The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-10-01
THE OLD WILMINGTON GANG.

The worst political vermin that ever
infested the State was the gang driven
out of Wilmington in $685. The white
enjoyed the respect of nobody, but were
held in contempt by all honest men. The
leaders were John R. Melton,
who as chief of police per-
mitted, if he did not approve,
wholesale robbery of property and in
suits TO good women, and c. P. Jockey,
the barber-l lawyer, who was thought
good enough by the Republicans to be
made Superior Court Judge. This was the
sort of cattle that embraced the white
section of the leadership of the Radical
party before the revolution banished
them. Russell endorsed them and d. L.
Gore, who backed up Pritchard when he
was in Wilmington last week, was with
Russell during all his disgraceful gov
eminent that resulted in the Revolu-
ton. WILMINGTON drove Jockey and Mel
ton out OF the city, and the good people
. of that city will never forgive Russell,
kre or any other man who condoned the
- that called for the strenuous meas
ures adopted in 1898.
AS this campaign progresses. it is ap
parent that the same old gang that
Pritchard and Russell put in power is
still in control of the Republican party
in nearly every county in the State. A
few days ago the Goldsboro Argus noted
that Marion Butler and John r. Melton,
the expelled chief of police in Whining
ton, were in consultation at GOldsboro
and now we have it that Jockey, expell
cd from Wilmington, is in charge of the
Pritchard party in Johnston county. We
have before us flaming circular, calling
upon 1.-THE Republican voters of the va
rious townships of Johnston county to
meet at their usual voting places and
elect three active Republicans as Pre-
cnct Committeeman" That call is signed
G. p Jockey, Temporary Chairman.
After leaving Wilmington rather hastily,
being first informed that he could not
return to the city he had helped to in
iure, Jockey was, of course, given a
place in the revenue service. Pritchard
& Co, always to manage to make places
for the scum of the party. He was out
awhile, was reinstated and sent to John
ston county to manage the politics of
that county. prominent Republican,
of ne
the Republican party of Johnston county,
said: Jockey wishes he was a Niger
and there are many negroes better"
In the face of keeping such men In
office and trying to make them lead
ers over good people. Pritchard & Co,
have the check to ask decent white men
to celebrate the passage of the amend
ment by returning them to power. Pritch-
is the same man he was when he put L.,
900 negroes in office in Eastern North
Carolina and inaugurated "a rfGgn OF
when crime and robbery and the insult
of white women went unchecked in Will
mington while he was chief of police.
Jockey is the same man that he was
when the decent people of Wilmington
drove him out of their town and re-
fused to let him longer cumber the
ground of that good city. And yet they
are going before the people and saying:
''Now that you have driven us out and
passed the amendment. you ought to be
free men. You ought to celebrate your
liberty by restoring us to power. II you
don't do that you show that you are
bossed by machine and not permitted
TO vote as you please"
That, in plain language, is the appeal
that Pritchard Melton, Jockey & Co.. are
today making to the voters, of North
Carolina, ard, stripped of its verbiage,
Il is the only appeal they are making.
1t IS only necessary now for Sotho to
- -. - . Io4tor for prifchard IN in