The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-11-04
CAMPAIGN CLOSING IN RICHMOND.
The Republicans Have Wsged Vigorous Cam
pa'gn Eat it will not be Successful.
Especial to News and Observer.)


Rockingham. n c., Nov 3.-Richmond
county has had right lively little cam
paign. The Republicans succeeded in
getting out a mongrel ticket. and back
cd by a number of well paid Federal
officeholders. they have spent good
deal of money, distributed whiskey.
promised more fellows Jobs than there
are Jobs in the Seventh Congressional
district and, in all the ways known to
Republican political methods, have
fought hopeless fight with the deter
mination of long pent-up anger and dis
appointment.
In 1900 they hardly made pretense of
fight, and, in fact, it had been so long
since there had been any Republican
cloquence turned loose in the county,
that a Republican speaking was regarded
as a curiosity They have made their
bitterest fight this time against Sheriff
Wright, the old hero. who led the
matchless charge of the county candi-
dates against them in 1898. They had
not forgotten him, and after he had
served his second term, they may have
thought they would be able to defeat
him, but he will be reelected by a good
majority
Mr.. Alfred Settle Dockery. as our
nominee for the Legislature, has led the
county canvass this year in a manner
which has increased our estimate of his
ability as a campaigncr. When hard
ened by experience he will be superior
to any of his kinsmen as a public speak
err He has made brilliant canvass,
and hiss more than met the assaults of
the enemy
Chairman Wbitlock, former Chairman
Morrison and Mr.. w. L. Parsons. have
each lent the strong force of their plat
form ability to the local campaign.
The Republicans woke up a surprise
when they got to criticising the Board OF
County Commissioners. Mr.. w. c. Leak,
chairman of the Board made an hours
speech in reply to them. speaking with
the ease of an old stager, and the con-
viction of truth and earnestness.
Perhaps as much of a disappointment
as the Republicans have had, was furn-
ished them when the Hon. Hezekiah
Gudger spoke here today. They expect
ed great things of him. They remem-
bered how he demolished Pritchard,
when, as a Democrat, he had a Joint de-
bate with him at this place some years
ago. and they very foolishly supposed
that he could talk Radicalism as beauti-
fully as he could declare the truths of
Democracy. 1t would have done any one
good to have heard him here Saturday
and seen the veriication of the fact that
a man cannot proclaim with any force
principles, borrowed for expedience To
be sure his voice is as musical as when
he sang the pure songs of Democracy,
| and he would occasionally paint into the
| back ground a rose bud as of yore. and
| he even retains the same set of posngs
| which used to serve him weIl--but all to
| no purpose. When applied to attacks
upon the constitutional amendment, ana
a defense of Pritchard's Deserter Bill,
| they are as sounding brass-extremely
| so. The ohagrin of the Republicans was
| so evident that some of them actually
owned it. One thing which took every
bit of the starch out of their meeting,
! was the fact that one whole half of the
court house-would you believe it?-filled
Up with negroes 1t was almost as sad
as funeral occasion. The Lily
Whites mourned because of their pres
enee. but the speaker never once re-
/ buked them. The negroes had been with
out comfort so long, and here was a