davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The semi-weekly messenger., 1908-03-03
THE DEMOCRATS CHANCE.

We still believe that Secretary Tart
will secure the nomination, notWltn-
standing t. e apparent rally the oppo-
sition forces have recently made IN
some quarters. The infiuence-one
might say the power--of the admins
tration will be great enough . secure
it for him. If that turns out to be the
fact what a splendid chance the demo-
rats, with the right kind Of man as
their candidate, would have of carry
ing the election! Mr.. Taft Will nave
opposed to him stronger forces In the
republican party than were ever mar
shaled against one of it's candidates.
The negro population, led and urged
on to determined opposition to him
by their preachers and bishops, is lin
led up against him. Mr.. Foraker and
his friends will knife him if they can
do so secretly The labor unions are
against him, and. the, big corporations
oppose him. What better chance could
the democrats desire? With a sound
ard conservative man a:' their leader
they, would enter the fight with the
brightest prospects-almost absolute
assurance-of success.
Even were Secretary Taft defeated
| for the nomination and one OF tho
| other candidates chosen, the animosity
! toward each other of the several fac
tions in that party is, so great that
| the democrats would have a better
chance of success than in any OF the
Hast three presidential elections.
But the leaders of the party are
! not going ITO take advantage Of these
! favorable conditions. In fact they are
going further and deliberately throw
away their chance of success by nomi-
I mating a man = who has twice shown
that he cannot command the full
4strength of his own party at the polls,
I who is weaker with that. parry now
than on either of the previous times
he was it's candidate.
What a pity that our party should
be so infatuated with the eloquence
and personal maSnC.i-n OF one man
as to be completely blinded TO his lack
of political qualifications and to his
undemocratic tenets.
The semi-weekly messenger., 1908-03-03
ANOTHER PISTOL TOTING TRAG-
ENY.

Another sad death from the perni-
cious habit of carrying pistols when
there is no necessity for it occurred
in Gastonia Monday night. John w.
Frey, a young man twenty years of
age. called on his sweetheart Just af-
ter entering the parlor he remarked
to the young lady that he wanted 10
show her a trick and drew a pistol
from his pocket which was accidental
ly discharged, the ball striking him
on the right side of the head, causing
death almost Immediately
I While this young mans death is a
sad one there was no one to blame
for it but himself. He was violating
the law and was also acting very fool
ishly in carrying a pistol in his pocket
when making a call on young lady
and still more SO in drawing it from
his pocket and playing tricks with it
in her presence.
Such accidents will continue to oc-
cur as long as the habit of men going
armed Is kept up. What is the worst
thing about it is that it often happens
that some other person than the one
carrying the pistol Is the victim.
Commenting on this latest tragedy
the Charlotte Chronicle says:
I. When young men call on their lady
friends they ought to leave their re-
VolTers at home. Pride in the posses
sion of Il pistol and an insane desire
to show it of before a girl has been
responsible for two parlor tragedies
in this state in as many months.
The semi-weekly messenger., 1908-03-03
THE KENTUCKY SENATORSHlf.

If Candidate Beckham did not put MS
nersonal desires and ambition above
his regard for his party and ms sIaIe'
bo vould withdraw from the senatorial
race With a democratic majority IN
the legislature on joint ballot he, the
oaucus nominee of this party, cannot
get enough votes to elect MIN. ne
should withdraw and let some man
be nominated who could secure the
full vote of the patty. By his conduct
he is causing the probability OF MS
state being represented by only one
senator for some time after March 3,
1909. unless there is another session
of the legislature in the meantime. IL
a vacancy should occur the governor
would have no right to make an ap-
pointment, the legislature having had
opportunity to elect but failed TO DO
so ALI the democratic candidates
ought to stand aside and let a new
race with fresh men be started 1or
the caucus nomination. 1t was the
Reckham ring-rule in Kentucky that
lost the state TO the democrats at the
last general election If this legisia-
ture should fail TO elect and the cleo
tion deyolves on a new legislature II
is highly probable that Kentucky will
have a republican senator
The semi-weekly messenger., 1908-03-03

