Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-05-03
57TH CONGRESS.
North Carolina Political Meth
DDS Aired in the Senate.
Sand Cure" and 'Red Shirts"
Charges Made and Denied.
House Passes the Anti CONSPIRACY Bill
Without Debate.


Carolina i'll the course of a discussion OF
the Philippine bill. He suggested that
some of the methods EMPLOYED nv the
opponents of the bill in this countrv
ought to be reformed and told of what
is called the sand cure" in North
Carolina, the victim having his face
crushed into the sand to stifle his cries.
while he was being beaten to intimi-
date him politically.
Simmons, \. c., declared that he
never heard of such a practice and the
debate concerning North Carolina poll
tics was fully launched.
Mr.. Pritchard charged that the RED
Shirts rode over the state to terroriZe
Republicans.
simmons denied the statement and
insisted that the Red Shirts never
had committed an unlawful act and as
a matter of fact intended only to OF
gHniIe the voters of the state.
The debate WaXcd warm Pritcharl
declaring that he had been approached
by m emssary of the Democratic
party With a proposition to drop the
impeachment proceedings against Re
publican judges in North Carolina if he
would nolle prosscqui cases pending III
the courts against certain Democrats
for election frauds.
simmons unCualfiedly denied that
such 4 proposition mad been made by
authority Of the Democratic party.
The Rosebud Indian reservation bill
and the sundry civil bill We're again
considered but not completed.
Cockrell. Missouri, offered an amend
ment to the sundry civil appropriation
bill providing that the exposition
should be opened to visitors on Nav /
1904, although the dedication Of the
government building should be held
not later than the 30th of April. 1903
The papers and amendment were re-
ferred to the committee on appropria-
tiOnS.
AT the conclusion of routine business
of the Senate the resolution offered by
Patterson tCol> requesting the President
to cause Major Gardener to come tc
Washington Immediately was laid before
the Senate. The resolution went over.
ne OIL TO ratiiy an agreement with
the Sioux Indians Of the Rosebud reser-
walton in South Dakota was further dis
cussed.
The conference report on the Indian
appropriation bill was agreed to-
\ letter from the secretary Of state
was redo suggesting a postponement 81
the opening Of the St. Louis Exposition
from 1905 to 1904.
The amendment of Plat (Ct) to the
Rosebud reservation bill striking ont the
provision of the bill providing for free
homes on the lands to homestead settlers
was rejected, 10 to 49,
The Philippine government bill then was
lald before the Senate and Pritchard IN.
- addressed the Senate in its support.
lie declared that majority of the peo-
pie of North Carolina and the South were
IN favor of the proposition of the ma jor-
ity OF the Philippine committee, and he
quoted the Charlotte Observer as lead
ing Democratic paper of the South N
support of the retention of the Philip
pines
Does not the senator know" interrupt
"a Simmons Dem., n. CO, that the
Charlotte Observer opposed the election
OF VIM. j. Bryan to the presidency"
That is true replied Pritchard but
the paper opposed him politically on the
issue of free silver"
Pritchard said he was in favor of the
prompt and speedy punishment of those
guilty of cruelty in the Philippines, but
the charges had nothing to do with the
measure. which provided merely for 4
civil administration in the Philippines
Pritchard declared his belief that the
United States ought to retain tie ISLANDS
permanently. He discussed at considera-
bic length the political situation of
North Carolina ana recited what he de-
nounced as "outraSes'' that had been
perpetrated, he declared, by the Demo-
Gratis of North Carolina on Republican
voters. He said ne did not think a ma
jority IF the Demo Gratis of the state APP
proved of such outrages and likewise did
not think that the isolated cases of out
rage and torture in the Philippines should
be cited as arguments against the Re
publican policy in the islands.
Simmons replied to some of the sugges-
tiCns by Pritchard as to North Carolina
politics. and JUSTIFIED the white people
in protecting themselves against ire
sponsihle majorities.
, Pritehard asserted that the sand cure
was used by Democrats in North Caro-
lima on Republicans He said that Re
publican voter had been taken from his
home AT night and beaten. his face be-
ing crushed into the sand 10 stiiie his
cries.
Simmons declared that this was tine first
time he ever had heard of the sand
cure" For six years he had been the
chairman of the Democratic executive
committee of North Carolina and he new
er had known of any cases of outrage
and violence for political purposes.
Pritchard inquired If it were not n fact
that organized bands Of red shirts" rode
over the state of North Carolina for the
pui B'lS'' VI ltflpl iDtil5 tiit fltpuJHCdil
voters
That organization 0he red shirts,
re plied Simmons. never had for its OBJ
jet any belicose purpose toward any
part of the voters of North Carolina. IT
is merely an organization for the purpose
of more effectually organizing the voters
of the state" prolonged laughter on the
floor ana in the galieries}.
Does my colleague say" inquired
Pritcharl, that the red shirts did not
ride through the state and terrorize vot-
ers?''
II state" declared Simmons. upon M
authority as a senator and as chairman
of the Democratic executive committee
that the stories Of outrages committed
hv red shirts are absolutely and utterly
without foundation. I know of no out
RACES that can be traced to that organ
ization."
He declared that not a single red shirt
ever had been arraiSned for violation d
law
Pritchard asserted that an emissary Of
the Democratic party in North Caroline
had approached him, promising that IL
he tPritchardD would enter a nole prose-
qui in certain eases of election frauds
the proceedings of Impeachment of Re
publican Judges by the Democratic Leg
islattre would be dropped.
1T was proclaimed boldly" said he.
that these judges were to be impeached
lrap+fpuad IN naga -