The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-06-08
Especial Charlotte Observer

III "a III AoOAA
was former Senator Marion Butler. He
was a harmony in gray-clad in q
lead-gray Prince Albert suit. a gray
felt bat, and carrying gray gloves. The
unpretentious ornament which serves
him as a watch charm was a buck5hG.
gray Of course. He told me that the
buckshot was from Guilford Battle
ground. His necktie was of the same
color. He was enjoying a dry smoke.
Were you surprised" | asked him,
"at the invitation TO speak before the
inter-society banquet here"
why should | have been suTpris-
edo" he counter questioned. is there
any reaso why the yshouldn't have
invited me?"
This was a little embarrassing.
well you know how it is" | stam-
meTed, there has been a good deal Of
kicking from the University alumni
and some newspapers have criticised
the action of the boys Is foolish"
Mr.. Butler seemed intensely inter
ested to hear this and felt or affected
great surprise. He wondered why a
South Carolina paper should have ex-
ercised itself to criticise affairs over
here. Thinking of this, he recalled
having crossed the line when he was
president of the national alliance to
speak with Tillman at TirZah. He
must have offended the Sandlappers
then.
Il have heard it talked" | said,
shat you connived with the committee
to get the invitation, so that when you
are elsewhere cursed as a demagOgue,
despised and discredited in this state,
you can cite this occasion as al en-
dorsement by the head of the states
educational system"
Il will not dignity that gossip by
denying it," he replied. Il never have
denied such things and do not intend
ever to do SO. 1t isn't worth while 70
kick a cur because he banks at yor.
Some people seem to think they can
destroy a man by adjectives." He rails
ed his brows with child-like innocence
when | told him that democrats regard
ed it as a great stroke of Shrewdness
on his part to have secured the attend
ance of Taft and. Cortelyou at the mex,
republican convention.
A STROKE OF PATRIOTISM.
! They give me great credit" he said.
He INDUCED in some evasive pleasant
ry here and said that, whether Or not
it was he who persuaded the two men,
bers of the cabinet to come, it was not
Il stroke of shrewdness but of patriot
ism. 1t is bound to do the state good
to have such visitors.
why did they call it shrewd?" he
wondered. l explained what, of course,
he knew long ago, that Blackburn
would be the hero of the convention
normally, but that these big bugs will
~overshadow him and distract attention
from him. Mr.. Butler was very much
amused.
! "A man must be very vain to think
that he could cause the coming and 60
ing OF such great men; that, just be-
cause of his existence, such heroic
schemes are thought necessary. It is
the flower Of self-importance. AS Tor
my part in it, l should be glad to
think | could exert an influence to do
the state services of this kind"
Il wish you would O evade," l
told him. Everybody understands
that the factional fight has narrowed
down to you and Blackburn. Show NE
your hand and tell me what you have
got up your sleeve for him" But he
kept up the knOw-nothing attitude.i
WISHES BLACKBURN NO HARM.
Il have long since quit relying On
a good hand but find wisdom in play
ing a poor hand we'll, in doing the
little things as you get to them. Jack
Kings epitaph in Wolfville is true:
Life is not in holding a good hand
but in playing a poor n we'll AS
for Blackburn, l have never wished
him or any other man harm. | don't
know why they think l have got it in
for him. What do they suppose is my
object. | am not a candidate for any
office. l have been just as meek as I
could be-"
What you are up to is the question
| am asking" | told him. Why 10
they call The Industrial News your or
gan"
DO you know of any way by which
l can get them to quit calling it So
he parted. 1T was founded to he a
good newspaper, first. Further than
that l shall have to refer o to that
bright young man, Mr.. Douglas. I have
$4,000 stock in it, but others have as
much and the whole stock is about S35-
eco. For my part, you may say that
l devoted all my effort to harmonizing
the factions and that those who are
behind the paper did all they could 10
induce Mr.. Blackburn into it. To be
definite, we offered him the privilege
Of naming half the directors, regardless
of the amount of stock he took"
| have read this interview over to
Mr.. Butler for his approval, inasmuch
as l have been guE-shy ever since
Kimsey O.. Huskey shot me.
J. G.. n.
Nominations by the President.