The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-09-07
Republican Scheme to
Get State Senators.
THE CLAUDS LEFT OUT
The Mystery of Failure to Nominate
Pou's Opponent Explained. Re-
publicans hope to Cut Down Ma
jority in Johnson aud Thus
GAIN Two State Sen
at0rS.

The political puzzle of the Fourth
Congressional district is solved.
For weeks the question of who
would be the candidate of the Repub-
lican party who would get the empty
honor of being showed under by Ed.
Pou, has been, outside of the home
fight in Wake county the one matter
of political interest to the people of
this section. Readers of the daily pa
pers are familiar both with the diff
Guilty of securing q nomination for the
honor and with the coy, but
schemeful attitude of those who have
been prominently mentioned.
First in order came the Convention
of Fifteen, which nominated Pearson,
of Chatham, touted as the patriot of
fiery virility.
1t is remembered how Mr.. Pearson,
faced with the opportunity of the
battle of his life, bowed himself out.
How almost life, Kuropatkin was the
quality of his strategy.
And then came CIaudius Bernard, a
David with the lust of fight upon him
volunteering for the post of danger,
where the bravest love to die" and
ClaudiuS Dockery, more modest in his
rashness, but waiting under arms for
orders.
1t is recent history how the friends
of these two waged their battles by
running away; how the member of the
committee hid him in a goods box in
Raleigh and prevented a nomination,
and how at the subsequent Smithfield
meeting Secretary Gen. Green juggled
with quorum so that it was not and
Claudius Bernard, saved from defeat
by Claudius Dockery. returned never
thelesS without the wreath of laure
which he had barred his brow to wear
But why-with such timber-there
should be this difficulty to select-that
has been a mystery.
Want 2 Senator.
Yesterday. however, a Republican
talked. Most of them do, but it is not
always possible to get them in the hui
NOR. Generally they shut their mouths
and appear to think. but when the hui
mour strikes them they are frank.
VINO Will be Pou's opponent? /
-sssfeed one OF these yesterday.
'I'n tell you, but keep it quiet as
far as / am concerned. There won't
be any candidate"
This was indeed surprising news!
How about the two Clauds?"
"Well you see it's this way: All
this running around was for pur-
pose. We didn't want any nominee.
What's the use? If we had put up a
man. what would have been the re-
suit? He would have gotten beat and
i'm the process Pou would have stirred
uD Johnson county so that every man
would have been voting and the ma
ioritv would have been as big as it
was i'm 1902. You don't see what diff
ference that makes? Well, I'll tell
Won. We are after something that we
have n chance to get-the State Sen
atorships from the district composed
Of Sampson, Johnston. and Hamett
counties That was a close district last
time the Democrats only carrying it
by $50 votes. with Johnston turning
i'm q majority of ZOO votes. Sampson
last time gave a Republican majority
of / $50. and Harnett only went Dem
ocratic by 800 votes. SO you see that
if we can hold Johnson down to a ma
ioritv of 900 we have a chance and a
GOOD one With no one against Pou
the people there won't come to the
uolIs and we'll get our Senators in the
Legislature"
SO that is why there has been the
delay, the hating between the claims
of the two Claudiuses, the hiding III
Good boxes and the constructive
lack of uuorums There will be no
candidate and the politics of the move
is as set forth above.
While the scheme will, of course
nrove but an ''iridescent dream still
II behooves Johnston people TO read
aud contemplate the possibilities that
II involves. Always it is good to get
ia the polls and vote, on general prin-
cipals. but in this case the duty is one
that is of the plainest sort.