The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-12-04
MR.. PRITCHARD SHOULD WITH.
DRAW HIS STATEMENTS
Or OFFER PROOF.

In his remarkable pronunciamento
published in these columns yester-
day,-remarkable chiefly for it's alb
surd and misleading statements-Sena-
tor Pritchard astounds those who have
followed the course he has pursued in
North Carolina politics. There are a few
statements made by him that are not
them or offer the proof in support of
his assertions
l. He says that the negro delegates
who were excluded from the Greensboro
Republican State Convention attended
the convention at the instance of Demo-
cratic manipulators. This is not true.
1t is as absurd as it is false. The Dem
ocrats had nothing to do with the negro
delegates. The negroes elected by the
Republican Conventions of Halifax,
Warren and other counties are the same
negroes who have been honored hitherto
by Mr.. Pritchard. One of these was by
him made delegate to the National Con-
vention. Others were Republican legis-
lators who elected him to the Senate
They were selected by regular Republi-
cans. The. pen seated were office seek
ing white men who had no color of
title.
q Mr.. ertchard says that "a majority
of the negroes who were permitted to
register and vote under the amended
Constitution at this election voted the
straight Democratic ticket" This is not
true. AS a matter of fact, except in two
or three counties, nine-tenths of the ne
groes who voted cast a straight Repub-
1ican ticket, and most of the others
scratched their tickets.
s. Mr.. Pritchard says: 81 have been
criticized because l would not recon-
mend the appointment of colored people
in Eastern Carolina and he adds: Il
have consistently recommended the men
sought. and have endeavored to consult
the wishes of the good citizens as to
whom they desired to have appointed to
the positions wherein the citizens were
brought into direct contact with the
official What are the facts? He was
criticized chiefly because he helped to
appoint 1000 negro officials to office in
North Carolina between 1895 and 1898.
Nobody ever then heard of his consult
ing good citizens" He rammed incom-
petent and dishonest negro officials down
the threats of the people ad nauseum,
turning a deaf ear and an offensive sneer
to the protests of good citizens" Sud
denly, after part of the negroes appoint
ed by him had been sent to the peni-
Tertiary, he turns around and kicks out
the other negro officials, as soon as the
negro vote cannot avail him. Now only
one negro remains in a Presidential Of
flee in North Carolina. He demands his
head SIMPLY BECAUSE HE IS A
NEGRO and he thinks he can get few
white rencgades by this act of base in
gratitude to the men who gave him
every political honor he has received in
State and national politics. And then he
talks about what he has consistently"
done: From his first entrance into politics
Senator Pritchard has been consistent
only in kicking out and in embracing the
negro, just as it seemed to suit his politi-
cal fortunes.
4. He says: ''There is a disposition on
the part of the progressive people of
North Carolina to break away from the
Democratic party Where is the evil
dence? The Democratic majorities are
the largest where the intelligence is
greatest and the Industries most pros
porous. OF 12O members of the Legisla-
ture the Republicans elected II, and they
were, except in two or three instances,
from the least progressive counties,
and also the least prosperous and where
education languishes most. Here are
the counties in which they won: Alex
ander, Cherokee, Clay, Davie, Hender-
son, Macon, Madison, Mitchell, Sampson,
Stokes, Surry, Swain, Pennsylvania.
Tyrrell, Watauga. Wilkes and Yad1in.
In these counties the bulk of the thrifty