The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-01-15
How the Democratic Ap.
pIicants are Served.
The ALBRIGHT CASE
The Fight Against Him Grows More
Fierce and Bitter. Mrs. RusseIIs
Prospects Seem Less Bril-
liant. State Democratic
Convention.
Especial to News and Observer


Washington. D. c., Jan. 14.-Senatot
Simmons, chairman of the Democratic
State Committee, said today that he ex-
pocted soon to issue the call for a meet
ing of the committee, probably the lat
ter part of February, to fix time and
place fer the State Convention. 1t is
understood that the convention will go
to Greensboro again, and if it follows the
usual custom in Democratic campaign
years it will meet the latter part of
May. This convention viii not only name
delegates to the National Convention, but
will also nominate full State ticket.
from governor down.
Ex-senator Marion Butler had another
talk today with the President in behalf
OF Mrs Russell. whose appointment as
postmaster at Wilmington is still hanging
FIRE though assurances have several times
been given that it would be sent to the
Senate This repeated failure of the
President to send It in is causing uneasi-
ness among those who are lacking Mrs
Russell and was the cause of Buffers wise
TO the White House today. While the
impression has all along prevailed that
Mrs. Russell would finally become post
master. it was learned today from an gu
thoritative source, that the case had taken
a turn that rendered her prospects just
now rather gloomy. Ex-Congressman Set
tie. of Asheville, was also caller at the
White House today. He is here in con-
nection with the Moody -Gudger contest.
The subcommittee of the Senate Com
mittee on Postoffices had a supplemental
hearing today on the case of Albright, as
postmaster at Mt. Ai~y. Three witnesses
were heard, all Republicans. One was
State Senator Marshall, who testified that
not only the Republican organizations of
that town and county did not favor Al
bright, but that the business men OF Mt.
Airy as well, opposed his appointment.
TIE committee has before it papers show
ing this. Senator Marshall said that Mt.
Airy pos.office was the best Federal job
in that section, and both Republicans and
Democrats thought resident ought to
have il. He denied that Albright was
resident. and letter has been filed with
the committee from Sam Holton, brother
of the former Republican State Chairman,
saying that Albright had previously made
efforts to get both the Durham and Will
mington offices. On the basis of the
statement Albright has been referred 20
as the periratetic postoffice seeker that
was finally dumped upon the people of
Mt. Airy"
The other witnesses were former clerk
in tho postofflce and revenue officer.
both named Saunders. The clerk said Al
bright told him while carrying on the bird
and liquor business in his mail car, that
he made as much at that as his salary
amounted 20. He said Albright carried
birds and whiskey from the western part
of the State and brought back vegetable
and other produce from the east. The
other witness testified as to the unpopu-
larity of the new postmaster, among Re-
pubhcans generally and the people of Mt
Airy particularly.
The committee has rot yet come to any
conclusion regarding the nomination.
When it does it will make a report to the
full committee ard that to the Senate.
One Senator not on the committee, stated
today that il the committee reported IA
vorably, with such evidence as had been
brought out the fight against Albright's
confirmation would be renewed on the
floor of the Senate.
Senator Simmons today received from
Wilmington a letter showing how Demo-
Gratis are gotten rid of by civil service
boards and Republicans in office. At Fay.
otteville recently a civil service examina-
tion was held for mail carriers. Twenty
one persons took the examination as fol-
lows: Ten Democrats and eleven Repub
Ecans. OF the latter six were negroes
The civil service commission reported only
one Democrat passed and five Pepubli.
cans. OF the FIVE Republicans four are
negroes, and the negroes were given
higher rating than either the Democrat or
the white Republican. Senator Simmons
has written for full facts concerning all
the applicants and their educational ad-
He may also demand the ex-
3 mination papers On which such a rating
was rrade
Congressman Small expects at an early