The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1906-05-03
BLACKBURN AND THE NEWS AND
OBSERVER.

BLACKBURN AND The NEWS AMI
OBSERVER.
Congressman Blackburn and the
News and Observer seem to be on
the best of terms with each other,
and to have a working understand
ing. Since he escaped conviction
he has broken out afresh in his at
tscks upon the Republican party Or
eanization in the State, and the
News and Observer, the dirtiest of
the Democratic organs, seems to have
become his special mouthpiece and
champion.
The following is from the special
Washington letter in the News and
Observer, the day after Blackburn
returned to the Capital:
"While he gave out no formal
statement, Representative Blackburn
talked freely to his friends, and 1t is
evident that there will be further
developments resulting from the
effort to convict him. During his
stay at the Capital today, Mr.. Black.
burn declared that he would de-
mand the removal of District At
torney Holton. 81 shall go to the
Attorney General and make re-
quest that a man be put in his
place." said the Congressman to
friends, declaring at the same time
that he had no candidate and would
not make a recommendation.
Blackburn did not censure Depart
ment of Justice officials as much as
he did District Attorney Holton and
ex-senator Marion Butler, whom he
declares inspired the proceedings
against him. To North Carolina
friends he made several references
to the end of the organization regime
when the State convention convenes.
Blackburn is confident that he can
capture the convention and his
friends are equally as positive.
Asked the direct question if he
would 90 to the White House, he
said to an acquaintance that he had
no idea of going there unless the
President should send for him. The
last time Mr.. Blackburn saw His
Strenuosity the interview was more
painful than pleasant"
In addition to this the News and
Observer has editorially taken the
position that Blackburn was being
prosecuted by the organization of
the Republican party and that the
people were glad that he was not
convicted. The impression that the
editor of that paper has attempted
to create, without saying SO outright,
was that Blackburn was not guilty.
Indeed it has limited, if not said,
that there were no sufficient grounds
on which to indict him. Now what
does all of this mean?
1st. It means that the News and
Observer will pat on the back any
body or anything who is attacking
or attempting to hurt the Republican
party in North Carolina. To praise
Blackburn and to attack the Repub.
lican organization is good Demo-
cratic politics OF low and dirty
variety.
End. It means that if the Demo.
cratic machine can get the moon
sinners, the government distillers
who are violating the law, and the
government officials who may be in
collision with them for pay to rob
the government to renominate
Blackburn that then they hope to
elect Democrat from that District.
They know that Blackburn was a
weak candidate in the last CAM
paign, and that he is weaker now.
They know that Roosevelt carried
the District by nearly one thousand
majority, while Blackburn got
through by the skin of his teeth.
They are patting him on the back
now, but if he should be renomi-
mated, what will they do? They
will no doubt reproduce the evidence
in the trial and show that Black
burn not only took fees, but that he
practiced before the Departments of
the Government after he was elected
as Congressman.
They will probably charge that
he just escaped going to the peni-
Tertiary, though the evidence against
him was stronger In some respects
than the evidence against Sena :
tor Burton when he was convicted.
They will no doubt publish the
evidence In the Burton case and In
the Blackburn case in parallel COL
umns to prove it. And then finally
they will probably publish the charge
of Judge Van DE Vanter to the jury,
to show that the case should not