The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-04-12
ASECOND" DE ATE2"
Looking For Hot Times
in the Tenth.
EWart Leads With Britt Close Sc.
cond..-L0oks Like Wilkesbor0
VIII be Repeated minus
the Boiling.
Especial to News and Observer.)


Asheville, N c.. April 1l.-W;th the
holding of the Buncombe County Republ-
can Convention Saturday and the naming
kof delegates to the Congressional Con-
vention at Hendersonville on the goth, the
sole topic of conversation among the Re-
puuiican politicians is in regard to which
of the three avowed candidates will be
the nominee for Congress from this, the
Tenth district. The convention which
met here Saturday instructed that sever
teen OF Buncombe's ffty-nve votes be cast
for Prof. J. J. Britt, twelve for Judge
Ewart and six for Hon. Thomas Settle
thus splitting up the vote OF the largest
county in the district, and which a few
days ago, several OF the Britt people de-
ciared would be instructed for the revenue
man. With but ten days until the date
of the convention and with only very
few county conventions to be heard from
Judge Ewart is in the lead, with Prof.
Britt a close second. But 1t is Britt
against the field, and if, as has been
said, the Settle and Ewart forces count
nc ses' before the hour OF convention,
and find that they have a clear majority,
the combination plan will be carried out,
and the strength of one will be thrown
to the other and Britt defeated. That
this is the plan decided upon by the
Settle and Ewart men is certain, and it
will cause no surprise to many politicians
in this section ii the Settle strength is
thrown to Ewart and Mr.. Settle himself
nominate the Henderson man on the floor
of the convention. Here is what we'll
known Republican politician said Satur-
day: Judge Ewart will certainly be
nominated He may not get the noml-
ne ton on the first ballot, but he will
without a doubt be nominated before the
baIloting ceases. of course it is the
luninstructed vote that has to be reck-
oned with, but with the field ptted
against Britt, a combination OF the Set
tie and Ewart forces, and little 'politi-
cal strategy the chances are decidedly
in favor OF Judge Ewart.''
Another Republican said: Il believe
Ewart will be nominated, but he will
certainly be defeated. l heard 4 proml-
Intnt Asheville Republican say just a few
days ago that they could swallow any.
body the Republican party put up but
Ewart, but that if the Henderson man
was nominated he would not support him
For my part l favor Mr.. Settle. and
believe he would have secured the nomi
ma ton had not the controversy over the
fec he received from Mrs. Moody arisen
That wrecked his chances and in an ef
fCrt to defeat the revenue ring his
strength will go to work. There is nc
denying the fact, however, that the reve
nue. people have set their heart on nomi
mating Britt and they will fight to the
last ditch. 1t would not surprise me il
the Hendersonville convention was not
} repetition of the Wilkesboro convention
with the boiling feature left OUT
The staunch friends of Mr.. Settle de
clare that their favorite holds the bal
anec of power, and that if he can't bt
the king he will be the l-ing-maker.'
| The fight is on to the finish and there
: may yet be some surprises in store fol
the Republicans Of the Tenth district be
;, fore the convention at Hendersonvi,lt
! has completed its work.