The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-02-06
THE DEBATE WAS WARM
Manufactured Petitions For Changes
in the Election Law.
ARGUMENT ON THE DIVORCE BILL BEGUN
Judge COnnOr Speaks For the Original Bill, and
Mr.. Stewart For the Substitute Re-
commended by the Com
mittee.

day or two broke in the House yes
terday morning and ragged for more than
an hour. The thunder of Democratic de-
nunciation of Republican fraud and trick
cry crashed and reverberated until the
rafters rang with it. and the bright
flashes of wit and repartee lightened the
fierce fury of it all. 1t was a grand
tempest while it lasted.
For many days it had been noticed that
innumerable petitions were being sent in
by the Republican members from citizens
asking for notifications of the election
law, or for a fair and lust election law.
Not only did these petitions come from
citizens OF the counties represented by the
gentlemen presenting them, but from citi-
Zens or other counties as well. 1t was
remarked also that these were printed,
and all exactly alike.
All these circumstances aroused some
suspicion in the minds of the Democratic
representatives as TO the genuineness OF
those petitions. and yesterday Mr. Zachary
OF Transylvania. threw some light upon
the situation. and thus precipitated
warm political discussion. He rose TO
question of personal privilege and spoke
somewhat as follows:
MR.. ZACHARY UNEARTHS THE PLOT
This is not more personal to myself
than TO every member of this assembly.
There have been introduced in this house
lO5 petitions, purporting to have come
from thirty one different counties. asking
for modification of the present State
election law. Such notification going out
to the world, through our daily papers is
calculated 10 convince an unheard people,
that there is something radically wrong
with the election law of North Carolina
Now sir. | have no criticism 10 offer
against the member introducing these pc
titions, nor have | any to offer against
the people who signed them, because the
sacred right of petition, guaranteed to
every citizen. by the organic law of the |
land should be carefully and respectfully |
considered by this body but sir / sub |
NIT that it becomes the duty of this |
body TO ascertain if ii may whether |
these numerous petitions are the result |
1f an honest, sincere and voluntary con- |
'iction, emanating from the hearts of an |
honest people, CT whether they are the |
'esult of premeditated deliberate, mis-
,hievous political scheme, purposely in
ended TO manufacture public sentiment |
o the effect that the majority of this
louse, our State officers, and a large
majority of our county officers are usurp-
rs, holding places to which they have no
egal or moral right.
Sir, ! assume personal responsibility for
aging that in my judgment the latter il
he truth
VIZ Will |
natter we will find skulking there one
i the shrewdest and most unmitigated
olitical tricksters known in the noun
aims of North Carolina.
Now sir, | submit that no prudent man
Eould make such charge, without some
violence TO justify the conclusion. The
violence which l have, hold in my hand
iere is an exact copy of 106 petitions
ow in the custody of this house-save it |
oes not bear the names of the petition
rs. 1t is one that fell by the wayside,
nd has borne no fruit.
1t was sent to a postmaster in Transyl-
ania county, who gave it to me month
efore this Legislature assembled-show-
ng the premeditation of the whole plot
here was in the same letter another
etition exactly like this one. There
vas also this slip, headed instructions
which reads as follows:
KEEP ONE PETITION FOR SUCH
AS CAN BE OBTAINED
,Y YOU.
"HAND THE OTHER PETITION TO
N INFLUENTIAL REPUBLICANS
OR CIRCULATION.
GET AS MANY FAIR MINDED DEM
'CRATS TO SIGN AS POSSIBLE. MARK
lFTER THEIR NAMES THE LETTER
ID. MARK MINISTER'S OF THE Cos
EEL M"
ENCLOSE BOTH PETITIONS IN. THE
TAMPED ENVELOPE SENT HERE
WITH AS SOON AS POSSIBLE"
Here is the envelope referred to- writ
en- in large type: Hon. Richmond Pear
ON, Box 423, Asheville, n C.
suppose he made the mistake of con-
luding that all postmasters were Repub-
cans; that the one TO whom this was
ent is not a Republican
Tis true, It's not a pity:
Tis not pity It's true"
Richmond Pearson: A man who today
olds seat in the United States Con-
ress, under conditions, as motely with
aud, as ever was a South Carolina calf
ith splenetic fever ticks.
sweet scented apostle he is to be
skiing the IppisIatura for 60, 49,, !