The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-04-03
Blackburn Will be Easy
to Defeat.
Mr.. WATTS FIGURES
1t is Not Believed that Temperance
Legislation Enacted by the Last
Legislature Will Hurt De-
mecracy in the Eighth
District.
Especial to News and Observer

|? Especial TO News and Observer
Washington, d. c., April 2.-Much salts
faction is expressed by the members OF
the North Carolina delegation at the re-
suit of the Eighth District Republican
lCenvention. They regard Blackburn as
the easiest of the three candidates TO
beat and expect such fractional fights to
Igrow out ofsthe contest for the nomination
as will materially diminish the vote he
would otherwise poll.
Those familiar with conditions in the
district have been figuring on it today
and the conservative OF the estimates
made give the Democrats a majority OF
600 at the lowest. Others THINK II will
not be less than twice that. 4ar. A. ID.
Watts, Senator Simmons private secre-
tsry, who is perhaps more familiar than
any one else here with the political con-
ditions in the district, makes this esti-
mate on a basis of giving the Republicans
everything they can possibly hope tor.
Democratic majorities: Stanley, 500;
Cabarrus 500; Rowan, LOW, Iredell, 100;
Caldwell, 100; Allegheny, 100. Total,
I3,7OO.
Republican majorities; Alexander, 100;
| Wilkes, 100; Watauga, w; Ashe, lou;
Surry 800. Total, 2,1o0.
| These figures when compared with
majorities in the last election will be seen
to be quite conservative, taxing little
account of the fact that conditions have
changed decidedly for the better in these
counties since the last election Then
there had been no bitter contest for the
nomination and there were no factonal
| E,,l+ 10 yanf hn nT q
|vcte The candidate lived in the district
in which he was running and was fresh
flcm Washington backed by all the pat
lrouaga that a Republican President could
give to hep him in his effort to be re-
elected Ye; he was beaten by a major
ity OF nearly 1.400
| Nor is it believed as some have seemed
to fear. that the temperance legislation
enacted by the last Legislature will hurt
the Democracy in the counties of this dis
trict Wataugl and Ashe have had pro-
hibtion since 1902 and no loss has resulted
to the party therefrom Caldwell, Stan
ley and Cabarrus have had prohibition
70" many years. Allegheny, Sulry and
Alexander had no dstilleries that could
b, affected by recent legislation and such
losses as could come to the Democratic
PARTY in Wilkes on this question came ir
the prohibition campaign OF 1881. There
is left therefore only Rowan and 1redell
ana people from these counties who are
here think that any loss in them on this
account will be inconsiderable.
An examination OF the last COMPRESSION
al vote will also show that almost a full
vote was polled in the Rapuolicar end of
the district, while that in the Democratic
end was light This, it is believed will
~ will no
beth a State and National ticket to bring
out the vote.
"Father McIver, one of the old-time
Presbvterians was for many years clerk
of the Synod OF North Carolina says
Representative Webb, of that State He
was proud of the honor, magnifylng his
office always and everywhere. Once he
was journeying to the place where the
Synod was to be held and he los. his
bearings, wandering around in the for
ests and swamps until night caught him.
That he was confused can not be doubted,
for our North Carolina swamps are no
small affairs. The night was as dark as
I the pitch produced from the native pines.
and Father McIver was in sore distress
However. he was nearer the meeting
place than he dreamed or hoped, and at
ter wandering around in the swamp Tor
long while he began to shout at the top
of his voice.
"'Help, help, help. Colin McIver, stat
ed Clerk of the Synod of North Carolina
is lost, lost His cries reached the ears
Of a negro who was near the church, and
the man went in and announced There's
a man down in the swamp and he call
ing for help, saying he's the greatest sin
ner in North Carolina The negro had
misunderstood the Fathers cries for help,
! but some of the brethren took lanterns
and soon brought him out of his lost con-
dition.' After that he was known as the
greatest sinner in North Carolina
J Many protests are being sent here by
tobacco manufacturers against the irreg-
ular methods on the part of the tobacco
trust in the submission of bids to supply
the navy with tobacco
Section u OF the instructions to bid
Gers says: Reasonable grounds for sup
! Posing that any bidder is interested in
more than one bid in the same class at
{ the same yard or station will cause the
] rejection of all bids in which he is inter
ested."
Attention has been called to the fact
thai among the bidders are the American
Tobacco Company, Butler and Bosher
and P. Lorillard and Company The fact
, is brought out that ]. B. Duke is presi-
dent OF the American Tobacco Company
and also of the Continental Company
and that the Continental owns the Butler
and Bosher Company and the Lorilard
Company.
To permit three or four bids from one
concern, operating under different names
is to defeat the law in the interest of
he tobacco trust.
! Attorney General KnoX's statement
that the administration does not propose
to run amuck among trusts now that the
merger decision has been rendered. said
; Representative Williams, according to
the Washington correspondence of the
New York Times, reminds me OF a con-