The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-09-03
(special to News and observer)

Smithfield, N. c., Sept. 2-There was a
grand rally of Democratic hosts here to-
day when the opening guns of the cam
paign were sounded. The truths of De-
mocracy were presented clearly to the
people, and the Misrepresentation and
mistatements made by Senator Pritchard
in his Greensboro speech We're fully
ventilated, and clear cut answer made
to them.
The address of Hon. T. b. Womack was
a convincing one. He had made thorough
and careful investigation of the wild
charges made by Senator Pritchard
against the Democratic financial man
agement of State officers, and had chal-
lenged a comparison with Republican
Fusion rule.
Taking up the challenge Judge Wom
ack answered every charge and has
transferred the case By his mastery
presentation of facts and figures he puts
the Republicans on the defensive, for he
made by Pritchard, but he shows that
the charges made were really against
the acts of the Pritchard crowd.
Judge Womack, being introduced to his
audience, spoke as follows:
For several weeks past it has been very
generally understood that when the Re
publican State convention should meet,
Senator Pritchard would deliver a speech
in which he would attempt to put the
Democratic party upon the defensive as
to the administration of the affairs of
North Carolina since its accession to
power. An impossible task, as l shall
presently show.
1t is well known that the revenues of
the State under the Revenue Act of 1901
are not sufficient 20 meet the expenses
of the government and to pay all of the
appropriations made by that Legislature.
In fact, State Treasurer Lacy, in the
early part of this year. succeeded in
doing what no man. so far as | am aware,
has ever been able before TO accomplish.
That is, he went to the city of New
York. and there, upon his promise that
the State would pay, and relying en-
tirely upon the faith and integrity of the
Democratic party to carry out his pledge
succeeded in borrowing for one year the
sum of 100000 in cash, paying there
Ipon only four per cent interest. 1t is
also well known that even with the use
of the proceeds of this loan the funds in
lis hands will not be sufficient TO pay
all of the demands upon the treasury
due as shall presently show to the I'M
disclosed deficit which came over to the
Democratic party from Fusion misrule.
Under these circumstances, the Republi-
cans have been looking forward with
great interest to the speech which Sena-
tor Pritchard should make at the State
Convention. arragning the Democratic
party and denouncing it for a deficit for
which his own party was responsible.
PRITCHARD'S DOMINATION.
Never in the history of the State has
convention been so completely dominated
~ one man as was the Republican State
Convention which met at Greensboro last
week. The Committee on Platform had
unanimously agreed to a resolution de-
claring that the Republican party ac-
cepted the constitutional amendment as
settlement of the negro issue and that
1t would not countenance any action
looking to it's annulment Senator
Pritchard. for reasons personal to him
self, as we'll as for other reasons perhaps
not avowed, and the effect that such a
declaration would have On the negro vote
in the North, went before the Committee
on Platform, had it to reverse its action,
succeeded in inducing it's author to with
draw his resolution, and compelled the
convention 20 adopt the meaningless
straddle and subterfuge which is now the
platform relating to this question. He
nominated a State ticket upon which
there are but two Republicans. 1t is his
avowed purpose to do everything posi-
Bile to secure the election of independent
candidates to the Legislature in order
to bring about his own reelection to the
United States Senate. To accomplish this
purpose, he delivered a carefully pre-
pared speech to the convention, a large
portion of which was devoted to the dis
cussion OF State affairs and to criticism |
Of the acts of the Democratic Legsla- /
ture. of 1899 and 1901. His speech was
intended to sound the keynote of the Re |
publican campaign and to furnish the /
facts and arguments upon which all Re-
publican campaign speeches this fall are |
TO be based.
THE ISSUE DRAWN.
1t il my purpose today to take up the /
charges which he prefers and to demon
strste that if the administration of the |
affairs OF North Carolina during the last /
three years is subject to the criticism |
he makes, it is the Republican party /
and not the Democratic party which de- /
serves the censure.
The PLATFORM which Senator Prlteh-
ard had prepared before the convention