Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-12-10
THE CASE OF WICK
DEMOCRATIC MEMBERS OF CON-
cREss FROM \. G. INDIGNANT.
SIMMONS WILL SPEAK TO-DAY
He VIII Explain Position of North
Carolina Democrat. In Opposing
the Re-Appointment of the Negro
Postma.te- ut Wilson.
SIMMONS WILL SPEAK TO-DAY
He VIII Explain Position of Norti

WASHINGTON. D. c., December q
(SpeciaL)-Thc Democratic members ci
the North Carolina delegation in Congress
are INDIGNANT at the President ami his
friends Cor charging them with merely
wanting to raise row in the Republican,
camp in opposing the reappo.ntment OF
Wick. They say that they are but reflect
ing the wishes Of the people OF North
Carolina in the matter.
Senator Simmons will take the floor to-
morrow, and will have quite good deal
to say on this charge. he Will declare
entire good faith in the matter, on be-
har Of himself and his colleagues.
'r.As following story. made public this
aftc, Son from trustworthy source.
shows the cause of the troublc: -
ADMINISTRATION OBJECTS.
THE administration, 1t may be stated
on most competent authority, is disposed
to regard as ofIlcious and as premedttated
the interference OF North Carolina Lem.
ocratic members Of Congress in the case
Of Postmaster Wick, at Wilson. N.
The administration has reached the con-
clus.on, from facts before the officials.
and from deductions. that the North Car
olina Democrats are trying to place the
President in a position that vii! either
harm him with the negro vote OF the
county, or lessen the estimation OF
Southern, white people for him. The mat
ter has been seriously considered and
the opinion Is strong that the North
Carolina Democrats have mixed in
matter in which courtesy only gives them
the right of interference, and that lney
have done so with political object in
view.
1T may be stated on good authority
that Senator Simmons and North Carolina
Democratic members of the Senate lnt
House have gone to Genera,
Payne and informed him that they object
to the nomination solely on the ground
OF Eick's color. and on no other ground
N the world. 1t is pointed out that should
the President refrain Nfrom giving Wick
another term as postmaster, it would
be declared by the North Carolina Lem
ocrats, and by Democrats throughout The
country, that the President had turned
Wick down beca use he wa. a negro. On
the other hand, should Wick be again CIV
en- his position, the President would be
proclaimed as hostile to the sentiments
Of Southern white men of both parties
who desire to eliminate the negro. At
the same time, the assertion would be
made that the President was opposed to
a decent Republican party IN the South
The Democrats especially those in North
Carolina, where the negro question has
been an issue. for a number Of years,
would profit by this kind of fight, by,
being able to keep the negro ghost alive
in campaigns for a good wnile TO come.
PROCEEDING IRREGULAR.
1.-The fact that the North Carolina Dem
oc-ats have interfered at all is resented,
AS much as anything else, because OF the
way they have done so. 1t is usually
not the custom of Democrats or of those
from the South, to visit the departments
or the White House, ard enter either
objections to or approvals Of candidate s
for office, It is declared. The place for
such objections TO be made is in the SEN
ate. when nominations are sent there
and it is rather an unheard-of procce ling,
it IS said, for Democratic delegation to
visit the Postmaster-Gencral and proclaim
their opposition to q man for an Office
ut is learned that Postmaster Wick
Goes rot deny that he opposed the Re-
publican ticket in North Carolina this
year. He openly admits to the Post
Office Department that he did SO. and
says his reason was that the, negro mad
been eliminated by Senator Pritchard and
his followers and there was no cause for
tue negro to give his support to men
who had declared they id not want it.
and wanted the negro done away with
politically.
"':hc question OF Wick promises to be
one of the most important passed upon
by the administration"