That is a good suggestion about
giving names to farms, made by The
Progressive Farmer. 1t says that ev-
cry progressive farm should Lave
rsme and the name should be dis
played in large letters on or n ar the
rublic road, and also that there shou.d
be bv it a blackboard on which the
farmer should place a list Of the
things he has to sell and OF those he
needs. The latter would be o. great
convenience to persons having for sale
articles needed by farmers or TO those
wishing to purchase farm products.
The semi-weekly messenger., 1908-03-03

said in hrs Greensboro, North CaTo-<s
lima. speech, Ii wousd lie better tor
the republican party IN the soqln IL
federal offices were filled by qSnAo
Gratis. 50 - d
The situation mentioned exisfs in
Virgin a at the present Gay TnstiTpTa
preston prevails there among th8peo<
pie of all parties tnat NO rea. desire
exists on part of a majority OF the re-
publican leaders to make a she"iAa
at the polls. excepting in the nipfh
congressional distr Ct i'heir reaToh@
iect is TO keep the republican party
scfoge rpora-fon for use fn-tho
is,I.bution of federal officeal AS
ore sums il up, the larger the coterie.
the longer the division. II 9.
Republica anism suffers in North
caro- ina from much the same cause.
There are more voters in the western
part OF the state whose primo pies lean
toward the party As they are UNDER
stood than go to the polls The cialm
is made that North Carolina has 81
600 white republicans, though at the
last congressional election the party
vote was about 5000. The cause OF
this apathy is very simple-the dis
sensions among state and local lead
! ers over the distribution of federal
patronage. Their quarrels on the
subject are constant. II Is not TO be
inferred. however. that the entire re-
publican leadership OF that state Is
ba sed or the foundation of federal
patronage. This would be unjust to
some Of the men who write and talk
for the party principles, though they
refuse to have anything to do with
the organization SO long as it means
a squabhle for office and nothing
more.
The semi-weekly messenger., 1908-03-03
WANTS CANNON NOMINATED

The Charlotte Observer says IL ls
o,.d m 6nd the Asheville Gazette
News favors it's views or Mr. Can-
,on,a presidential candidacy and quotes
that naper as facetiously remark
ing:
He worked 40 hard for the Appala-
ebian forestry reserve bill that ne
earned the lifelong enm,ty OF lrlenIS
~ that measure He loves the sou'n'
TOO. does cannon, because IT is fnit-
ter Of record that he has opposed WIN
startling consistency every neds'ul
which IN any way appeared to De nenS
fciaI to the south and southerners.
Oh. yes. Ey all means let Joe nasc
tbe nomination 1t would add zest ID
tho pleasure Of his overthrow TO kno"
that he got all that was coming "
him. He would make an ideal tarRel
for democratic ballots down this way.
All of which the Observer says Is
true indeed, for it knows Of nothing
more calculated to promote democra-
TIC harmony in the speakers natlVej
state as well as democratic prospects
In the country than such nomination
Dy Iu6 IA0 PofoH..
closes its article by saying that on
these high grounds hanged If were
not half inclined 10 cast conventional
= reserve TO the winds and whoop madly
for Cannon"
The Observers argument might hold
good as to the southern states, but
we doubt Ii IL will do so with those
of the north. II it be true that the big
trusts are spending money to secure
Cannon delegates to the national con-
vention from the former states, 1t
stands TO reason that they will see
that he is elected If nominated, il
money can do the work, and 1t has
been shown to be a mighty powerful
factor In presidential elections. NO,
Mr. Cannon's nomination would not
lessen his party's chances except in
certain of the southern states-none
at all in some Of the northern II it
be true that the financiers of that Sec
tion are opposed to the election of any
man pledged to carry out the Roose-
velt policies. .. .....r .
The semi-weekly messenger., 1908-03-03
WHERE WE DRAW THE LINE.

We still mold to the belief that the
southern states have lost influence and
prestige in congress because of the
frequent change of representatives, al
lowing congressman only two or three
terms of service, replacing them with
new men before they had become of
real benefit to their constituents. I;ut
we are not prepared to go to the ex-
tent of saying that because one dis
trict in this state has elected one man
to congress for six successive terms
such fact gives that man a claim on
the party in the whole state to the
nomination for governor. Such posi-
ton would be most absurd. If the
people of any district wish to keep
one man as their representative in
tcongress for a lifetime that is their
business and nobody else's; but when
, the man wishes to go a rung higher
on the political ladder and uses as an
argument that he had been honored
with twelve years incumbency Of an
| other Office it Is time to draw the
line. r rq
81 If a man after serving twelve years
in congress has become tired OF the
Office let him withdraw; but in the
name of decency do not let him claim
THAT he is entitled to the higher Office
to which ne aspires because the peo-
pie of his congressional district have
allowed him to hold the lower one for
length of time unusual in this
state Such plea on the part of any
man shows that he is not worthy OF
the higher office or OF the confidence
| of the people who have for so long
| kept him in the lower one which he
sought at their hands SO long as II
pleased him to occupy it.
The semi-weekly messenger., 1908-03-03

