democrats would break loose
somewhere and eat up all the Populists
in the State before election day? Or per-
haps he had been told that few imported
Chinese Boxers were about to be turned
loose on the Radicals. Or more likely
the troops are kept here as a body guard
fer Butler, who totes two pistols in his
pockets, swears like sailor and lives
in daily fear of the Red Shirts. 1t is
just possible, of course, they are kept un-
der arms for their health.
But whatever the cause, the troops
were called out Tuesday afternoon and
were kept on duty all that night, all day
yesterday and all last night, and it is
generally believed that they will not be
dismissed from duty before tomorrow OF
next day.
In the meantime, the folks are paying
the freight-some hundred dollars or so
a day. Already the expense of calling
out these soldiers has amounted to not
less than $500, and every moment they
are kept under arms the amount keeps
crawling up at a fearful rate.
To the cost nobody would object was
there heed for them-to preserve order
or to prevent bloodshed. But neither is
there disorder or violence, actual or
threatened here or elsewhere in the
State-and Russell knows it.
Then why has he called out these troops
and kept them here under arms?
Would you know the influence which
has caused it-you men in your shops,
you farmers at your plow stills, sweating
out the taxes thus wantonly wasted?
Consider this troop outrage. a bit and
you will see.
The troops were called out on the de-
mand of a private citizen-a Radical
chairman-who said mob was threaten
ing him with violence. The sheriff did not
ask or want them on the significant con-
trary he informed the Governor that they
were not wanted, that neither the Radical
Parker nor anyone else was in any dan
ger.
Did the Governor then disband the
military? He ordered them to remain
under arms here in the city of Raleigh,
ready for a call from some other Fusion
ist who might imagine himself in dan
ger
This is a handful of bald indurated
facts. Here are more that explain them.
The troops are kept under arms at But
ler's suggestion and at Buffers solcita-
tiOn. Butler asked that they be called
out, and Butler asked, after they were
called out, that they be not dismissed.
Buffers hand runs through it ALL The
Radical chairman appealed by wire to
Butler, Butler went to see Russell and
did not leave him until the troops were
under arms and at his command.
That's Buffers part in the outrage
1t is part of his scheme of intimidation
and grand plan it is. He proposes thus
to strengthen the backbone of his fol-
lowers. terrify their opponents, and win
by fraud that which he has been unable
to compass by fair means. That this is
his real purpose is shown by the fact
that Immediately after the troops were
called out he sent hundreds of kilograms
to his henchmen all over the State. tell
ing them to "stand firm, demand their
rights and they would "be fully pro-
tected."
If further proof of this were needed it
is found in the letters sent out yester-
day advising Fusionists to challenge Dem
ocratio voters today and thus delay vot-
ing so as to prevent a full vote by the
democrats. 1t was plainly limited that
they would be backed up in this attempt
But such tactics will not wiz. All signs
and sign smokes prove as much Butler has
: mistaken the temper of the people sot
North Carolina. They are not made o