The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-11-16
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about REORGANIZATION Of their party in
North Carolina upon the basis of buying
the leadership of prominent Democrats
by giving them Federal offices. That
sort Of bribery was regarded as the way
to break the Solid South when Hayes
gave offices to Democrats in 1877. 1t has
been tried several times since, the latest
being the South Carolina attempt under
McLaurin. In every instance at has de-
| stroyed the man who took the bride and
strengthened the Democratic party
How has it worked in North Carolina,
where it has been attempted with some
counties? Let us look at a part of the
record Of the policy now advocated.
The Republicans thought they could
make big accessions in Buncombe by
giving big offices to Hezekiah Gudger
and Richmond Pearson, former Demo
Gratis and other so-called Democrats,
instead of to the old line Republicans.
What was the result? In 1896 the Re-
publicans carried Buncombe in the No
vembcr election by over 400 majority.
This year the Democrats won by 800 ma
iority. That wasn't very big return to
the Republican party for the offices De-
slowed on ex-Democrats, do you think?
In Pitt county, the Republican District
Attorney was removed from office, and
| that responsible position was given to
did that pan out in Col. SINNERS county?
In 1896 Pitt gave Republican majority
of 500. This year the Democratic ma
iority reached the handsome figure of
1851.
In Halifax county, with the negro
| eliminated Senator Pritchard was per-
| be elected if the Federal patronage was
| given to Democrats. And he turned over
the postoffces to the personal and poll
teal friends of Capt. w. H. Day, who
was managing the Republican campaign
| in that section of the State. The negro
postmasters were kicked out and the
places given to men who had been affil-
iating with Democrats. Result, out of a
white vote of about 1900, the Demo-
Gratis got 1868 votes to the Citizens
ticket, supported by the new Federal
offce-hoIders, getting 3S5 votes. In 1896
the Republican majority in Halifax was
1905.
In New Hanover, the negro was re-
| moved from the position of Collector Of
Customs, and eX-Democrat and ex-Popu-
list Keith was appointed. Result, the
| Democratic majority this year is 1921
! votes, where in 1896 the Republican ma
| jority was over 1000.
Franklip was another county in which
| Pritchard thought to make big Republi-
can gains by the wise giving of officers
! to Democrats. Result: the Democratic
majority this year is over 1900, the big
| ger Democratic majority in the history
of the county, whereas in 1896 it gave a
Republican majority.
But the influence upon which Pritchard
relied most to demoralize the Demo-
cratic party was the Charlotte Observer,
| to whose chief owner and boss he and
What was the result? 1t did everything
| it could to hurt the Democratic party, in
| both State and National policies, but
| it was impotent to harm the party.
Mccllenburg county gave a Democratic
majority of 2,423 this year where
| as in 1896, before the $4,000
job had been given by Mckinley to
| D. A Tompkins the chief owner of the
| Charlotte Observer, the Democratic ma
| jority was less than 200 The counties
surrounding Mecklenburg, in which the
| Observer chiefly circulates and where it
| was supposed its insidious opposition to
| Democracy would have some weight for
the Republican party, did like Mecklen-
| burg; increased their Democratic ma
| jorities as follows: CASTOR, which gave
/ 1'oNV'
Cleveland, which gave 1vJ, increased to
| 1600; Lincoln, which was lost gave 375
majority: Cabarrus, which was 400 Re
publican, is 500 Democratic; Iredell,
which was 100, is 1900; Union, which
was 300 Republican, is now 800 Demo
| cratic-and so on.
These are few samples of the way
the Republican party has gained strength
by giving offices to former Democrats.
1t has not paid a very handsome return on
the investment up to this hour. There arc
some Republicans who believe it would
pay better to reorganize the Republican
party upon the basis of giving offices
only to men who will support the party
openly and not be ashamed to be known
| as Republicans. Having tried the policy
! of getting Republican leaders by giving