Durango semi-weekly herald., 1901-04-22
HOPE TO CRUSH PoPuLlsM.
Leading Democrats Encouraged by the
President in Their Efforts to
Place the Better Element
Control of Thinus.

| WASHINGTON, April 2O.-"I am
not so vain as to suppose that my an
pointment as district attorney for
South Carolina will make any great
difference in the political affairs OF
that state, said John Capers. but
am sure that 1t will be gratifying to
large class of young men, who, like
| myself, have become dissatisfied with
the policy and the platform of the
Democratic party and are seeking con
genial political associations. NV
family have always been Democrats,
and ! was more or less active as n
member OF chat party until the Chi
cago convention OF 1886. with many
others in my state | could not endorse
the platform or support the nominees
because we have no sympathy with
the populistic ideas they represent.
1'he Kansas City convention of 1900
having nominated ths candidate for
president and reaiiirmed the platform
aga,n compelled to reject the ticket,
and we decided to support the Repub-
liean candidate. | contributed all /
could to the election or President Me.
kinley | spent six weeks ON the
stump in the campaign chiefly i'm Mary.
land and West Virginia, and suppose
that | am now reckened as Republlc-
an. AT least expect in the future
to act with that party because it rep
resents progressive ideas and patri-
otic policy,
Il cannot say anything about
movement to organize a white Repub-
lican party In South Carolina, nj
though can say that the Democratic
organization and its leaders no longer
command the respect and confidence
OF the better classes of our people.
and its natisael Boiicy is repudiated
by the commercial interests and tins
intelligent and enlightened sentiment
OF tile state. hope that we shall be
able to organize Republican party
IN South Carolina that will be cIed.
1t to our state and represent the lest
elements of that community. ! am
not a political leader but | shah do
everything in my power to promte
the movement | have no fear " ne
gro supremacy, That danger is low
passed. 1t cannot be used any lonyer
by the politicians to create pubic
sentiment and excite prejudice agaipn
the Republican organization.
1t appears that Mr.. Gapers Is not this
first Democrat appointed 10 Office p
the president in South Carolina, pir
Will he be the last There seemf TO
be no doubt of the intention of Pref
dent Mckinley to aid in the organia-
ton of the dissatisfied element amolg
the Democrats, which is quite nume-
Gus in that state and has always pro
tested against the domination of Sem
ator Fiimap and ths Repu,,s, element
OF the party. The Republican organ
ization in South Carolina for the past
few years has consisted OF small NUM-
bers OF white and colored politicians.
who have elected themselves delegates
TO conventions, appointed themselves
msmDsrs ~ cQmmittees and recon-.
mended themselves and zach either fer
federal Office. They have had no fol
lowing except among the colored peo
pie, who have not been allowed to
vote. AT the last presidential elec-
tien only s,afs yotes we're cast for the
Republican ticket ia soutl Carpjina.
ana in 1896 only Y,2s1. in the cleo
Iion for members OF congress l529
Republican votes were east in the first
district, - in the second 332 IN the
third, 10 in the faarlh, 10, IN ihe
sixth. and 0U5 In the seventh, in
the fifth district the Democratic nom.
inee had no opposition.
The condition of things has been
so seriously impressed upon the mind
OF the president that he is impelled to
encourage the local Democrats in
their opposition t9 The yillmap regr-
iars, wnh the nope OF seeing a new
Republican organization that win com.
mand confidence and support in the
state. For that reason Mr.. Capers
has been recognized. and only Ihe
other DAY another young i,empcrat by
the name of Captain CtaHee was ap
| pointed postmaster at Aiken upon the
recommendation of Senator McI.au
rim over a prominent colored leader
by the name of Dickerson. who was
recommended by the Republican state
committee ana The few Republican
lsadsrs .aat ara ,stt iu south Garui,na
Like mcLaurin and Capers. Captain
Chance belongs TO what Is famiiiarly
known as the old Plantation Aris
t1cracyt which has never been com
! Portable under the leadership or Till
man lie was captain in the Ssap
isf war and made a good record His
appointment has been approved by the
best people ef thr state and will bs
followed by other appointments of 9
similar character as vacancies occur In
the federal offices.