The following editorial paraguay pin
from the Charlotte Chronicle will be "A
surprise TO many people:
This Is surprising but not alto
gether unsatisfactory. The New York
state lunacy commission, instcnh OF
finding Mr.. Harry Thaw sane haS re-
ported that his mental malady iB in
curablc. The result of this is that
Thaw may spend the balance OF his
days in a mad house, something that
he had not counted upon. The lunacy
commission has done "A title bit bet
ter than the pubic had expected
There was a general impression that
it would be some time yet before the
physicians had held Thaw under OBJ
servatiOn long enough 70 come To n
decision at to his mental condition
If his malady is incurable II is not SO
violent that he cannot realize the full
meaning Of the comm ssicn = finding
This decision Is a surprise % u for
We felt sure that Thaw would be con-
fined TO the asylum for a few months
and then be given his liberty on a
lunacy commissions finding that he
was Of sound mind.
The semi-weekly messenger., 1908-03-03
'~EHE DCU3TEUI. SOUTH"

"The Republican Party Of the
Doubtful South is the healing Of an
article in the last number Of Har--
per's Weekly, written by Mr., Edward
Lissner He says that he DOES not
include Maryland and West Virginia,
but those states Of The; southern Sec
ton, which in the absence OF party
dissensions have heretofore been look
ed upon as surely democratic" z he
classes as doubtful three q southern
states-Kentdcky, Tennessee and Mis-
souri,. .Two--North Carolina and Vlr-
! tginiar-are classed as 'debatab.e. He
saws that democratic leaders may de-
nv this, but it is mere whistling on
their part to keep up courage. he
declares that by the Substitution Oh
doubtful south for solid one tour
changes are inevitable in the political
situation OF the future, which are:
First, a dim.nishment ri the prestige
long enjoyed by New York, New Jersey
Connecticut and Indiana at nauonal
conventions as. pivotal states. tIhey
will have to share this with some OF
the southern ones ia the future.
Second, tho ending Of an almost
did north, the reply OF that section
of the solid south.
Third, greater influence of the south
ern states IN the councils of both par
ties one that ought to prove bene-
ficial in character: and :-.-
Finally, the breaking down of all
barriers which since the close of the
civil war have prevented men from
the south heing candidates on the ma
tional tickets of both parties.
The question. the writer says, Of the
solid south having become the doubt,
ful south depends on whether the re-
publican party in this section has
made itself acceptable to the great
mass OF voters who supported the
democratic ticket as the polls in the
past merely as a protest against The
manner in which the republican part!
vas conducted.
- of the condition and the chic
:. aims / of the republican party o
: tho past in North Carolina and ,V1r
/ g1riia and as one of the. causes of CT
tain. democratic success at the, PoI
Mr.. Lissner says;lI aut Ia - a
: raPresumabIy existing to dispute con
S5trBrWfth the en,ocrats, the republican
1. i.'{Jfgaffiastti aHs IN most sections OF the
1, isoasth have lfteeal content to allow cleo
4 tom l.afternelect ton togo by default
i Thisi. .Rerh&ps WAS ssaitstrhmental I1
= kee ping,Ithe.; deHlocrats in power as
= anything else. The, locai republican
4s5aaderS were 1ssqisisfed 4witi} the meresi
! 1rskell elftnnl At 2, parSys, not rdssigned u
: keen aIfye ,bSfoEe the voters fspubli-
fsitni pricfylgs aha politfes, But rather
az ca t'basfs to tffen fsaffiin 'for edera
patronage in their sectio1iss iBfha al
wonder, therefore. that Secretary Taft
The semi-weekly messenger., 1908-03-03

There is -He- doubt t=that-tiernanf
would Ike 10 purchase the PhlApinesf
bbr. we do I.ot :eae-tAa. ous sbvertl-
nssus=is= s=AsiyiHszsew4.-siFs-s ~ Fs-sfaeYfo-gef-
a good price for these eastern pos sesr
sions. They are e-the key TO American
IN the far east: GO Bes'ces
what American commerce viii ga N
time to come directly from these Is
lands. their possession will give her
a foothold in the orient for an ever
increasing commerce in that section
for American products. The Philip
ines may cost our government large
amount of money each year, but
without some such base our people
may as well give up the attempt to
establish trade with the nations or
the eastern Pacific Japan has al
ready entered into a contest with the
powers for the trade of the vast Chi
neses empire II our government gives
up her hold on the Philippines IL may
as we'll announce to American maui
facturers and exporters that they he5o
seek no markets in the orient
The semi-weekly messenger., 1908-03-03

The WadesbCro Ansonian says
Messrs. Kitchin and Craig typically
represent their respective sections-
"Kitchin with his polished manner Of
speaking and attractive appearance.
while Craig comes with all the rug
ged strength OF his native mountains"
Hasn't The Ansonian got things a lit
tie mixed about the latter? Wasn't be
born and reared in the eastern part
OF the state-in the un-mountainous
county OF BERTHE? But maybe he has
lived in the mountains long enough
to acquire rugged strength OF speech
by association.
The semi-weekly messenger., 1908-03-03
THE PARK BILL HEARING.

