The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1902-03-20
From Our Regular Correspondent.

Tor blacks. ana especially the colleges
(tike Shaw University at Raleigh Living
stone University at Salisbury and the
number of other colleges at Charlotte,
Greensboro. and other places, open to
them almost without cost, on account OF
the liberality of Northern patrons), and
the means Of earning their board at the
occupations open to darkies and closed
to white boys. the observation does not
sound SO improbable.
ApropOs OF all this, we are now hearing
much OF the possible alienation OF the
negro vote from the Republican party.
and Il conference OF negro leaders is called
to meet here soon. one of the declared
purposes of which is to align the negro
vote with the Democratic party-or at
least to pretty equally distribute it here
after between the political parties
And it is a little interesting. too. to
note that some of the leading White
Supremacy newspapers of the last cam
paign are 'featuring' this purpose. and
apparently welcoming it. in their col
umns. What if the great bulk OF the
negro vote should come over bodily to
the Democratic party? Are we prepared
to welcome it?
| have asked a number OF our ''leaders
the above question. Some say yes, while
others object very StOutlv. But even the
latter admit that they would find it as
difficult to keep them out as they would
to prevent the white vote from splitting
at the same time. and very much for the
same reason.
The boast of some OF the Republican
leaders that their party is now strongest
in the whitest counties is also causing
our politicians to look into the ''why-
ness and the "whereforeness" OF that
statement-if true On the whole, the
political developments of 1902 promise
to be interesting and something out Of
the usual order. possibly-if the present
current continues to flow unnterruptedly
on
DEFECT in OUR STATUTORY LAW.
Post-trial evidence has induced GOV.
AycOck to save another condemned
burglar from the gallOWs. and Andrew
jackson (white) OF Lincoln county, has
had his sentence committed to life I'M
prisonment The newly produced evil
dence casts a doubt upon the guilt of the
prisoner, and as there is no law provid-
ing for a new trial in such cases land the
Governor thinks there ought to be-, His
Excellency leans to the side of mercy and
gives the prisoner the benefit of the doubt
to the extent stated. If not guilty he
ought to be freed, and it does seem that
legal machinery to cover such cases ought
to be provided by our laws 1t is almost
as wrong to lock an innocent man in
prison for life as it would be to hang him
But criticism should be directed to the
defect in our criminal statutory laws
rather than to the Governor. 1t is up to
the Legislature to provide the remedy.
NORTH CAROLINA AT CHARLESTON.
The prospects are that we will be we'll
and largely represented at the Charleston
Exposition during "North Carolina
Week, and if President Roosevelt's plan
of attending that week is carried out it
will probably be the record breaking
week of the South's big show-April eth
to 18th.
The composite regiment that was select
ed by the Governor and Adjutant General
last Thursday will he composed OF the
following companies: Winston. Char
lOtte, Durham. Concord Cos c. ID, l. l..
First Regiment); Wilmington. Washing
ton. Clinton. Edenton Cos. {. Il. H. |,
Second RegimenD: Raleigh, Henderson.
Oxford. Burlington Cos. B. c, f. /,
Third Regiment). The three battalions
will be under command respectively, of
Majors I. r. Robertson. J. G. Bond and
L. }. Winston, with Colonel Armtield
commanding the regiment.
VARIOUS MATTERs OF INTEREST.
Col. W. B. Rodman is to be appointed
agent of the State Board of Education to
| conduct the sale of the swamp lands
A gentleman from Lumberton tells ne
that in a few days Philadelphia com
~ L.,
| Raleigh Railroad and will extend it via
| Fayetteville to LumberhOn. where it will
| form part of the Carolina 4 Northern
Railway, which is going to Charleston
No matter which syndicate gets the road
this will be the result, it appears. and
Raleigh will get a direct line to Charles
| ton.
Governor Aycock has commuted tn,
| sentence OF Lawyer Gorham. the Southern
| Railway attorney convicted at States
Vile court, SO as to make the punishment
a fine OF $50 only. The Imprisonment,
feature has been stricken out because the
defendant has since been acquitted OF the
charge OF embracery.
| There are today exactly 100 innites iT
the Soldiers Home here, the largest mum
Der in its histOry-and it is a Godsend tC
most OF those broken down (pecuniarilv
as well as physically old heroes There
would be as many more ii they could be
accommodated.
Senator Carmack, Of Tennessee. one o.
the most eloquent OF public men. has ac
cepted the invitation to deliver the liter
AIRY address. May -, at the State Norma
and Industrial College, Greensboro. or
the occasion OF its decennary celebration
1t will be a notable event.
Mr.. L. Banks Holt. proprietor OF the
| Oneida Cotton Mills at Graham. where 3
fire occurred a few days ago. says he has
made all arrangements to fill all orders
! promptly during the installation OF new
dyeing plant. The loss was only $4,000
and there was an insurance of IS. 900 tC
cover it. Those OF his operatives who
are temporarily thrown ont of work arr
! being provided for by Mr. Holt. and
where necessary to their comfort con
timed on the pay roll of the mill Nc