The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-11-12
WHAT'S THE NATTER WITH
STANLY?

| bed in its Democracy. Even in 1894
when Mecklenburg and Cabarrus and
Iredell and all its neighbors except
Rowan went over to the enemv. Stanly
kept the rudder true. 1t has ben re-
garded as the Gibralter of Democracy
and nobody doubted that it would re-
main in the Democratic column this
year, though, from the apathy that
caused a light vote elsewhere. it was
supposed that the majority would be
reduced.
In 1902, Stanly gave Mr.. kluttz, the
Democratic candidate for Congress
I1.2S5 votes and gave Blackburn 72S.
This year it has given Mr.. Newland,
the Democratic candidate. 1923 votes,
and has given Blackburn 1,074, a
change of COS in favor of Blackburn,
sixty more votes were found in the
box in two precincts than there were
registered voters in those precincts.
That report should be investigated and
if true vigorous persecution should
follow and the wrong should be
righted.
The Stanly Enterprise, in treating
the matter in its local columns. says:
Republicans were on the alert-ac-
tive, energetic, working. Vehicles
were chartered to draw in the voter
from a rural section. some doubtful
fellow who was waiting for something
to happen to clinch his mind. armed
even for the vest pocket fellow VINO
waited for his price, contesting every
inch of ground, and looking faithfully
after their men.
"Such was the day in Stanly. Dem
ocrats who had felt the same thrill
that gave zest to the Republicans
stood aside, with hands tied, so TO
speak, suffering things to happen
which they knew not TO be right. al
lowing voters to go unchallenged and
felt things all the while slipping from
their grasp.
but Democrats are even jubilant.
They are heard to remark on ali SIDES
that it is just rebuke to the party
for it's lassitude, and that it will serve
to unity the party more than any
thing else that could happen.
1.-The time has passed, perhaps, when
the fellow who desires an office can
spread a petty personal tale on MS
opponent that will secure him the
nomination, and which would guaran~
tee him the election; but it gives rise
to a better state of affairs which VIII
conserve all effort for the best pur-
hose.
chairman Price has worked hard.
He deserves praise, not blame. He
stood almost alone in the fight. and
the error, if such there be, is COM
mon one which includes everyone who
failed to do his work as one who
faced vigorous opponent.
Editorially the Enterprise attributes
the result to general apathy" over
confidence" conspicuous absence OF
corporation on the part of the lead
ers and best workers of the party
with the chairman" fraud and de-
ceit being practiced by Republican
leaders, money and liquor were
used, infamous and libellous litera-
ture was circulated over the county
and much of it was of unknown au>
thority, so cowardly and cringing were
the rascals who perpetrated the false
hoods that they could not stand the
light thrown on their personal iden-
tity." and the corruption of the voter
and the use of money. 1t adds;
THAT such methods obtain is de-
nlorable fact, and that people are
fooled into accepting it all as a badge
of decency is the )rice placed upon
those who spurn all such for what
they really are.
mo party will survive long such
practices of corruption. and it is but
a question of time until the people
who have made possible this reward
upon evil doing will arise to crush
what they gave, life to.
f,TN 80, COW I'll al
campaign has been clean and above
board This is what the Republican
party cannot truthfully claim as to
Stanly.'
What is the future in Stanly? Win
it remain in the ranks of the Black
and-Tan party? Upon that point, the
Enterprise says:
1.-The result is not due to the fact
that Republicans have made enor>
nous gains in the county. for a study
of the returns reveals that their In
crease was small in comparison with
the loss to Democrats. The Demo-
Gratis of the county simply failed to
turn out on election day and vote. and
there was no special effort made to
get them out.
at may be humiliating to Demo-
Gratis to suffer this defeat, but we ven
ture the prediction that healthy re-
suits will emanate from this election
which will give the old-time zeal 10
the party two years hence and IN fu-
ture elections"
We have quoted thus at length from
the Enterprise because the result in
Stanly cost the Democracy the loss OF
member of Congress and came as
a clap of thunder from a clear sky.
There seems to have been no cause
for the slump. In the other counties
the party was prepared in some meas
ure for the losses. In Stanly, the re-
suit was complete surprise and dis
tinct shock. The explanation of the
Enterprise would indicate that there
is no permanent Democratic loss and
that two years hence Stanly will re-
take it's place in the Democratic coll
umn.
GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH.