The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1909-07-22
THE EFFECT OF Dir. COWLES'
ELECTION BILL.

Eighth District has made the blunder
OF introducing what viii be de-
nounced as "a reconstruction force
bill"
OF course, every one knows that
the Democratic machine In North
Carolina has been guilty Of all kinds
of indefensible and outrageous cleo
ton frauds. We sympathize with
Mr.. Cowles' indignation at such DEM
ocratic rascality, and no one has gone
further in opposing and denouncing
such crime against the sanctity OF
the ballot box than has The eau
casian, but a legislator and a news
paper, If 1t would help this cause,
must use common-sense and prud-
ence.
A good cause can never be seriously
hurt, or long retarded by its enc
mics; it can, however, be seriously
hurt and retarded by unwise friends.
While we believe that Mr.. Cowles'
purposes are good, yet he has been
misled either by his youth and in
experience into dong a very unWise
thing or else he has been imposed
upon by cunning and designing Re-
publican machine politicians who do
not want the party to grow.
The Republican party gained 3D.
900 thousand white votes in the last
election from the Democratic party.
Another gain like this would make
North Carolina a Republican State,
but If the Republican party ever car
ries North Carolina it must do it by
gaining at least ten or fifteen thou
sand more votes from the Demo-
cratic part.
The Independent spirit in the Dem
ocratic party has been and is growing
fast and strong, and nothing but
some fool action on the part of the
Republican party itself could prevent
this continued growth. With the
greatest difficulty the Democratic
machine has struggled to hold their
party together, not on principles or
live issues, but by raising the negro
cry and the cry of force bill' and
other such appeals to prejudice
g Whenever such appeals could not be
used by Democratic politicians the
Republican party's gains have beer
> remarkable. Now, just as the Re-
d publican party is on the sure way tC
a great victory at the next election
. here comes Republican Congress
. man and furnishes the Democratic
h machine with an excuse for the onl!
- issue possible that they might be
g able to use effectively to prevent Re
a publican growth.
a No matter how great the election
frauds committed by the Democratic
O machine, they can never be stopped
r by Federal election laws. They mus
= be stopped by appealing to the sens'
q of fairness and business that ami
q mates the rank and file of the voter
of the Democratic party. Every re
cruit that the Republican party gain
must come from the Democratic par
r. ty, and therefore the greater tn
" election thievery the greater tn
= gains we could make If we woul,
= only appeal to the rank and file o
" that party to come and help us sto
" such rascality. This is the way t.
20 make North Carolina Republican.
= But if We allow the Democrat
N macine to raise the cry of negro
10 or force bill'' again, then that will
y be used to solidify the Democrat
4 party and not only shut their ear
Ia to the exposure of the ballot box stuf
% fing, but also close their minds t
J. the arguments and reasons as to VIII
= every progressive citizen should joi
I the party of progress and prosperity
= Mr.. H. e. e. Bryant, the Washing
Il ton correspondent of the Chariot
= Observer, in discussing Mr.. Cowles
election bill, has the following t.
say:
D. mo one in Washington has
questioned the position of Rep
resentative Cowles of the Eighth.
He is behaving well from the
l. standpoint of some of those who
le see no good in Morehead and
HI Grant. 1t has been charged
time and time again that the Re-
publican leaders of North Caro-
lima did not desire to see the
party grow. The negro kept
20 'near-Democrats' from deserving
IN their party for years. Threat
O. ened force bills and kindred
lvI propositions made by Republic
20 cans helped to keep them in line.
"a bill recently introduced by
~ Congressman Cowles would
BY make one believe that he and
it others Of his faction of the Re-
stl publican party do not want their
~. party to gain any more recruits
from the Democratic party. The
~ Introduction of this bill is bound
hr1r