Today begins a period and a pro-
ceeding whose end will be a crisis in
the Appalachian park proposition. To-
day the judiciary committee of the
house will begin the public hearing
on the resolution. referred to it in.
yolving the question of constitional-
ity of the. bill. In this phase of the
case sentiment, exped.ency or any 9TH
er such questions do not enter. That
committee is in this hearing tie same
as a court of law whose soc daty
is to pass upon Legal question. Would
the bill be constitutional? is the only
question before the committee and
the only one that it will or can con-
slider and pass upon. There will lie
10 need for the rendering of any facts
or statistics for the comm tee to con-
slider nor, the presentation o. any ar
guments based on the great need OF
establishment of the park. A commit
tee of lawyers will hear legal argu
ments on the one question. Some of
the best lawyers of the land will he
there to argue the affirmative OF that
question. The states interested will be
we'll represented both by lawyers and
by laymen interested in the outcome
Of the case. '.+'
The Appalachian National Park COM
| mission has urged Governor Glsnn to
be present, accompanied. by the ablest
lawyer in the state" We hope the
! governor will be able to accede to the
! request in order that our state-one
SO materially interested in the move
ment-may be represented.
AS We said a few days ago, should
the judiciary committee decide TO re-
port to the house of representative:
against the constitutionality OF the
bill that Will be the end of the move
ment, for the house would be SURE
10 adopt with but slight question, il
any at all. the. report of the commit
tee. t-..-t.rl ..E- --fs..~u- sN .E y
Should that committees report bt
ir favor Of the eonstituionality CT tft
bill, then the contest will be trans
ferred to the committee en- agr cul
! ture in whose hands the b.l1 now |:
A.! consideration and report on it:
merits u There the fight will tie
i've might say, on the facts, as it was
on the law alone before the other co T.
I nittee, When this latter hearing
! comes. up it viii be tie time for al
the states Interested to have larg7
representative delegations on tan1
| prepared to show tie committee the
vast importance of the park to a lar
area OF the country and tie gts a IN
terest the people, eff to states al
taking in its establishment.
The semi-weekly messenger., 1908-03-03

Several days ago the Charlotte
Chronicle expressed n desire for an
expression OF opinion by Hon. X. T.
Bennett on that joint debate in Wades-
boro. Yesterdays Chronicle published
a letter from MIR. Bennett complying
with the request in which he expresses
himself in his usual style ~ fol-
lows.
In an editorial you eNpIcssUu the
hope of seeing my impression uf the
Rehabilitation betwixt the mountains
and the sea" last Saturday,. This
day. at each recurrence, md me set
ting with men servants, mad SER
wants. oxen and asses. The ast re-
currcnCe was no exception. i a.! not
heal Il word Of IL. The tumut and
roar desc ended to my quarters, but
the voc.l force and power We're lost
| opine that few debates between
these men would prove too Irritating
To enlighten our people and would
hasten grave clash OF thought and
elocution. Let them take ambush and
tomahawk the Philistines when The
combat has deepened and the benches
are crushed by the impact OF the lists
of democratic apostles.
In reply to the Concord Tribune's
question: After all is over what good
will the wadesboro celebration do?"
The Chronicle answers by saying that
1T brought forth an expression from
Judge Bennett that will tickle the
people all over the stato-thats what"
From lamenting the occurrence at
Wadesboro are the press AID the peo-
pie going to turn to Iidicultng II? IL
looks that way.
The semi-weekly messenger., 1908-03-03

The Enterprise, Of High Point, says
the mayor of that town Is thinking
about inviting Messrs. Ktchin and
Craig to hold a joint debate In that
town. We hope he won't do it, and we
feel pretty sure he has given up the
idea. after reading the full reports OF
the sensational discussion between
those two men at Wadesboro last Sat
urday. Such debates do neither candi-
date any good and are liable to do
harm to the party We would be glad
to know that no more will be held.
The semi-weekly messenger., 1908-03-03

The extreme prohibitionIsts Of Geor-
gia are not satisfied with establishing
prohibition by act OF the legislature.
so they have started a movement TO
embody the principle In the state con-
stitution to prevent the possibility OF
its being repealed by act of the legis-
lature. So says a press dispatch from
Atlanta.
The semi-weekly messenger., 1908-03-03

