The semi-weekly messenger., 1902-09-26

The Charlotte Observer OF yesterday
publishes the special telegram, given be-
low from Greensboro regarding the ef-
forts OF friends of some of the senatorial
candidates toazeep democrats from at
tending the joint discussions between
Craig and Pritchard. We see it is said
that an attempt will be made to keep
democrats away from the speaking n
this city next Thursday. Go slow gen.
tlemen. Remember this is free coun-
try. Without expressing an opinion
upon the propriety or improperly of
Mr.. Craig accepting Senator Pritchards
challenge, We say that If Mr.. Craig
wants to stump the state with the re-
publican senator he has a perfect right
to do so without hindrance from any
one. and that every man in the state
who chooses has the free privilege of
going to hear him, and it is no body
else's business. We are sure that Mr..
Craig has the same privilege and should
be accorded the same consideration in
his tour of the state in his interests as
candidate for the United States senate
as were given to Hon Julian Shakes
peare Carr when he canvassed the state
alone two years ago as a senatorial
candidate. We do not see that the fact
of Mr.. Craig's discussing the issues
with the man who will be his opponent
if he gets the democratic nomination
makes his position any worse than if he
should go alone. The Messenger is not
advocating Mr.. Craig's nomination,
but it is simply demanding fare play.
The Greensboro special dispatch to
The Observer is as follows:
Greensboro, n. c., September u.
Senator Pritchard left tonight for
Kinston, where he will tomorrow meet
Locke Craig, Esq, in joint discussion.
1t is understood that Mr.. Craig went on
to Kinston today.
"A queer state of affairs may develop
at some of the places where these gen.
tlemen have engaged to speak. From
various quarters the intelligence reach
ed this city today that the friends of
other democratic candidates for the
senate are devising a means for ad-
ministering a rebuke to the gentleman
from Buncombe for accepting Senator
Pritchard's challenge for joint dis
cussion, and in this way playing spec
tacular role throughout the campaign
Whether this movement has the sane
ton of the other candidates is not
known to the writer, but there is no
question about the accuracy of the fore
going statement. 1t has been planned
that the rebuke shall take the form of
a frost" in that democrats will be
asked to remain at home, or not to go
near the place of speaking. Whether
there is any such movement on in Kin
ston is not known, but it seems that
the freezing-out process is certainly to
be attempted at Wilmington. Should
the plan succeed the senator and
would-be senator may find themselves
talking to empty benches, as republi-
cans are scarce in some of the east
ern towns, and if the democrats should
stay at home there would in the very
nature of the case be no audience. There
is, however, two sides to this situation,
and there is possibility that the move
ment may have a boomerang effect. In
the event the friends of other candi-
dates should openly make the attempt
to give Mr.. Craig the cold shoulder, and
should fail, the friends of the Buncombe
man might claim with plausibility that
the lines had been drawn and that the
popularity of their man had been un-
questionably established. Mr.. Craig
had heard nothing of the intention OF
his opponents before leaving Asheville,
so the future may have some surprises
in store for him." w. y. ii.