The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-06-22
ORGANIZATION FACTION DOWNED

struck the organization crowd like q
thunderbolt from a clear sky. Mr.
Harkins had filled the place for two
terms and had just a short while back
started in with his third term, feeling
that he was secure for four years
nor when came the astounding news
that Mr.. Brown, cashier Of the First
National bank of S~tatesville, had Deen
appointed 70 succeed him. The old Of
fetal was bounced without notice, vas
chucked out, neck and crop, without
opportunity to- gather up his personal
belongings before his successor enrer-
ed TO take charge. This change in the
eOllectorship means that ono more
has Blackburn won a decisive victory
over his opponents. HarkinS was one
of the leaders in the Rollins faction.
His dismissal is a severe blow to the
crowd which is fighting Blackburn, and
to make the situation more conpli-
Gated, the man who has been appoint
ed to the place is a near relative Of
Marion Buffers partner, so that gen
tleman cannot enter into the lists to
oppose confirmation of Mr.. Brown.
The downing of Harkins and Price,
both administration men, means that,
for the present, at least, Mr.. Black
burn is in favor with the president,
and that Mr.. Rollins and his crowd
are "out in the cold".
No doubt the nomination by the
democrats Of Hackett has had some
thing to do with the action Of the
president in his appointment Of Mr..
Brown; he felt hat he must do some
thing to help the only republican con-
gresham in this state secure his re-
election. The indications are that the
democrats will have a majority of the
next house, and the chairman of the
republican committee in this state has
shown that he would be glad to have
Mr.. Blackburn defeated by his demo-
cratic opponent. There was nothing
for Mr.. Roosevelt to do but to show
that he backed Mr.. Blackburn.
This action of the president will
have much weight with the republican
convention in the choice of a chairman
of it's executive committee.
In the meantime the Butler crowd
are continuing their attacks on Mr..
Blackburn, as the following from this
weeks Caucasian shows:
When Judge Van wan tried
Senator Burton he interpreted the law
as he understood it in his charge to
the jury. He allowed the case to go
to the jury n he jury under the
facts and the law found Burton guilty.
Judge Golf evidently understood the
law differently, because the evidence
against Blackburn (who was charged
with the same o%ffence) was stronger
than the evidence against Burton.
Judge Van Devanter was wrong. But
since then the supreme court Of the
United States has decided that Judge
Van Devanter was right, and that Bur
ton is guilty. Would Judge Gof v
dared to have axe the Blackburn
case from the jury, if this decision of
the supreme court had been rendered
before the miscarriage of Justice at
Greensboro?
If Blackburn is not guilty. then Bur
ton is not guilty. T.
Let the voters of the Eighth Dis
trict consider this fact before they
make a mistake. =.
The Caucasian is evidently very
much disappointed and chagrined that
Hon. j. Spencer Blackburn was not
convicted of high crimes and misde-
meanors and sentenced to serve a term
of imprisonment in some government
penitentiary.~ It is evidently disap-
pointed that he was not placed in the
same position before the public as
Senators Burton and Mitchell.
On the other hand, The Messenger, 4
democratic paper, which wishes to sec
Mr.. Blackburn defeated for congress,
congratulates him and h whole state
that the charges against him fell fiat;
that it was shown beyond the question
of a doubt that he, a North Carolina
congressman, was not guilty of the
charges made agains him by members
of his own party. His conviction
would have been a disgrace-not only
to the republicans of the state, but 20
the entire state-and we heartily re.
joice that he was able to prove his
innocence.
The appointment Of Mr.. Brown
means war to the knife between the
two factions of the republican party
and this means better chances for the
democrats in the eighth and tenth
districts.