The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-11-21
STATE PRESS.

There may be many men who would
have adopted the same course as Judge
Avery in refusing a certificate of cleo
ton awarded him Oh d Iechnicality,
but they are not politicians.-Durham
Herald.
If the democrats think that the recent
majority is gratifying, they had better
turn the other side of the lard and
look at the big "stay at home" vote.
Enough voters stayed at home on cleo
ton day, to put any party in the state
in power.-Gastonia News.
Since Booker Washington is permit
ted. to dictate to the president as to
southern appointments, why doe not
the chief executive invite Booker to
become a member of hts official fam
lily? AS confidential adviser TO Roose-
welt, Booker would be quite as much at
home in the cabinet IS ne was in the
white house dining room.-Charlotte
News.
President Roosevelt claimed to be a
great champion of civil service reform
yet he removes officials for solely and
openly avowed political reasons. With
the removal of Bingham civil service
went to smash. But in accepting as
his managers such supporters of the
soils system as Garrison and Payne he
had already forfeited his claims as a
friend of civil service Raleigh Times.
One of the most notable speeches at
the American Bankers Association was
by ex-Comptroller Dawes. in opposition
to the branch bank proposition. 1t would
result in a mighty bank trust and con-
vert all local banks Into mere agencies
Of the great bank trust with h~eadquar-
ters in New York. The bankers Of the
country at large approve Mr.. Dawes
position.-News and observer.
Says the Wadesboro Courier: why
not let Arson county set the pace in
the matter Of education" Start right
and we will soon be in the lead. Good
roads first, free delivery. consolidated
districts and push" A capital rule of
action for every county. and those coun-
ties adopting and pushing it will surely
be in the lead in all things tending to
the betterment of their citizenship
Raleigh Post.
There is something stimulating In the
very word independence-it is non
nous with manhood-it IS suggestive of
self-reliance. But it is a dangerous
verbal instrument to play in the battle
of life. Its reckless adoption is typi-
fed by the little bull who stood before
a railroad locomotive, butted against it
and was seen no mora. or by the little
boy who toyed with a buzz saw against
parental admonition.-Ehn City Econo-
mist.
The elimination Of the negro vote IN
the safe places a new feature on the
liquor question. 1t may now be con-
sldered from two standpoints not here
tofore considered: First. the loss Of
the negro vote, which always would be
cast in favor of the liquor traffic; sec
ond. the many white voters who were
kept back from taking position against
the 50 loon hQPal1ca rf &c, 80 -arrn
domination. These influences and 9TH
ers not here named will soon have to
De reckoned with the liquor question:
Rocky Mount Spokesman.
There was one class Of deserters.
Major London said, whom he had new
er found it in his heart to Criticlse so
harshly-those who, when desolation
was spread all over our uthla and
sickness and starvation was found in
many homes laid down their arms out
or an overpowering sense Of duty to
their families at home. These are not
reached by Pritchard's bill. His bill
My includes those who not only der
serted the C~onfederacy, but put on the
uniform Of the former enemy, and
turned their guns IN their former COM
rades.-The Anglo-Saxon.
In the observance Of the a~pproaching
Thanksgiving the goodness Of God in
mitigating the scourge Of stx-months'
coal strike with the mitdsst Of winters
must not. and Of course viii not be
forgotten. The suffering from an early
severe winter would lave been appall-
ing. The character Of the weather we
have enjoyed Of late il illustrated by a
paragraph in h Greensboro CORE
~spondence Of The Observer snis morn
ing. where it Is stated that a Guilford
! farmer is now gathering his second crop