Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-08
At THE WHITE HOUSE
Senator Pritchard Talks
About Postmaster Wick.
KENTUCKIANS CALL
ATFoB1vxY GENERAL PRATT AND
REPRESENTATIVE BoREING.
They Conferred With the President
An Old Coloreds Man Who
Was 's1Guddy."

at Wilson. N. c., about which q great deal
has been written recently. Senator Pritch-
ard is understood TO have dnformed the
President that he has NO change to make
in his recommendation that A. B. Boykin
be nominated as postmaster at Wilson.
Senator Pritchard told the President that
he had not indorsed Wick for the place for
a good many reasons; that the color of
Vick had nothing to dosswith the case in
any form. Wick has not been working
with the republican Organization in Mort h
Carolina, and did not do 30 IN the last cleo
ton, am informed saad Senator Pritch-
ard II did not indofse him for this rea-
son. republican is "a man who works in
harmony with his party. Furthermore, 1
did not indorse Wick because he is not the
man the people of Wilson want for post
master. That is another good reason for
my action. Wick may have Endorsements as
to his character from all parts of Wilson,
but it is noticeable that he does not have
the Endorsement of the democrats for the
position he seeks. AS a matter of fact the
Endorsement of his character and conduct
Of his Office is merely an attempt to en-
barrass me. This is done by democratic
politicians, who believe; that they have an
opportunity to create ediscord and place the
President and myself in position they can
make capital out of. II have informed the
President that Wick is not the choice of the
is not in accord with the republican or
ganization in the state. and that his color
had nothing to do With reimbursement of
another man. The nattersis left for the
President to pass upon.
Senator Pritchard's Letter.
Senator Pritchards letter to the President
was as follows:
Dear Mr.. President&I have the honor to
subIait in writing mysreasens for opposing
the reappointment of Samuel Wick as post
master at Wilson, North Carolina.
In the first place. Mr.. Wick has. during
the past three years, done every thing he
could to obstruce those who have been en-
Geavoring to carry out what I conceive to
be the best policy for the republican party
in eastern Carolina. AT tie Weldon con-
gressional convention! Two years ago Hon.
u. w. Patrick, gellHaeman Of high char
acter, was candidafe for Congress. Mr..
Patrick Is a gentleman of large means and
stands exceedingly we'll with the best ele-
ment of the people of his district. He has
never, i'll so far as know, held any federal
position. / was of5the opinion that the very
best thing that could have been done at
that time for the republican party was to
nominate Mr.. Patrick. Mr.. Wick was dele
gate to the Weldon convention, and the
convention was evenly divided between Mr.
Patrick on the one hand, who was not
federal officeholder, and Col. j. J. Martin
on the other, who was postmaster at Tar
boro'. =,s=.s
Under the leadership Of those who have
done all they could to disrupt the repub-
Hcan party in North Carolina I am in
formed that Mr.. Wick gave the casting vote
in the Weldon convention in favor of Mar
tin and thereby secured the defeat of Mr..
Patrick.
During the last campaign am informed
that he did everything in his power to
prevent the success of the republican state
and legislative ticket in North Carolina in
republican state ticket did not receive a
single vote in the precinct in which Wick
voted, and the legislative ticket only re-
ceived two votes in his precinct, and 1 am
informed that both of those votes were cast
by white men,
Now, l can well understand why Wick,
who has always opposed me, should have
voted against the legislative ticket. but [
voted against the republican state ticket
containing as 1t did. the-names of some of
the best republicans in North Carolina.
In consideration of his services to the
democratic party, the leading democrats of
Wilson now come forward and indorse him
as gent eman OF high character and stand
ing.
"If exCongressman White and the lead
ers OF the democratic party of Wilson are
to be consulted about this matter, I have
the honor to suggest that you send an agent
to wilson. with instructions to interview
majority of the people of character and In
teliigenee in that community as to whether
or not they prefer the appointment of Mr..
Wick to that of Mr. Boykin, whom / have
recommended. and that he require them to
state their preferences in writing; or, II
this plan does not meet Withsyour approval,
In that event suggest that you require
Mr.. Wick to secure petitions or letters from
this class OF people, including those who
have already recommended him as being
a gentleman of high character and stand
fGg, requesting his appointment as post
q
II he can secure Endorsements from this
Class OF people, then you may, in the ex-
ercfse of your discretion, take such actioIf
as you may deem proper, but l must stu
reserve the right to say that In my opinion
1T Will be. mistake ;,fnder these circum-
stancss to appoint Mr. Wick as postmaster
'P. ST. herewith inclose copy of letter
COMMITTEES of wifsda county.
Two Prominezse Kantuckians.
Two Kentucky republicans, whose names
are likely to figure In. thesfuture affairs of
that state, had a. saeonfsrence with the
President today. They were Representative
Vincent Boreing andsCHffen ]. Pratt, at
torney general of the state. During the
tragic and memoraAae struGgle in Ken
tucky over political ccmtr0l in which Will
lam Goebel was as1assinnted. Mr.. Pratt
airy tactics adopted u both Sides He had
been the republican sanmaHee for attorney
general and led his tiE1fet. Il BY legal action,
after the democrats lad t1ken charge. Mr..
q decision that he. I'D beens elected. and
for number of years he has been the only
republican state efficx In Kentucky. He
has been most prominently mentioned in
the last few months for the republican nom
ination for governor In the next election,
and 1t is declared that he Is probably the
leading candidate Tor ahe position at this