The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-03-01
Mr.. Simmons Calls the
Democratic Committee.
KILLED BY RUSSELL
The Chances of the Ex-Governor's
Wife Slaughtered by the Use
Made of His Celebrated
Statement About the
Negro.
Especial to News and observer.)

Especial to News and Observer.)
Washington, d. c., Feb Ex-senator
Simmons, Chairman of the Democratic
State Executive Committee, today issued
the following call:
Washington, D. c., Feb. 20, 1904.
Dear Sir: There will be a meeting of
the Democratic State Central and Execu-
tive Committees in the city of Raleigh,
in the Senate chamber on Thursday night,
March 18th, 1904, at o'clock, for the pur-
pose OF fixing the time and place Tor the
State convention of the party, and for
the transaction of such other business as
may properly come before the committee.
Very truly yours,
f. M. SIMMONS, Chairman.
A. J. FIELD, Secretary.
The belief among the North Carolina
delegates in Congress is that an early con-
vention will be called 1t is known that
at least two of the candidates for Gov
ernor desire an early convention, and If
there is not some good reason for con-
trary course, the wishes of the candidates
will likely be consulted by the commit
tee in fixing the date.
With this idea in view a copy of the call
has been forwarded to all gubernatoral
candidates and some others.
BURNING OF HOTEL
The Elsmere Hotel, at which several
North Carolinians were living, was yes
terday partially destroyed by fire.
Among those living there were Con-
gressman Kluttz, Pou and Small, with
their families, also Clerks Watts, Carr
and Hale Though none of these gentle
men lost anything by the fire, the build
ing was 50 damaged by the flames and by
water that they were all compelled to
seek new quarters. Messrs. Pou and
Kluttz are at the Oxford, and Mr. Small
at the Barton. The others are at pri-
vate boarding house on Capitol Hill.
The fire occurred early in the afternoon,
hence there was little loss OF property
and no one was hurt.
WHY MRS. RUSSELL FAILED.
The real reason why Mrs. Russell, wife
of Ex-Governor Russell, was not appoint
ed postmaster at Wilmington, has at last
leaked out. The news comes from an in
side source that the reason was very
different one from the one that has been
generally accepted. The accepted theory
has been that she lost the office because
of letter written by Governor Russell
to Miss Darby. He said he wrote lend
me $100' and she says he wrote "send me
$780, That letter had nothing to do with
the matter. Mrs. Russell lost the office
because of statement her husband was
quoted as making about the negro. Here
is what the Washington Post quoted ex-
Governor Russell as saying:
1.-THE truth is, the negro is going to
fare best when his position is most
subordinate Financial and industrial
equality is as bad in the eyes OF the
whites as social equality. The negro
who gets very prosperous is to be
pitied, for straightway he is in a sit
uation where danger confronts him.
Let him but own IA fine farm, blooded
horses and cattle, and dare to ride i'll
a carriage, and il l were an insurance
agent l wouldn't make out policy
on his life. In plain English, to get
above his ordained station in lie IS,
generally speaking to invite assassl-
nation.
1t was not this utterance that cooked
Mrs. Russells goose, but Lyman Abbott :
use of it. He compared Russell to Lucy
Parsons and denounced him roundly.
/ Other preachers and writer's took 1T up,
their editorials and comments upon 1t
poured into the White House. Russell
could not deny in toto, though it was
claimed that it was a private conversa-
ton Never mind, The negropholists
and philanthropists who make speciality
of coddlng the negroes were after Rus
sells scalp, and Roosevelt did not dare
offend them. They have votes, they IN
duence votes in doubtful States, they
demanded Russell's head ,and ito win ia
vor with them the President refused to
let Mrs. Russell sell stamps at the city
of wilmington The note to Miss Darby
was good enough Morgan" for South
ern consumption.
FRED L. MERRITT.