Evening star., 1907-11-16

be registered and pay their poll tax a
year from this fall, and every one l have
talked with says that those who car
stand the test will be permitted to cast
their ballots without interference
''They will be treated fairly" said one
| Of the leading democrats of Charlotte
so long as they behave themselves and
do not try to run the government But
| the slightest sign of negro domination is
likely to stir up the entire south again.
Strength of the Republicans.
| The republican party has been growing
in the mountain counties. The demo-
J Gratis have taken the lead in the prohi-
bition movement and the republicans have
been compelled to fall in line, although
they did so reluctantly. and their action
will drive the moonshiners back into the
democratic party. At the recent excit-
| Ing campaign at Asheville Judge Pritch-
ard of the United States district court,
| formerly senator from North Carolina,
who Is recognized as the leader Of the
| republican party in this state, took an
active part in the prohibition movement
and fought side by side with Locke
Craig, the most prominent democratic
candidate for governor. SO that neither
party gained any prestige.
There is drift toward the republican
party among the business men here. as
elsewhere in the south. a majority of
whom are believers In its principles. al
though they dislike it's name. Many
of them voted for Mckinley and will vote
the republican national ticket at the next
election, particularly if the democrats
nominate Bryan, Hearst or any other
| radical candidate. But they all adhere
to the democratic party on local issues be-
cause, as a rule, it has given good NUM-
cipal government.
1t Is claimed here, as elsewhere. that
II the business element. who are republ-
cans at heart. were recognized that party
would control the state, but such men
will not work under the present leaders,
and the latter, 1T is charged, are not
anxious to have them. because with such
a following. their leadership would be
insecure and they object to any increase
In the numerical strength OF the republi-
can party because there are not enough
offices to go around now. The republican
leaders declare that the appointment Of
Mckinley democrats to office in the south
has never strengthened the republican
party, and they point out conspicuous
examples to prove their claims. They
allude to Mr.. Capers of South Carolina
and Harry Stfllwell Edwards of Georgia
as shining marks. Both of these brilliant
and ambitious young democrats, of the
first families of the south, representatives
of the rising generation, were appointed
to office as a recognition of the element
in the democratic party who believe in
republican principles, and it was predicted
that the aristOcracy, the culture. the
industrial and commercial portion of the
community would follow them. But
the old republican leaders insist that the
net result of this recognition" was to
add one vote to the republican strength in
South Carolina and one vote in Georgia,
which were cast by those estimable gen.
tlemen themselves.
On the other hand the element repre-
sented by Mr.. Capers and Mr. Edwards
declare that they cannot work with the
present republican leaders and that
thorough reorganization of the republican
machine which the latter will not per-
NIT, must take place before their self
respect will permit them to Join 1t. Three
years ago, during the national campaign,
number of cotton manufacturers and
business men organized a Roosevelt club
here at Charlotte. They rented head
signs of activity, independent of the re-
publican machine. but the republican
leaders ignored them entirely and would
not even recognize their existence. 1t
was a significant episode.
Many Roosevelt Democrats.
There are good many Roosevei, dem
ocrats down here, and they are very en-
thusiastic. l have met half a dozen
gentlemen who say that they will vote
the republican ticket for the first time
if the President is renomnated. Mr. S. S.
McNinch, manufacturer of large for
tune and influence, who recently retired
from the office of mayor of Charlotte, in
which he served two terms, is an enthu-
siaStic admirer of the President and a
strong third-termer. He declares that the
south will support Roosevelt for Presi-
dent unless the democrats nominate
southern man, and he has a good many
followers.
The republicans of North Carolina are
divided into factions. chiefly because of
personal rivalry. While Judge Pritch-
ard is recognized as the party leader
Marion Butler formerly Pritchard's col
league in the United States Senate from
this state, now controls the machine. and
is supposed to have the ear of the Presi-
dent concerning patronage. Butler is re-
garded as the SmarteSt politician in the
state. He came out of the buckle berry
swamps, educated himself with the as
sistance of his mother worked his way
through the University of North Carolina
taught school while he was studying
law, joined the Farmers Alliance and
used 1t as stepping stone to- office
Then he organized the popuists who
sent him to the United States Senate
Three years ago he abandoned the sink
ing ship and swan over to the republic
can craft, where he is now gradually
working his way toward the command
and hopes to be returned to the Senate
He has recently established the Industrial
News of Greensboro. the only daily re-
publican paper in the state, and although
practcing law in Washington, he. is In
creasng his influence in the republican
party of North Carolina very RAPIDLY
1t is the popular impression here that
he has the sympathy and support of
ID,A.- ,I,N,,t