The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1906-05-24
Hr. Hicks Takes Issue With The Tar Heel.


cess Ii he can he retained on thu
earth in positions conan urate
with his experience, hts youth n d
his undevelopei ability. Outside e
the routine OF his professional work.
Mr.. Holtnn IL tho smallest man We
have ever seen I'm trousers. Ii o
moral perceptions and ethical con-
eaptions were above those OF the
Moro In the far-away island OF the
sea his tirsless energy ut least would
command the respect Of those who
know him. Does Mr.. Hicks mean
TO convey the idea that tha intelii-
gence and manhood Of North Caro-
lina-the leaders OF thought in his
profession and the leaders Of thought
in the other professions and voca-
tions Of life in this State-will ever
compromise and stultify themselves
by following the leadership OF men
OF the calibre Of Mr.. Duncan and
Mr.. Miliikan? We are still farther
apart on Mr.. Butler. IL has been
charged and never denied that Mr..
Butler has never voted the Repub.
lican ticket. Perhaps Mr.. Hicks can
throw some light on this. But be
that as ii may, the Republican door
is always open TO the highest and
the humblest.
The only point we would make
about that charge is. if the charge
be true his friends are premature in
their efforts TO crown him as q
leader. No selfrespecting Republic
can outside of the office or the chase
would submit to the leadership of a
man who had never voted the
party's ticket. To be frank, We
think Mr.. Butler is an overestima-
ted man. He has gotten credit for
much to which he was not entitled.
He reaped the harvest from the
great work of the late Col. l.. l..
Polk. 1t was Polk who organized
and built up the most powerful po-
litical organization this State has
ever known. 1t cost him his life.
The Alliance was the largest asset
he left. Mr.. Butler administered
upon this asset. He succeeded Mr..
Polk in name. He played the or.
ganization and betrayed it. He was
unable 10 hold and maintain il. Nor
was he able to hold the party which
grew out of it. In 1896 when he
fused with the Democratic national
party he laid his plans to capture
and lead that party in this State.
This is what he wanted to do. II
he had succeeded in that ambition
Mr.. Daniel perhaps and not MIR.
Hicks would be defending him to-
day.
The claim of our friend that there
are lO0,000 white men in the State
who have not voted since 1900, that
a majority of them are friends and
admirers of Marion Butler; and
that at his call they would rally to
the support Of the Republican ticket
and give us clear majority Is the
widest and veriest rot. 1t is scarcely
worth while to consider a sugges-
tion so wild and visionary. This
sounds like Butler himself These
are Buffers figures with which he
has evidently confused our friend.
We leave this to the judgment of
intelligent readers. If Mr.. Hicks
really believes this We are sorry for
him. 1t is proof conclusive that he
knows little of the temper of the
people of North Carolina. We could
wish it possible that the name of
Mr.. Butler might be separated from
Democratic and Republican organi.
cations and let the people pass judg-
J ment upon him at the ballot box
upon his merits. Without doubt
Mr.. Hicks is the widest man who
has yet figured for Mr.. Butler.
It may look that way in his neck of
the woods but if he goes to the
counties from which the Republican
party draws its ST. 1gth he will find
that Butlerism hurts instead of,
helps. 1t is idle to take up space as
to the causes separating Pritchard
and Butler In 1896-1897. This his
tory is too recent. The recollection
Of the average reader is as vivid as
that Of Mr., Hicks or that of :he
Tar Heel.
Again, the people know the
method of this man. They have
seen him under this administration
manipulating and scheming. They
followed him and Pettigrew In the
preliminary steps to the establish
ment of his organ when he thought
it necessary to checkmate ami de-
stroy the Tar Heel. They follow ed |
him in his connection with those
bonds which led up to the South |
Dakota suit and judgment. They
have kept an eye on him since. |
From his Office in the Bond build-
Ing in Washington he has suggested |
and directed the Efforts for the de-
struction of Black Frazier and |
Grant. If MIR. Hicks viii go to-
Washington and watch the move
ments OF this '.ofiiee broker'' for a
few weeks he will become az dis.
gusted % the Tar Heel. What enti-
ties him to leadership What has
he accomplished for the Republican
party?
If the partv simply wishes FOL