The semi-weekly messenger., 1902-09-26
Correspondence of The Messenger.)

Correspondence of The Messenger)
Fayetteville, Sept. "a.
At IL o'clock today the joint discus
sion between Hons. Locke Craig and
J. c. Pritchard took place in the coun-
ty court room. The hall was we'll fill
ed, though the crowd in attendance
was not as large as expected, and was,
of course, mainly democratic. Both
speakers are remarkably attractive in
personality, and at their hotel, La
FayeSte quarters, were visited by
crowds of representative citizens, the
democrats at least, paying their re-
spects impartially.
Mr.. H l.. Cook, chairman of the
county democratic executive commit
tee, presided over the meeting, open
ing it with graceful mention Uf both
distinguished orators. E&-Judge 7. H.
Sutton, in his nervous, Icrceful way,
introduced Mr.. Pritchard as his own
successor to the United States senate,
and took occasion to thank God that
the time had come when political issues
could be discussed strictly on their
merits, and referred 10 Craig as his
personal friend, and Pritchard as his
personal and political friend, Speaking
of his services in the upper CAPE Fear
river navigation scheme, and the folly
of removing from tae august senate
our only pOwerfuI and infiu9ntial
friend.
Senator Pritchard spoke of his pleas
ure at addressing for the first time
an audience of Cumberland county
people. He did not come TO deal. i'll
personalities or abuse; there have been
differences of opinion since the fOunda-
tion of government to the present
time, and all were honest in their diff
ferences. He was convinced that his
competitor would be the senatorial
nominee of his party, and for that rea-
son he had invited him to a joint dis
cussion, and he was certain that Mr..
Craig would inject no personalities
into debate.
There was no use in going back of
1892, and he reviewed the cOuntrys
prosperity up to that time. showing
that a cash balance of over S29, 000, 900
was handed over by Harrison to Cleve-
land. and a gold reserve of over $780,
900, 600. We were at peace with all
mankind The democratic party went
into power with President Cleveland
and both branches of congressional
which they declared was necessary for
them to do all that was needed for
the salvation of the country. Their
man tariff bill, where erything was
neglected in which North Carolina was
interested-preferring Canada lumber,
Australian wool and Indian mica and
foreign rice to North Carolina lumber,
wool, mica and rice. He then discussed
the baneful effects on lumber, carrying
it down from SIS to S19 Per thousand
to sS and SO per thousand. The farm
ers products fell. cotton 3 IL and 4
cents a pound, and North Carolina
manufactures were closed down along
in 1894 and 1895; circulating medium
went down to $21.10 per capita; the
gold reserve in 1895 became shaky and
in a panicky condition. In a time of
profound peace democrats were forced
to borrow $685., 900 900. If, as Mr.. Craig
says, the secretary and treasury had
the plates for the s262, 900 all ready
he was a political prophet.
In 1896 Mr.. Bryan was nominated on
a platform the like of which was never
before seen = denouncing everything
and everybody, and appealing to pas
sion, just here, 1 say the most dan
gerous enemy to society is the, an
archist, and the party which attacks
the courts is a friend Of anarchy. He
paid his respects to the financial doc
trine of 16 to /. The American people,
by an overwhelming majority, gave us
Mckinley and the lower house OF con-
gress. which, with the assistance of
liberal men in the senate, passed the
Dingley bill, and restored justice to
North Carolina lumber, mica, ETC.;
protected farmers who get good prices;
factories are now running on full time;
the capita is now $2S.75 from s21.1c.
and the gold reserve stands over $780,
100000 without flicker.
Mr.. Craig says that Providence is p
for the national prosperity. Why did
not providence help your party, If 1T is
such a fine crowd?
In 1896 sheep were valued at So, ,000,-
600; before Cleveland they We're S127,-
1000. Under McKinley's administra
tion all farm stocks came up in value.
In North Carolina the issues are
tariff reform, anti-trusts, anti-Phillip-
pine policy. He asked if any North
Carolinian really wanted tariff reform.
as they interpret it. He then discussed
the utterances of Mr. Craig on the sub
ject in preceding speech. His argu-
ment was elaborate on the question of
trusts, which, taking the gist of 1t,
made him a defender of the trusts,
with all his verbfage.
Mr.. Craig said that he was cancer
doctor. Here there was some pleas
antry as to Mr.. Craig being his first
patient. In North Carolina they passed
trust law, and democratic judge de-
cided it to be unconstitutional.
He then took up the Philippine ques-
tion, showing Bryan's action on treaty,
and sfxty-four democrats voting for
the Philippine appropriation. We have
bought the island, and will never give
them up-he speaks as an individual
not for the party. He discussed the
Philippine cotton imports, and the eff
fects on Southern farmers. He charged
that democrats never discussed mat