The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-11-18
pRITcHaRD WILL NOT REcAxr.
Statement Of Events Go
Present Relations Between Him
and the President.
Especial to Charlotte obsercer.)

Especial TO Charlotte Obsercer.)
Asheville. November I3.-The Wash
ington specials TO the state papers yes
terday, indicating with marked plausi-
bility a break between the administra-
ton and Senator Pritchard, has caused
republicans OF prominence TO exclaim,
Whittier are We drifting?" The state
ment OF The Washington Post, that
Senator Pritchard e~ntertains a feeling
OF indignation toward the president. and
the statements made elsewhere that
there has been a break" absolute and
final. are subjects for questioning de-
bate; but that the situation is pregnant
with the possibility of future strained
relations. few will deny. For the past
two or three years the writer has
known that Senator Pritchard was firm
in the belief that the hope of the repub-
iican party lay in the division of the
negro vote between the two great par
ties, but the senator was deferred from
taking any practical steps by the then
existing conditions and the opions Of
others. though convinced that not only
was such a step demanded in the inter
est OF the southern wing of the republi-
can party, but in the interest of the col
oreG man himself. MOI until a few
months ago did the time appear ripe for
the practical application of his ideas
when he found that they coincided with
the views of the national republican ad-
ministration. The work of RELOCATING
the negro to the back ground began
with the removal OF negro poStmaSterS
in eastern North Carolina, in which he
necessarily had the cooperation of
Post M star Gpnaro1 Pauna This nnli-
cy appealed more and more to the favor
OF the administration, and at every OPP
portunity the President talked the sub
ject over with the North Carolina SEN
ator. The senator was invited to Oyster
Bay to take lunch with the chief exec
utive, where for the hundredth time the
two discussed the mooted subject, as
they broke bread.
Then Senator Pritchard came to his
home state convention to exploit their
mutual views, and some marveled at
the ease with which the senator direct
ed the movements of that body. Men
came forward with resolutions, but the
resolutions died still born. and never
even found their way into the public
prints. This was so, because the word
had gone out that the senator was
working in entire accord with the pres
ident. which was enough, for the con-
vention for the most part was earning
its bread by the sweat of the brow at
Mr.. Roosevelt'S piery. Subsequently
Senator Pritchard went to the Alabama
state convention, and there the opera
ton of communicating the negro was
repeated. In order to do this, Senator
Pritchard had to leave a sick bed, and
in reality went in the face Of the ear
nest protest of physicians; but he felt
that he lac a mission to perform, and
he performed it. In the meantime there
was nothing but silent acquiescence
from Washington in the programme
that had been agreed upon by word of
mouth; but a few weeks later Clarkson,
Payne n the negro bishops called at
the White House. 1t was reported that
they went away smiling, and well they
might, for the president had uttered
words that could only be construed as
a rebuke to Senator Pritchard, and the
most surprised man in the United
States vas the enatO himself. For
days he refused to credit the published
reports of the conference. Subsequent
ly he has been given other surprises,
for it was painfully apparent that the
Chief Executive had changed front on
him in the midst of a political life and
death struggle, and has now even gone
so far as to punish men in Alabama
who aided in carrying out the agreed
programme-thiS, despite the fact that
in administering the punishment the
president had to disregard the letter
dllO spirit O1 Ine civil SGINlCe Id"
which to a large degree is a creature
of his own hand and brain. 1t seems
difficult, to understand, therefore. what
Senator Pritchard meant when he told
one of the Washington correspondents
that the relations between him and the
president were still cordial. and h a
there was no friction. Senator Pritch-
ard has announced a policy on which
he has risked the future of his party,
n without any warning the president
has unceremoniously deserted him, an
act which is not generally conducive
to cordially, as human nature goes. In
the light Of present circumstances many
republicans think there is one road
open to them, and that leads in the d.
rection Of Senator Hanna, or whoever
may oppose the president in the nation
al convention. Such a course would be
agreeable to southern republicans any
way, for a movement was started in
favor of the Ohio senator months ago.
1t had its inception several months age
at a term of the Federal court at
Statesville, and it is declared from a
source that is deemed reliable that since
that time a certain North Carolina re-
publican has kept in touch with Sena-
tor Hanna at every turn. When ex-
Congressman Linney placed Hanna IN
nomination for the presidency at the
Marshall rally, 1T was not On the inspi-
ration of the moment. Certain republi-
cans new he would make such q decla-
ration. but some were SURPRISED at the
time and place selected. Said a repub-
lican of state prominence today: ut
would be the most natural thing in Il c
world for Senator Pritchard himself tC
place himself at the head of the Ham
band wagon. From all Indications ths
differences between Pritchard and the
administration are ~irreparable, and one
must take into consideration a mans
antecedentS and past environment
when figuring on his probable future
actions. Hanna has always stood by
| Pritchard."