The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-10-23
NO SONG mo RACE

Negroes Wait in Vain tor
Scheduled Speeches OF
Skinner and Hicks.
patiently in front of the court house
last night for the coming of Coz.
Harry Skinner, District Attorney, and
convert T. T. Hicks, of Granville, who
were slated to blow into the nostrils
of the still-born ticket of the "Citi-
zens Movement the breath of hope
if not of life.
Wandering about, they talked with
each other in voices that were subdued
lest they too rudely shock the chilly
stiffness of the big and empty room.
with it's vanity of lights; they con-
gregated in punches on the sidewalks
and whispered condolences that spoke
eloquently of party loyalty. Parading
on the sidewalks and lowering ex-
pectantly in front of the aYrborougn
were a handful of white men from
the Revenue Department, also loyal.
They were all there. these old TIM
ers, ready and waiting to "whoop 'em
up for two men, one of whom has
with the exception of taking the pro-
hibition plunge-made the circle OF
politics within a decade, and the other
who, one of the delegates who nom1-
mated Aycock for Governor, held his
nose and took his dose a bare two
years ago.
Finally the news went round that
Mr.. Skinner would not speak, being
away from town, but that Mr.. Hicks
had come and was even then firing
UP in the hotel dining room.
Whereupon the crowd of negroes
posted themselves the more firmly In
the hall and on the steps and waited.
In the Marlborough, across the way,
Mr.. Hicks stood in a group of his
friends resting after his meal.
Claudius Dockery was there, and A.
G. Lehman and G. NJ. Bernard. and
F.. C. Duncan and Deputy Sharpe and
Clerk Brown, of the Revenue Depart
ment.
Mr.. Hicks stood among these citl-
zens and looked down over his big
nose and dropping brown mustache
and smiled with the soft suppression
of a man who has it up his sleeve.
The "citiZenS" were elate: here was a
man who was taking them seriously
the speech was set; there was the
court house and on the sidewalk
waited the negroes
But suddenly the doors opened TO
admit the portly form of Col. J. G. l..
Harris citizens" champion. he
smiled as always, but he had decision
in his gait. He walked up to Mr..
Hicks and blew his, breath in his ear.
Mr.. Hicks, stare. hesitated-smiled
broadly.
around their convert and consulted.
Almost at once they scattered about
the hotel lobby. One or two left the
hotel Others waited to shake the
hand of Mr.. Hicks
What about the speaking"
"Col Harris has called it off.
whats the natter?
ooh, you can't have speaking fail
week-nobody wants to hear a sneak
ine-dancing and drinks and all.
But you knew it would be Fair
W eek when you set the date.
YES. but Mr.. Hicks isn't feeling well
and Col. Skinner isn't here. There
no use for us to have IT. what we
want is other folks"
Us. as above stated, included the
names given and the negroes who walt
cd at the court house door.
Mr.. Hicks hurlieGly left the hotel.
Hes gone to see Simms," Volun-
tcered c. NJ. Bernard, Esq. eX-Distric,
Attorney and still hopeful, to arrange
a Joint debate"
That would raise a crowd. d d
''ioint debate figure in the breath
that Col. "Loge" whispered III the ear
of Convert Hicks-that breath which
asphHxiated a speaking?
One of the faithful walked across
the street. Like shadows tn" daTA
forms of the waiting negroes dritted
back into the night. The Citizens
Movement" mad for the time been
called and failed"
The combination speaking proposed
had its points of interest.
Col Skinner is said to be satisfied
man. He is sleek. and fat and, OF tims-
tic both in person and IN speech The
flowers of his rhetoric rolling out
without malice. have the comfortable
eedateness of a well-fed man. The
rich and mellow qualities of his Giction
suggests sinug stroke of sunny
stomach. Vaulting from the ground,
s"mersaulting Populism, the genial
'Shifty Harry has landed bottom side
u in the palanquin of the elephant
CT the G. O. p. From this perch, he
dispenses smiles and throws kisses; the
sun shines, prosperity abounds. the ma
ton, strong il its credit checks con-
flentiy on it's deficit.
To the contra, Mr.. Hicks instead OF
landing his office before he Joined, he
mas elected to work from the ranks t.
q commission. Hence, he must vocal
isc and abuse. Mr.. Hicks has lungs
and, given a crowd and reporter, ne
feels that he could make himself heard
he nix GO
Therefore Mr.. Hicks Eliminates. lie
cxplodes like ShimOse powder shell
There is nothing suaVe about Mr.
Hicks His GttcranCGS are cataclyS-
matte. With the zeal of a recruit, h.
presses towards the trenches with q
battle axe He is d speaker who is
fond of shaking his first. one
tremhles to hear him as a baby begS
for the tale of bears at bectlme, Whlct
hapiCbac cIap,, nn1 brings the nigh =