The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-01-20
ROLLINS ON OFFTCEH0LDING.
No Definite Policy as TO Third Term
ers-RepubIicans Hope to Garry the
State i'm Two or Four Years.
Especial to The Messenger.)


Raleigh, n. c., January 1S.-Republl-
can State Chairman Rollins was spe-
cia1ly interviewed this afternoon. He
was asked what would be lone about
third term of office holders in North
Carolina, and replied he could not say
definitely, President Roosevelt having
said he would adopt 10 definite rule
as to third termers Zach applicant
must stand on his merits. A certain
rotation in office is necessary, yet the
fitness of each applicant enters into
the question. In the case Of eastern
postmasters. there will be in a number
Of places for new appointments, but in
some no person is known SO fit as the
present i~ncumbents. There are six Fed
eral appointments, as to these it is not
now known what will be DONE. 1t de-
pends upon h majority of the party
leaders in the state think at the time.
1t is a year away before the v%ancancies
occur in five of these positions, namely
two collectors, two marshals n one
district attorney. District Attorney
Harry Skinner has Orly served one
term and there appears to be no rea-
son to doubt his reappointment. There
are applicants for every place, and in
some Eases a number of them. To be
sure there are applications for all the
big ones, and for every postmastership
with very few exceptions. There are at
least fifty Presidential appointments Of
poStmaSters, not a great number be-
cause there are SO many fourth class
postoffices in North Carolina-more
than anywhere els save pennsylvania
and Texas. Chairman Rollins was next
q SRaI ah0JIf tho condition of +b1 Da~,h
lican party in North Carolina and said
1t was healthier than ever before and
that this fact had been emphatically
shown by the result Of the last election
the party having made gains OF. over
thirty-three and a third per cent. here,
while IN no other southern state were
gains made, Missouri not being really
a southern state. He says there is &
good county organizalIon in every
county and that in every one there wss
a county ticket. In each there viii be
a county ticket in the next election. The
fight is to begin now for the next cam
paign and the plans will be laid for &C
tiveneSs.
Chairman Rollins thinks that with
proper organization his party can car
ry the state in two or four years. if no
mistakes are made. He says the party
is divided on the temperance question
and is not solid for liquor, but opposes
the Watts bill on the grounds tina. it
is passed Legislation, not giving all
equal privileges. He kinks that If the
Democrats favor the removal of liquor
they ought to put in a sweeping bill
covering the entire state, but he could
not say what would be the attitude of
his own party on uch a matter. He
has heard talk Of such a sweeping 1lli
at this session. To him it appears that
the dispensary will be established at
Asheville. He came here to discuss with
the Republican members of the leglsla-
ture, local legislation for various coun-
ties. some of it personal and told the
members to be guided by the wishes Of
local Republicans. The Republicans
will introduce a bill to amend the e;ec.
ton law by giving that party some rep
resentation IN election boards, there be-
ing now 1,S00 Democratic registrars He
thinks there ought to be an equal di-
vision of registrars between the parties.
The election law, he said was framed
to put out the negro. Now the negro
is out and there is not the least disDo-
sition On the part of the Republicans
to upset the constitutional amendment.
He concluded by saying: LAS a par
ty policy we oppose the amendment,
but we have accepted the will of the
people as absolutely fiuaI and there Is
no disposition among our leaders to up
set it. We are going before the people
of the state on live political issues.
hoping to devide the white people. The
Republican leaders believe the amend
ment is a stronger card for us than for
the Democrats, for the negro question
kept out many whites from our party.
We have made a great gain in four
| years while the democrats lost in that
period 81. 900 votes"
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