Isn't there danger of OVERRIDING the
thing with these old-time fiddlers' con-
ventions? We see from the Salisbury
Post that one is TO be held soon at
Gold Hill in Rowan county. one or two
of these entertainments were all right,
but when it comes 10 multiplying them
to such an extent one gets tired OF
even reading about them in the news
papers --.a -#
The semi-weekly messenger., 1908-03-03
WOMEN IN PoLrrIWM

-
gDurs..a, cons 10 tn. MNN~i.n
somethins nev In :pclriesA veshan's
club forpst fss tbs puspessT a yccur-
ing the nsfnf1>tionsot n csstztn eands-
Gate for ONCE. -ssr Jones Fuller OF
that city 70 candidate for solicitor
OF that district A few nights ago
~woman's Jones Fuller club" with one
hundred charter members was termed
The club Is thoroughly Organised with
all necessary officers and commisfees-
The members say that they are de-
teEmined To win out: that Mr. Full
Ter shall be nominated. We have not
heard yet whether or not the club
viii insist on-kaving some OF Its pem-
kefs cbSstA rs Delegates to TIM Spun-
ty and district conventions: but X they
have not such demand VIII u on come
rs natural sequence TO fhe formation
OF womans club for tie purpose Of
! taking active paGt N politics
From the manner in which n mem-
| ber OF the club talked 10 Z D1rham
| HERALD reporter we imag ne Il N tho
purpose of that organisation eve atu-
! ally TO take from the men OF the ,en-
ocratic party IN Durham all 10 4 Cal
control of party adai:s.
i, may be all hight; but We CO not
take to the idea OF womea tain a
tive part in politics. but W. suypose
those Durhaur club womea would tell
Us IL was none of our bus.ness w At
they do. and PERHAPS that - %, bit.
all the same. We hope this II " N We
IN wdman's activity il p-b IL Gfai $
| Will not grow. .. ..-..rr....H
The semi-weekly messenger., 1908-03-03

f0rGgO19 COuCIuSlOn ku1t TIC A1AA M3~&@
woaad esdfro1th< eop1satioR. H.
m ssager4 eiain tAss hsSsin h4setAc
sdA vot sof ha, ate in ne tatisara
Ss<onvs9sofksr q - W
In the national republican conven-
ton -there are 992 votes making the
number necessary 20 nominate 49i.
The TAFT men claim that be he's 3si
cut-of the 3SS votes OF those states
which are not included in the follow
ing classes: The New England states.
the southern states. excepting Mary-
land and Missouri. and IN sc & ties
which have ''favorite sons New
York, Pennsylvania. Indiana. llliro
and Wisconsin. The states CT tie fIs;
class have 50 yates. those OF the &C.
ond 266. and those uf the thiid '.5s.
For his nomination II will be neces-
sary for him 10 secure l33 vo es from
the states OF these three classes. His
managers are sure of at least cne half
OF the vote of the southern states. l.
these claims be true he will have ex-
| actly the requisite nunIe'r % noiai'
nate him; out h's trends -ay thes
are justified in assuming that he VIII
get two hunGtc'l fr. n the south aui
they expect a Sooi proportion Of the
votes OF the Neg Englani states eS-
timating the number II ;" at least
without including Maine ond Rhode
Island which are classed as doubtful
Ii the men making these statements
are approximately correct Mr.. TAFT
will be nominated on the first ballot
but should further balloung be neces'
sary his friends say ali the votes q
the five states with favor.te sens
| cannot be delivered to any one OF those
candidates, and as soon as attempt i:
made to center on one Of them Mr.
Taft will get his share OF the votes
and the nomination.
The semi-weekly messenger., 1908-03-03

There are ninety mad saloon men
in Richmond. Va Under recent ,c'ty
ordinance the $40. saloons are 70 be
cut down to $50 after May LIST Judge
Witt OF the corporation court, who
was assigned the duty Of designating
the $50 has Just made his anaeqnee-
u ent .
The semi-weekly messenger., 1908-03-03
THE TAFT VOTE

The republican state convention OF
Missouri met in St Louis yesterday.
The state committee at its meeting be-
fore the assembling of the convention
adopted 4 resolution. with but one
dissenting vote, endorsing Secretary
The semi-weekly messenger., 1908-03-03

From rheumatism, aches and pains,
~ Your system will be fRe,
IL you'lr but take nightly drink,
e1of HofHstef,s Rocky Mountain Tea
r. r. Befianny.
The semi-weekly messenger., 1908-03-03

Twice in a year a chief ofspoiice OF
Fayetteville has been killed by the