The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-04-17
"BLACKBURN ADOPTS
METHODS OF THE DES-
PERADO," SAYS DIR. MOTT
"As Much at Home as the Leading Negro at a
Festival in aCalicO Vest"

little gold, and needed two standards OF
money. / lived in a State which gave no
electoral votes to the candidates Of my
party. The $4,000 Populist land owners,
who had taken the shackles off the Re
pubicIns IN this State, We're for free
silver. We had wagcd together a win
ming fight on the issue of fair elections
That was settled, and no longer an issue.
The money question was the only thing
left between the Republicans and Popu,
lists upon which they could agree, and on
which they did agree. 1t was generally
so understood, ana the recognized head
of the Republican party in the state made
public addresses to this effect.
In pursuance of this voted the Popu-
list electoral ticket. In everything else |
voted the Republican ticket in chat cleo,
ton In every election since that time
have voted regularly, and in every in
stance the Republican ticket. / did not
betray the Republican party. The course
which I took was the only logical politics,
and if all the other Republicans in the
State had done likewise, and the POpulsts
treated in accordance with the advice of
the best element of their party and no
offices given to incompetent and dishonest
against the Democrats.
1 have seen nothing worth an active
| interest in the party conventions since
the coalition defeat, outside an interest
| for the Offices till now, and l have taken
no part in them. I believe our order OF
| government requires two political pafties
| for safety redress Of wrongs, etc. ] see
/ in this district a disposition among
! Democrats to divide because of the want
| of two parties. They want candidate
who can command their confidence and
respect. They want citizen and resident
of the district because OF a custom which
has not been 1eviated from since the
| foundation of the Government. They
want a candidate who can command the
| full Republican strength Mr.. Blackburn
does not meet any of these requirements.
Feeling the truth of this ! went to
WilkesbOro to aid in defeating his nomi
nation. knowing he COULD NOT BE
NOMINATED BY LAWFUL MEANS.
Blaclburn's whole course in this mat
ter of the Convention has been PRECI-
PITATI3 AND REVOLUTIONARY. Il
refer the people of the district to the full
published report of the Committee on
Credentials 10 prove ths) He has taken
/ no pains to conciiate. He has adopted
THE METHODS OF THE DESPER-
| ADO, at the head of an ORGANIZED
CLAN OF PAID MYRMIDONS-offic
of this Government. His first appearance
| in the convention was out of all sort OF
! propriety as a candidate for the nOmina-
ton COMMON DECENCY SHOULD
HAVE KEPT HIM AWAY. The other
candidates were forced by their friends
TO come, because ne was there, but they
were much abashed as was plainly seen.
| But this fellow Blackburn was EVI-
IDENTIFY AS MUCH AT HOME. AS
THE LEADING NEGRO AT A FESTI-
VAL IN A CALICO VEST. He paraded
before the delegates, and was ubiquitous
in the convention.
The delegates assembled at Wilkesboro
were Immediately placed in battle array
BY THE INCENDIARY ADVICE AND
OPPORTUNITIES OF BLACKBURN.
| Contrary to the known desire of the
President that Federal officers every
where should abstain from interference in
| nominating conventions, NEARLY
EVERY FEDERAL OFFICER IN THE
DISTRICT WAS AT THE CONVEN-
! TION READY TO SHOOT THEIR
| WAY" as it was said, to nominate
Blackburn. THEY WE'RE READY TO
ASSASSINATE. so it was said.
The convention had met, appointed its
committee on Credentials and adjourned
under its lawful officer DIR. Carson, and
the committee had gone to work on the
contested counties. There were numerous
witnesses in every case. Hot blood and
contention ran high. The examinations
were necessarily slow, and the committee
was determined to have the evidence
This irritated the disturbing Blackburn
element and INTTMIDATING TACTICS
/ WE'RE RESORTED TO, and were
KEPT UP INTO THE DEAD HOURS
OF THE NIGHT to force the committee
to make an uuprepared report. The
Blackburn people called their forces to-
gether, and in the absence OF the lawful
CHAIRMAN, three different times during
the sitting of the committee, to nominate
Blackburn. and the time taken up BY IN
/ CENDIARY SPEECHES BY THE CAN
DIDATE. A raid was made on the COM
mlttee room during the night, and 1t was
Irammed and damned till not another man
could enter and the outside passages
CHOKED WITH A HOWLING MOB.
Inside the room it APPEARED AS IF
The COUNTY ASYLUM HAD BEEN
EMPTIED, AND THE COMMITTEE
ROOM FILLED WITH INSANE PEG
PIE. THE CLICK OF PISTOLS WAS
HEARD. FEDERAL OFFICERS with
commissions in the pockets shook
WITH RAGE as if in the throes of con-
vulsons. LOWERED ON THE COMMIT
TEE, KISSED LIKE SNAKES, AND
CURSED LIKE DEVILS. Blackburn. the
INTERLOPER, the POLITICAL BUCCA-
NEER. who has introduced himself into
the district, was out in the convention
hall in hearing of all this, and HAD APP
Piled THE MATCH TO MAKE THE
EXPLOSION.
The committee retired after examining
the last witness to the room of one of its
members to write up the report. 1t was
more Quiet there but RUM0RS KEPT
! COMING OF THREATS toward the COM
mittee and hindered the work. l had
stayed in that little room at the court
house for nine hous. l was SATURATED
WITH WHISKEY FUMES AND BAD
TOBACCO. Not having used either for
many years it hurt me, and my temples