The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-09-07
Its Rottenness. Recalled TO
Pritchard' Memory.
10! A NEGRO SATURNALIA
In 1900 Pritchard Refused to Mention
it in Convention.
NOW IN 1902 FUSION RULE is ENDORSED
We Would Gladly Forget H,r ors Of Negro d.
mnation But This Republican Move Will
Not Permit. Advance Sheets From
Democratic Handbot k.

Democratic Handbook.
Senator Pritchard in the platform writ
ten by himself and adopted by his con-
vention at Greensboro, at section q,
makes the following remarkable not to
say astonishing declaration:
we invite the attention of the people
of the State to the clean, able and econo-
mical administration of our State govern
ment by the Republican and Populist par
ties from 1897 to 1901, and challenge a
comparison of it withe present reckless
administration of our affairs by the DEM
ocratic party
In view of a great number of facts
hitherto published and admitted, this is
indeed remarkable and astonishing
declaration the first, and one of the most
potent of these facts is that Senator
Pritchard in his State convention held in
Raleigh in 1900, refused absolute
ly and most positively to allow the
convention to even mention the Russell
administration, and a proposition at that
time to invite the attention of the people
OF the State to it, would have broken up
the convention, and added a lively chapter
to the gayety of the times.
But Senator Pritchard's memory is very
short-a great deal shorter than the peo-
pies memory. He has evidently for
gotten the numerous scandals and un-
pardonable shortcomings. The greedy
grab for county and city control the en-
bczzlements and other horrid features
that characterized every step of this
r-to- be-forgotten administration.
Is it possible that the Senator and
those who did his bidding at Greensboro
have forgotten these things in so short
a time as two years? Have they forgot
ten the Hancock scandal? the DR.. Babb
scandal? the Kirby Smith scandal? the
Hughes and other scandals connected with
the States prison, the Martin embezzle-
ment, etc, and has the Senator and those
VINO so willingly did his bidding at Greens
boro so soon forgotten the cities, coun-
ties and towns of the east. whose peace
was disturbed. whose business was de-
pressed, and whose very existence was
threatened by fusion government and con-
troll. Surely it is necessary only to recall
the conditions that were brought about
in New Bern, Greenville. Wilmington anG
other eastern cities. The scenes at Will
mington, where it took a reign of blood
and tears to sweep away reign of law
lessness, insult and official corruption and
debauchery, all brought about by the adj
ministration to which the Senator invites
the peoples attention.
If Senator Pritchard has forgotten
these things the people have not. 1t took
the people more than twenty years to for
get 81, '6S and SO land it will perhaps
take them even longer to forget 81, '9S
nd I ic hat no top
while he was directing the attention of
the people to the clean, able and econo-
mical administration of the one epoch did
not include the other. The scenes of 81,
+, '63 and 80 are perhaps old enough and
dirty enough to justify Senator Pritchard
ard others in ringing down the curtain
uron them, but it is not amiss to recall
a few of the features of the admnistra-
ton to which the Senator invites the at
tention of the people. 1t was early in
1897 in the very beginning of the 'clean,
all and economical administration, ;"
that the head of the administration paid
a political debt to Robt. Hancock by caus-
ing him to be elected president of the
Atlantic and North Carolina Railroad
Before a year of his time had expired
the newspapers published that the mother
of a hitherto respectable young lady had
sued Hancock for $4,000 damages for the
seduction of her daughter, who was a
niece of the defendants wife. The suit
was withdrawn at the solicitation Of
members of the family to avoid scandals
that would follow public trial. but in
an interview the young lady on February
3, 1898 not only reiterated the charges,
but told in detail of the forcible means
employed by Hancock TO accomplish her
ruin, and later her sister, another niece
of Haneock's wife stated in an interview,
that improper proposals had been made
to her by Hancock. and that she saved
her honor by scratching his face and
threatening to kill him with Hancock's
own pistol that happened to be near at
hand. On February II, 1898. Governor
Russell the head of this ''elean. able
and economical administration" dis
missed Hancock from his position as
director of the railroad, and instructed
the board of directors to Dust him from
the presidency of the road by virtue of
powers granted said board of directors
by section 4, of the second article of the
bylaws of the company. Let it be borne
in mind that with all these matters. no
Democrat had any connection. The Gov
ernor and all the members of the board
of internal improvements, and all the
directors of the railroad, on the part of
the State (two-thirds of the whole) were
either straight Republicans or Republic
n-Populists. The family of the young
ladies were likewise Republicans, indeed
it was a Republican scandal begun by
Republicans. aired by Republicans, and
terminated by Republicans, all compris-
ing portions of the clean, able and
economical administration" to which Sen
ator Pritchard in his Greensboro plat
form directs the attention of the people,
and Hancock himself was a member of
the Greensboro convention and voted to
adopt the platform
THE BABB SCANDAL.
AnothcE feature of the 1897 to 1901 adj
ministration was the DR.. Babb scandal
Perhaps ii is well to aid the
Senator and these who so will