The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1910-12-22
AN EMBARRASSING JOLT.
President Taft Enquiries About
Buffers Part in Campaign in
North Carolina.

GA IA ~oA1FolEA1 III
North Carolina.
Washington Cor, 10Th. Raleigh News and OBJ
server.
The fact became known TODAY
that when Republican STATED
Chairman Morehead, Harry Skin
ner, W. P. Bynum, Jr., and the
other members of the Flying
Squadron made the trip to the
White House last Thursday for
the purpose of putting crimp
in the rival faction of the Re-
publican party in the State they
received an embarrassing Jolt
from no less a parsonage than
the President of the United
States, who asked some embar-
RAISING questions about the
participation of ex-senator
Marion Butler in the late cam
paign. This important feature
Of the now historic call at the
White House has been carefully
kept from the public, and it was
planned to keep the incident a
secret, but today the news leaked,
coming from two sources.
The President patiently heard
the Tar Heel Republicans make
their appeal for the recognition
of State Chairman Morehead in
the distribution Of all Federal
patronage, and then he let fly
his inquiries concerning the
prominent part Mr.. Butler played
} in the Republican campaign in
the State. To say that the visit
ing Republicans were surprised
and embarrassed is putting it
mildly, for until then it was not
known that the President was on
the inside of Republican politics
in the late North Carolina cam
paign.
There was silence following
the first inquiry of the President,
according to my informant. which
, became somewhat embarrassing.
It was thought that Mr.. More
: head, the State chairman. would
, make reply to the Presidents
: inquiry, but he remained silent,
Harry Skinner was the first to
r speak up.
i Il believe" said the former
r District Attorney, that Marion
+ Buffers participation in the late
campaign cost the Republicans in
: the State ten thousand votes"
: Mr.. Taft, so the story goes,
, turned his face toward Mr.. More.
2 head, but still the State chair.
s man ventured no word by way
of response. Then DR.. J. j.
Mott, close political friend oil
= Marion Buffers, came to the de.
t tense of the Sampson Fox. He
:: expressed the opinion that the
: statement expressed by Mr.
: Skinner was exaggerated. He
did not think Mr.. Buffers partici.
: patton in the campaign cost Re
publicans any votes.
w. P. Bynum, Jr., took a hyel
q in the conversation, and added
o to the embarrassment by declar
:: ing that the opinion expressed b.
/ Harry Skinner was a conserva
/: tive one, and that Mr.. Butler, b,
taking part in the State cam
! paign cost the Republican part
,c even more than ten thOuSan,
d votes. That it was nearer Is,
= 900 than $4,000 votes.
II Mr.. Morehead had no word t
% say one way or the other in repl
At to the inquiries made by the Pre-
d sident of the United Statss re
10 garding the part Mr.. Butler too
~ in the campaign. According t
the story here, Mr.. Taft know
all about the prominent part tn
Sampson man played in that cor
.e test, and has been informed tina
~ his activities cost the Republica
= party three and possibly fou
congressional districts. To whs
extent Mr.. Taft holds Mr.. More
TX head responsible for featurin
" Butler in the campaign remain
al to be seen. The story is the al
Us absorbing one here among Mort
We Carolinians, who do not fail
st see the significance of the line (
n. inquiry that the President hi
a. taken of his own initiative.
to
al Ashley Cox, alias Tom Smitl
o. colored, was shot and killed la
m Eridav avaninU NV Mr. Frar