The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-11-22
"HOW | GOT INTO POLITICS
AND HOW | GOT OUT"
Dr. Whitaker Writes Interestingly of Political Affairs
When the Late Gen. L. o B. Branch
Was in Congress.

programme had been arranged to defeat
the denomination of Mr.. Branch, but it
failed for the delegates when finally up.
pointed were instructed to cast the solid
vote of Wake county for Hon. L. OF
Branch. first, last and al the time.
At the adjournment of the meeting no
motion was made to have the proceedings
Published in any paper, 50 being N pos
session OF them l prepared them for the
press ana on Wednesday l published the
in the Live Giraffe" lnnocently suppoS-
ing l was doing a very commemorate
thing, furnishing q proof sheet OF tnem
In the meantime to the standard" the
organ OF the democratic party. No sooner
did the Giraffe maze its appearance on
Wednesday than / found myself IN hot
water. What | thought was . most IIn-
partial report Of the proceedings OF the
meeting was termed ''one-sided," dis
torted. unfair" unjust" and great
many other very uncomplmentary things
and I was SO discouraged al the outcome
of my first dabble in politics l was about
/ TO determine that / would never 90 to
another political meeting But pretty
soon here came some OF Mr.. Branchs
friends and consoled me somewhat by
saying, my report was very fne," AID
very impartial" and very fair" and
SO forth, and so on, and they thought
did a very proper thing, and exhibited
an enterprising spirit that ought TO be
commended IN giving to the public Two
days earlier than any other paper cou.i
publish them, the proceedings OF so large
and enthusiastic 4 meeting OF the Wake
democracy. OF course I felt better but
l was not feeling altogether at ease, be-
cause, somehow | had a presentlment that
there was electricity in the political at
mosphere and there might be heavy
thunder and some terrific flashes Of
lightning before the atmosphere was
cleared up. And my presentiment was 4
prophecy. When the Standard came from
the press Friday morning it was red hot,
three long columns, besides n great many
little, shells, coming from al quarters Of
the paper, were turned loose upon the
Giraffe" and its insignificant" 'ineX-
perienced" and ''unscrupulous" editor ard
the public were told after the Giraffe
and its editor had been completely ami
hilated that the Standard had "the power
to kill and to make alive
But while the Giraffe" and its editor
we're frequently mentioned it was but too
plain that The thunder bots were IL
teuGed Tor other and bigger game, ana
the co0seauence was that in d day
revolution took place that greatly changed
the course of men and things in me
fourth congrc4sioal district especially
and largely III the State. The next weel,
The Tive Giraffe" became the Demo
cratic Press" and during that campaign,
as well as thc guberaatorial campaign two
years later, the Press had TIE benefit
Of the very best help which such men az
Coy Brseg Hon. l.. O'B. Branch, Ed.
Graham Haywood and Edward Cantwer
could find time to contribute.
Thus 1 got into politics, and now if
( the reader will be patient few moments
! longer 1 viii tell him how l got out and
thereby hangs a tale-yes, too or three
OF them-but I will try TO make them
short.
The question OF I'D Valorem taxation
was a live one IN those days and for a
while parties were afraid to take sides
on it for the reason that it was con
sidered dangerous question TO be dis
cussed just at that time as the aboli
ticnists were. and had been, doing all
they could to weaken the institution of
slavery. Mr.. Syme, the editor of the
Raleigh Register, took the ground In his
PAPER that the question was very ira
proper one to raise IN the then very
highly excited condition OF the country.
The Standard the democratic organ came
cut strongly and uneQuiyocably in favor
OF Ad Valorem and published what was
known IS the Working Mems Address,,
in pamphlet form and broadcastcd 1t all
over the State. When, in 1860, the elCc-
tion for Governor and members OF the
Legislature was coming on the question
had to be met by the State conventions
and positions taken by them. The Wing
convention met first and passed reso-
luton endorsing the doctrine OF Ad Vat
orem, and nominated for Governor John
Pool, Of Pasquotank. Mr.. Syme, to be
In harmony with the utterance OF the
convention had to turn a somersault on
the question to get on the platform In
short while the democratic convention
met and re-nominated Gov. Ellis and
PASSED a resolution opposing Ad Valorem.
The editor of the Standard like Mr..
5yme, was obliged to turn a someTsauit
TO get on the democratic platform. He
was unwilling to turn and would not
turn, so the State executive committee
consisting of Ed Graham Haywood,
chairman, James Fulton, John Kerr, Ihos.
Settle, Jr., d. NJ. BGrringcr, ". l.. Tate,
William Sloan and George Greene, to re-
lieve the situation. made the Democratic
Press the organ of the party instead OF
the Standard, with the assurance from
Gov Ellis that ] should be made rhc
State Printer if he were elected and the
democrats controlled the Legislature. He
was elected and the democrats controlled
the Legislature, but l was not made
State printer. l did not go up to the
Capitol the night the Legislature held the
caucus TO make nominations-modesty
forbade, and l thought to be informed of
my nomination the next morning would
be more appropriate So ! went TO bed
and was soon sound asleep. But about
midnight l was aroused to be informed
that Gov. Ellis, to relieve John Spelman,
Esq. who had also done good work IN
the campaign had decided it would be
the proper thing to give me something
better" and make Mr.. Spelman the State