The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-03-02


Representative, in the House, r. G. Rus
sell, when he was called TO the chair
to preside over that body during the con-
sideration of the pension BILL He per-
formed his duty well.--Durham Sun.-lt
was a fitting as well as deserved compli-
ment.
Referring TO the proposition to move
the county seat of Gastonia from DallaS
Gastonia, the Gastonia Gazette says; Let
the people decide it either by petition OF
bv an election at the earliest practicable
day. This much is due TO Dallas; 1or the
actual loss of the Jail and court mouse
could hardly injure her development more
than the feeling of uncertainty and sus-
pense which is born of constant agita-
ton
from the mountains are greatly pleased
with the new Congressional district ar
rangement. The most opposition comes
from Mecklenburg, Forsyth and Rowan.
Mr.. +. B. White, the leading young
attorney of Franklintcn, is iii the city
to secure a charter from the Leglsia-
ture for the Citizens Bank CT Frank
WlIn Il cdplldl vi plU,VOV' Inv
leading stockholders are Messrs. l. ID.
Stanton, Geo. Winston, S. G. Vann, w.
l.. MCGEE and g.. w. Ballard. Frank
linton is moving rapidly ahead; Mr..
White says the Franklin Manufacturing
Company is turning out 200 chairs day.
Senator Ward is anxious to encour-
age circulating Libraries in connection
s,a = l,n i--
tricts. To this end he yesterday intro
duced a bill that where the citizens in
an rural school district raise SO for
such a library, then $40 shall be added
to it from the county fund and $40
more by the State. making $50 for each
library. This could only cost the State
SIS, 900 at the outside. The committee
on education has decided to report the
bill faVorably.
Capt. MacKethan, of Cumberland,
comes out of the dispensary fight with
the consciousness of having bravely
performed his duty as he saw duty. He
occupied a very embarrassing position.
Mr.. Mcneil has all along been opposed
to the dispensary and his fight was
along the line Of his well known posi-
well as a representative of the people.
Mr. Hall had declined to join in the
call for primary, and could therefore
maintain the fight for the dispensary
without embarrassment And he did so
effectively and victoriously. Capt.
MacKethan, who advocates the dispen-
sary in preference to open barrooms
as a citizen, found himself, after his
election, confronted With this PROPOSE
ton: Senator Mcneil favored leaving
the dispensary to the qualified voters
of the county, which would have adj
mitted negroes to vote. Capt. Mac
Kethan strenuously opposed leaving the
question to any but white voters. AT
first he suggested a petition, but later.
in order to prevent a submission to ne
gro as well as white voters, and to
ascertain the will of the white voters.
he Joined in with Senator Mcneil (whO
gave up his plan of submitting to the
qualified voterS) in calling white pri-
mary. He supposed that the advocates
as well as the opponents of the dis
pensaries would be glad to decide the
question to a dispenSary by white
primary, and he sought to secure the
cooperation OF both to the end that the
matter might be settled and acQuieSced
in by all sides. 1t was a great diSap-
pointment TO him when the leaders of
the dispensary forces refused to take
part in the primary, and urged all
friends of the dispensary to refrain from.
voting in the white primary which he
and Senator MCNEIL had called. He
used every effort to get them TO partici-
pate. When they refused to do so, he
had no recourse but 30 stand by the re-
suit of the primary. He may have made
a mistake in calling the primary with
out cooperation with both sides, but
having called it in good faith, he abid
ed by it in good faith and eXerted his
every effort to carry out the viii of the
majority of those who voted in the pri
mary. He made a splendid fight and
won friends by his course, even among
those VINO antagoniZed him position
most earnestly. 1T was the hardest
thing / have been called upon to do in
this Legislature to vote against Capt.
MacKethan's bill" said Nj. Smith, of
Gates last night, but | felt that it
was my duty to let the dispensary
stand upon the showing made" That
was the general feeling.