The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-09-14
KNOCKOUT BLOWS
Simmons Hammers Pritch-
ard in Perquimans.
A Great Speech Before Great Crowd. Priich
ard Shown Up as Opposing Confederate
Pensions in 1885.
Especial to News and Observer

Hertford, n. c., Sept. 13.-An enor-
mons in the court house here today The
| speech was a powerful and convincing
one, and the crowd was an enthusiastic
one and met the speaker half way, so tC
speak
| Mr.. Simmons was in fine voice and good
trim all around. The people were de-
| lighted with his speech and did not fail
| to let him know it, so they could be
heard for a very long way off.
! The Senator's arguments for a contin-
uation of Democratic rule in the State
were absolutely unanswerable, and the
crowd thought so, judging from their
shouts of approval
| But the sensation of the day when the
people simply went wild, came when Mr..
Simmons referred to Senator Pritchard s
speech and vote against the first Con-
federate pension bill, passed by the Leg
islature of 1885.
What the speaker said on this subject
was as follows:
I'm connection with the question of
whether the people want to be repre-
sented in the Senate by Senator Pritch-
ard, the old Confederate soldiers may
want to have something to say. Senator
Pritchard has been great advocate of
pensions to Union soldiers since he has
been in the Senate, and he is the author
of the recent bill which passed Congress
pensioning deserters from the Confeder-
ate army. The last pension bill appro-
PIRATES nearly $140,0000 900. 1t is said
that under Senator Pritchards S desert
ers' pension bill several hundred thaus
and of this money will be paid out in
North Carolina every year.
while Senator Pritchard favors these
liberal pensions for Union soldiers and
deserters, what has been his attitude
with reference to pensions for Confeder-
ate soldiers? True his platform, recent
ly adopted at Greensboro, says they are
in favor of liberal pensions to these old
heroes, but the platform was adopted un-
der the spur of Democratic denunciation
of their apathy and Indifference towards
the men who followed Lee and Jackson
Unfortunately for Senator Pritchard, he
has a record upon this subject. He once
voted and spoke upon this subject be.
fore he was a candidate for the United
States Senate. 1t was way back in the
Legislature of 1885, when the first Con-
federate pension bill was under consid
Grafton. Senator Pritchard was men,
Der of the House of Representatives that
wear The files of the Raleigh Observer
when the Confederate pension bill was
under consideration, shows that he made
a speech against it's passage. 1t also
shows that he and his party tried to dodge
a vote. but the Democrats would not let
them. and they were forced to vote. They
did vote and the Journals of that Leg
islature show that Senator Pritchard,
with twelve other Republicans, voted
against the bill on its second reading,
and that he together with thirteen other
Republicans, voted against it on it's thira
reading.
''It is not likely that the old soldiers
of North Carolina and thehir descend
ants will care to vote TO send to the
Senate of the United States to2represent
the ma man who, while voting large
pensions for deserters from the Confed-
crate army when he was in the State
Legislature voted against the first bill
ever passed to pension Confederate sol
diers''
The sledge hammer blows fell and the
people applauded as the thuds went
home.
Taken all in all, it has been great
day for the Democratic party in Per-
qumans county
Score one against Pritchard