The news & observer., 1905-12-21
Intimates That Blackburn
is a Gnat.
DOES NOT WORRY HIM
Mr.. Gudger Makes Statement in Re-
ply 10 Mr.. Shipman's Open Letter.
Uncle Joe Cannon TO Visit
North Carolina. Arrest of
SaIisburian.
by THOMAS j. PENCE.


Washington, d. c., Dec. 20.-The
arrival of Republican State Chairman
Rollins following so closely the in
vasion of the National Capital by the
Blackburn band of insurgents kept
the North Carolina political gosslps
busy today. The leader of the or
ganization spent some time with POST
master General Cortelyou, chairman
of the Republican National Commit
tee, and he also had an extended in
tervieW with Attorney General Moody
but he failed to call at the White
House. unless he made an after dark
or rear entrance visit. There is no
reason to believe that he did either.
Mr. Rollins declared with an air
of injured innocence that his visit had
no connection with matters political
and that his calls at the offices of two
members of the Cabinet were simply
incidents Of the trip made in the inter-
est of the Southern Railway for
which he is attorney. The State
chairman told his friends that he was
not worried at all over the fight that
is being made on the organization.
His presence here was accepted as
the contrary by the Blackburn fol-
lowing.
Before leaving for Raleigh today
Mr.. Rollins said:
1.-The fight that is being made i'm
certain quarters against the State or
ganization does not give me any con-
Germ. / want my friends in the State
to know that | have found the situa-
ton here so far as it effects the party
in the State, better than L could have
hoped. The administration still looks
- laa 1isy1fi ion fnt n in al
matters OUTSIDE the Eighth district and
will. continue to do so. There is no
disposition at all to meddle in affairs
n the Eighth district, and OUTSIDE the
organization will control"
Just what Chairman Rollins learned
at the Postoffice Department he could
not say though he did not hesitate to
declare that the Blackburn following
had in its fight. helped rather than
injured him. Prior to Mr.. Rollins visit
E-Congressman Settle had interviews
with both Postmaster General Cor
telyou and Attorney-General Moody.
He was not i'm n talkative afterwards,
though when he met chairman Rol-
Inns at the Capitol the two engaged in
close conversation for more than half
hour Settle is q candidate for District
Attorney i'm the West, and report has
il that he is not so much a Blackburn
ite after all but is flirting with the or
ganization.
Chairman Rollins a2tention was
called to the vigorous interview from
Representative Blackburn charging
him with bad memory or worse.
yes" he said, 81 read the interview
which was the expression of an en-
ragged man who had soured because
he failed to accomplish all that he had
hoped and set out to do. | am not
going to become involved in con-
troversy over this matter though it is
not worthy of consideration TO say the
least 1t is conceded by everybody
that the organization is in control in
party affairs otside the Sth district.
Chairman Rollins was undoubtedly
concerned about the status of the or
ganization and desired to get in few
words i'm reply to the charges of the
insurgents, and if this fire and cross
fire upon cabinet officers continues
they ought TO be tolerably well in
formed about Republican politics in
North Carolina. It is now Blackburn
inning and while it looks like the or
ganization has control of the situ
alton appointments that are to be
made shortly will determine conclu
sively which faction is to have the
mastery in the State
Uncle Joe to Come in 1907.
Speaker Cannon, who left North
Carolina when he was six years OF
age. promised today that he would re-
turn in June 1907 That will be his
first trip to the State of his nativity
since childhood. Uncle Joe made this
promise today to j. Elwood Cox and
other gentlemen, who invited him to
deliver the commencement address at
Guilford College next June Inc
speaker. made mention of his desire
to visit the State. and especially the
county of his birth. He said tnat III
would be impossible for him TO leave
here while Congress is in session, but
that he would be glad TO do SO IN
1906. when there would be no session
of Congress to conflict. The speaker
recalled the fact that last year ne re-
ceived a gavel from Guilford citizens.
and that it is one of the most pflzed
possessions in his private cabinet. Mr..
Cox came here today with Z. }. Tom
linson and w. G.. Bradshaw, who Will
invite some prominent national char
acter to address the Manufacturers
Club of High Point next spring.
Reeves Gives Bond.
James Reeves. forty-six years
old. who recently came here from Sal
isburv. \ = was arrested this after
noon bv Detectives Father and Horne
upon q warrant sent here by the
North Carolina authorities. 1t is
charged in the warrant that he took
a diamond ring worth 1925 belonging
to the firm of German q Green,
iewelr,, dealers under alleged unlaw-
full circumstances. The defendant de-