The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-03-13
SCHEDULED FOR ATLANTA
Republicans of North State May Hold
Next Convention in Federal Prison

Washington, March IF the Hon.
Romulus q. Linney knows, and he
ought to know. a highly interesting
political event is scheduled for Atlanta
in the near future.
MI. Linney is a prominent republican
of North Carolina. He served a couple
OF terms in congress, where he at
tracted attention as a unique and at
times forceful figure. He was regarded
as a capable man, a fair representative
OF the mountain republican element of
the Old North State. /.
The next republican convention Of
North Carolina" Mr.. Linney is quot
ed as having stated in a recently puo-
lished communication to the press,
will be held in the federal prison at
Atlanta"
Judging from the charges being made
by and against the different republi-
can leaders ofprominence in North Car
DINA, Mr.. Linney may prove some
thing Of a prophet-cOnstructively at
least.
Several indictments have already
been found against Congressman Spen-
Ger Blackburn the one republican
member from North Carolina. Mr..
Blackburn says the prosecution against
him is political, being instituted by
members of the faction of his own par
ty opposed to him. He is right so far
as his statement relates to the genesis
Of the prosecutions, these being insti-
tuted by republican federal officials
against whom he has been making
charges almost, if not entirely, as seri-
Gus as those now made against him
The United States district attorney,
who has been active in bringing the
charges against Blackburn to the atteu-
ton of the grand jury, is of the repub-
lican faction opposed to him. Black
burn fought his reappointment, and
since the nomination vas made has
been actively opposing confirmation.
The charge against Blackburn is tEat
he has practiced law before the federal
department., that is has appeared be-
fore the departments as paid attorney
in the interest of different clients. This
is the same charge upon which Sena-
tors Burton, of Kansas, and Mitchell
of Oregon, both republicans, were con
victed by the courts. 1t is covered
by a special statute.
oA1O 1OO NE AINO1T1E0
Mr.. Blackburn denies, and then
comes back with a "ou're another"
hurled at no less a person than United
States Circuit Judge Pritchard, for two
terms United SEtates senator from
North Carolina by the grace of the re-
publican party. Judge Pritchard's Of
lenses, if he committed them, are barr
ed from prosecution by the statute Of
limitations. He stands high with the
powers here. In fact, he is regarded
as the straightest man the republicans
Of North Carolina have had in public
life, certainly in recent years. PIlt-
chard's friends, some of them, say for
him hat he was ignorant of this law
against practising before the depart
ments, and that in order to make sure
It was all right he wrote Judge Boyd,
then assistant attorney general of me
United States, and received assurance
that it was all right. Judge Boyd, an
other strong republican, is now judge
of the United States district court.
These are mild charges, however, as
compared with some that are being
banded about among the different re-
publican leaders of North Carolina.
Some Of these have got into the courts.
others seem destined to figure promi-
nently in the future. In the light OF
which state of facts, it is among the
possibilities that Romulus q. Linney's
predictions may be true as 20 some en-
nent republicans il not as TO the en-
tire party of his state.-Jos Oil, in At
Ianta Constitution.
----
Three little rules we all should keep,