The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1911-08-15
REPUBLICAN POT
!. BEGINS TO BOIL
Considerable Discussion Of Radi-
cal Politics al Raleigh
AFTER DUNCAN's SCALP
Fight Between Duncan and Anti
Duncan Forces Over Filling Of
Vacancies in Revenue Department
Watched With nterest--Faction
Lining Up Over Craftsmanship.

Raleigh, Aug. 14.-North Caro-
lima republican politics is coming in
for considerable discussion just now
hereabouts, the increased interest
being partially due to the fact that
there are couple or so very desir-
able positions vacant in the Office of
the collector OF internal revenue
here and Duncan and anti-Duncan
forces are eagerly watching the
political plays that involve these
places and also the manipulation of
republican state politics In general.
The most important vacancy in
the collectors Office is that Of
cashier made vacant by the death of
William u. Duncan, who was the
father OF National Committeeman L.
C.. Duncan. Collector Wheeler Mar
tin Is the closest sort OF a personal
and political friend of National Com
mitteeman Duncan. and was made
collector at the instance OF Mr.. Dun
can. Therefore. just as far as the
civil service rules will permit with
the most strained construction. II is
naturally surmised that supporters
of the Duncan interests will be given
these places in the revenue depart
menf. 49,. =. I. ..-is,.
However. Il is pointed out that
one or more Of those on the eligible
list to whom under the civil service
rules these places would go are In
very bad standing with National
Committeeman Duncan, being re-
garded as Morehead and state or
ganization men. One Of these espe-
cially in line is Frederick n. Gattis,
who had a clerkship in the depart
ment and is charged TO have been
unfairly cut on some months ago
when the revenue force was being
reduced by order of the department
at Washington. The charge rs being
made now that the vacancies in the
revenue Office here now are being
left open purposely to avoid having
70 give a place to Gattis and some
Others Who are Objectionable TO Ma
tional Committeeman Duncan.
Swinging OF on politics OF a wider
scope Il is being talked here that
the national committeeman Is laying
plans "a have Collector Wheeler
Martin stand for the state chair
manship against Chairman Motley
Morehcad and then, IN this way gain
ing the defeat OF Morehcad. get a
friendly western man In as active
state chairman. II Is charged that
he proposes TO use Collector Martin
purely as dummy" In his scheme
to defeat his arch enemy. Chairman
Morehead. On the other hand Il Isl
asserted that the most determined
sort Of movement Is under way to-
see 10 II that the delegation 20 the
next national republican convention
is anti-Dunean SO that Chairman
Morehead or some leader acceptable
20 HIS element Of the party will be
made national committeeman. II Isl
being charged against National Com
mitteeman Duncan that he has used
the political power OF this position
10 coerce postmasters and other
Office holders all over the state In
Smelling out good big slices Of
their salaries for purposes that were
solely for the benefit OF some per-
sonal friend and had no bearing on
the mainiainancc OF the republican
organization and It's work IN this
state. The part that the national
committeeman has played and the
way he has played Il IN the matter
OF efforts to have a republican state
organ IN the state Is also bobbing up
as a club with which the political
enemies Of the national committee
man would seek 70 dethronc him. II
IA declared hereabouts that the fight
is now to have no let up and the
political scalp" Of the present ma
tional committeeman Is the prize TO-
ward which Chairman Motley More.
head and his associates In the state
organization are concentrating their
political Efforts in a most determined
nanunr