The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-05-03
THE OLD NORTHSTATE
"sAND CURE" AND RED SHIRTS
DISCUSSED.
AS BAD AS PHILIPPINES.
PRITCHARD AND SIMMONS HAVE
LIVELY TILT.

by Telling OF Alleged Democratic
Outrages in North CarOIina--His
Democratic Colleague shows the
Very FIimsy Foundation for Such
CharGes-Never Heard of "Sand
Cure" and the Red Shirts Simply
a Popular Political Organization.
Washington. May "A lively debate
was precipitated in the Senate to-day
by Mr.. Pritchard of North Carolina
by some remarks he made on politics
and political methods in North Caro-
lima, in the course of a discussion of
the Philippine bill He maintained
that the pending measure simply dealt
with administrative features of the
Philippines and insisted that charges
made against the American army that
tortures and barbarities were prac-
ticed in the islands were not relevant
to the discussion. He said that if the
charges were true, the guilty ought to
be punished severely and undoubtedly
would be. He suggested that some of
the methods employed by the opponents
of the bill in this country ought to be
reformed and told of what is called
the sand cure" in North Carolina,
the victim having his face crushed
into the sand to stife his cries while
he was being beaten to intimidate him
politically.
This drew the fire of Mr.. Simmons
of North Carolina, who said that he
never heard of such a practice. The
debate thus started covered a wide
range of subjects concerning North
Carolina politics.
Mr. Pritchard declared that ma
jority of the people of North Carolina
and the South were in favor of the
proposition of the majority of the
Philippine Committee and he quoted
the Charlotte Observer has a leading
Democratic paper of the South in sup
port of the retention of the Philippines.
Does not the senator know" inter-
rupted Mr.. Simmons, that the Char
lotte Observer opposed the election of
William ]. Bryan to the presidency?'
That is true" replied Mr. Prichard,
but the paper opposed him purely on
the issue of free silver"
in response to another question by
Mr. Simmons Mr.. Pritchard said he
knew of nobody in the South-Repub-
lican or Democrat-who was in favor
of imperialism" but he asserted that
a majority of the business men of the
South were in. favor of expansion.
Concerning the charges of cruelties
and torture inflicted upon the Filipi-
nos by the American army, Mr.. Pritch-
ard said he could not see the relevan-
Cy Of the charges to the pending meas
ure. He was in favor of the prompt
and speedy investigation of alleged
cruelties and the punishment of the
guilty, but he believed that the charges
had nothing to do with this measure,
which merely provided for a civil ad-
ministration IN the Philippines.
If we retain the Philippine Islands"
he said. "as we will, the Southern
states will retain the bulk of the trade
with the Philippines and the South will
be the chief beneficiary of the extern
sion of the cotton goods trade in the
Orient
sand Cure" and Red Shirts.
He said that a Republican voter was
taken from his home at night and
beaten, his face being crushed into
the sand to stihe his cries.
Mr.. Simmons declared that this was
the first time he had ever heard of
the sand cure" He said he did not
believe the statement of the witness
quoted by Mr.. Pritchard, and insisted
that if it were true the sand cure"
was not administered for political pur-
poses. He said that for six years he
had been the chairman of the Demo-
cratic Executive Committee of North
Carolina, and he had never known of
any cases of outrage and violence for
political purposes.
Mr. Pritchard inquired if it were d
fact that organized bands of red
shirts" rode over the state of North
Carolina for the purpose of terroriz-
ing Republican voters"
That organization" replied Mr..
simmons never had for it's object any
beIhcose or belligerent purpose toward
any part of the voters of North Car
ohna. 1t is merely an organization for
me purpose of more effectually organi-
ing the voters of the state" (Prolong-
ea laughter on the floor and in the
galleries)
in the course of a colloquy with Mr..
clay, who said that while he had no
count about the validity of the title of
me United States to the Philippine
islands. but thought the islands ought
10 be turned over to the inhabitants
N order that they might govern them
ewes, Mr.. Pritchard declared frankly
MS oellef that the United States ought
- retain the islands permanently.
North Cardinals Politics.
MI Pritchard discussed at consid-
eIdole length the suffrage conditions
oii iu political situation in North Car
una IN the course of which he said
SSldt IN the BLACK Belt" of the state
Ir. bryan had a majority of 5000 at
ne last presidential election Either
me colored voters were cheated out
u. thlr votes" he said, "or they voted
tne democratic ticket. l don't say
nHlch- He recited what he denounced
outrages" that had been "perpe-
Gateo by the Democrats of North
"Iolina upon Republican voters" but
Sdiu that he did not think a ma or-
VI the Democrats of the state ap-
a.oVed OF such "outrages" He did
'oe mink. therefore, that isolated
D ,sGs OF outrage and torture in the
IIIIpplnes should be cited as argu-
uIts against the Republican policy in
me Islands. He expressed the hope that
ne punishment of offenders against
e. drlcles of war would be swift and
Su H as he believed it would be-
-Nr. simmons replied to some of the
slarges made by Mr.. Pritchard as to
-,ortn Carolina politics, in the course
which he justified the while people
-- protec: 1g themselves against ire
Sponsible majorities.
AZ the request of Mr. McComas, Mr.
"Chard explained what he had meant
referred.
At, Does my colleague say" inquired
GIAtGhQFh - 4 a.