The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-12-07
Especial to News and Observer.)

Especial to News and Observer
To the Editor: Allow me
space in your columns to speak a word
at the behest of the voters of my race
in the recent election in North Caro-
lima.
Senator Pritchard claims that the col
ored vote in North Carolina was cast for
the Democrats. If so, why? Every man
that only the most extraordinary condi-
tions could bring the colored man to
vote any but the ticket Of the party
which accomplished the emancipation of
his race. i simply desire to state that
the Senator's indictment alleging a want
of party loyalty against the colored
voters of North Carolina is Islander
upon the most certain and reliable ele-
ment OF the Republican party in the
United States. 1t is true they refused to
support the so-called Republican candi-
dates for the Legislature of North Caro-
lima pledged to the Senator, for they con-
sidered this a premium upon his conduct
in kicking them out of the Greensboro
convention, and further there was no
Republican ticket in North Carolina
this year. the whole issue being, Senator
Pritchard," and "Independentism" to the
utter neglect by the Senator of any par
ty principles whatsoever or without in
voking the assistances of the many able
devotees of the Grand Old Party in the
State and none in Eastern North Caro-
lima. Really the Senator's campaign from
beginning to end was amusing.
In his interview Senator Pritchard
says: There were contesting delegations
from a few counties in the east, and it
was well understood that they attended
the convention at the instance Of Demo-
cratic manipulators and with the sole
view Of doing what they could to prevent
the formation Of strong Republican or
ganization in the respective counties. The
delegates seated from these counties We're
substantial farmers and business men,
and were selected by qualified voters,
while, on the other hand, those who con-
tested their seats were selected by citi-
zens, the majority of whom, were not
entitled to vote" BY this latter state
nent the Senator gives, apparently, alb
solute endorsement to the DISTINGUISHING
North Carolina.
In number of eastern counties where
the colored voter has been largely in the
majority, delegates to the Greensboro
convention, under Mr.. Pritchard's call as
State Chairman of the Republican party,
were selected by large and enthusiastic
Republican conventions.
In my own county of Warren, NJ. T.
Thornton who, for nearly quarter of a
century, has served the county as regis
ter of deeds, always with white assist
ants, selected from the best white fam
lilies of the county, and 1, myself, who
was a member of Congress and Recorder
OF Deeds for ten years of my life, hav-
ing also without faint of social equality
employed for help the best white ladies
and gentlemen of my section, were duly
selected delegates to the Greensboro con-
yention, where, we were informed that
cur seats were contested by Messrs. B,
g. Green and Nathan Jones, self-constitu-
ted delegates to said convention No citi-
zen Of Warren county ever having heard
of a Republican convention supplying
these gentlemen with such credentials. II
was in fact reported at the time that
these gentlemen went merely as visitors
to fight the Pritchard machine. This
Warren county convention as well as
others, was, according to a thirty-year
custom in my county, and | submit that
l can not comprehend Senator Pritch-
ards statement that the colored dele
gates sent to Greensboro were sent at
the instance of Democratic manipula-
tors
Such marvellous statement strikes
my people with CONSERVATION!
Only six thousand colored people out
OF the more than fifteen thousand who did
actually register. casting their votes and
exercising the high franchise acquired
and not inherited, ought to make the
honorable Senator see the inconsistency
OF his position. 1t is believed that twenty
or thirty thousand other colored men did
in their manhood decline to apply for
the privilege of registration.
/ thank you for allowing me this space,
and would not intrude myself upon your
columns, but for the fact that Senator
Pritchard has imputed bad faith to
thousands of my colored friends in North
Carolina who sometimes look to me to
speak in their behalf. In truth the in
fidelity in Republicanism in this State
is to be charged to the Senator, who
made himself the exclusive issue in the
last campaign
Very respectfully,
HENRY P CHEATHAM
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