The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-03-07
Negroes Write Letters to Republicans. Colonel Allison, Cousin of the Late President Mckinley, Vaughan, Davidson, Pritchard and
 Others Among the
 Marked Men.

Birmingham, March 6.-(Special )-Quite a sensation is on in Republican ranks htreabouts over anonymous leters which have been received thr )ugh the mails by leading and prominent Republicans, espe- ciaIly those pushing the lily white movement in this State. The letters are grewsome, and are said to have emanats r from a secret meeting of negroes alleged to have been held in Birmingham few nights ago. This meeting. according to the Lest information obtainable, was at. tended by quite number of negroes and some seething speeches were made. The lilly white" Republicans were condemned, so 1t is stated. and assassination was practically determined on.
 While several letters dre said to have been sent out, giving warning. two of them are known to be in existence, one of them having been received by Col. Charles Allison, clerk of the United States Circuit Court at this point, and cousin of the late President, William Mckinley. Efforts have been nLde to suppress in- formation concerning the letters. but 1t seems that too many of them were mailed. and the news is now being discussed at length and some little uneasiness is felt in some circles
 It is stated that the men slated for the hand of the assassin to strike are VII. liam Vaughan, formerly United States District Attorney for the Northern Dis trict of Alabama, deposed by President Roosevelt, and formerly chairman of the State Republican Executive Committee; ex-Ser ator Pritchard of North Carolina, who was prominent figure in the con- vention in Alabama; James Carter Cook. who was chairman of the State Campaign Committee; W. I. Wellman of Huntsville, chairman of the State Republican Exec utive Committed; J. A. W. Smith, who was the Republican candidate for Gov ernor in the last campaign; Major Charles Allison, clerk of the United States Court: Marshal D. N. Cooper; Deputy Marshal Ashley, and others. According to one of the letters received, 1t was agreed tna William Vaughan was to have been the first victim, but at the meeting held by the negroes, a friend of Vaughan pro- tested.
 Those who know the disposition of the political "hangers-on' among the negro | race, have been expecting for some time a display of resentment, and considerable ugly talk has been heard, but no one thought that any lawlessness was con | templated. Now that 1t is known that some of them have in mind shedding of blood, they will be watched carefully, and | 1t is not improbable that some arrests will I
 follow in short time. The letter writing is being investigated now, and if the per sons who are responsible for the commit nications are traced. they will no doubt
 be jailed and prosecuted. There Is diff ference in the way in which different
 gentlemen who have been threatened re-
 ceive the information. Some regard !
 merely as a bluff but others believe tha
 the men who wrote letters are up to mis
 chief and may commit some wanton deet
 unless they are restrained.
 William Vaughan, when seen today
 said that he was not afraid that he would
 be assassinated, but he intimated that h'
 would be ready at any time. He express
 ed the thought that 1t was cowardly tt
 even send letters as have been received
 He would not deny that he had received
 one of the letters. but refused to maF
 any statement. though he intimated tha
 he would probably make some statemen
 tomorrow.