The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1912-08-22
GAG RULE IN JOHNSTON.


Men Have Attempted to Say
vbo May Participate in Repuoh-
primaries-But Gag Rule VIII
=. uork-Mr. Parker Requests
rxery Republican to Attend Fri
a-ics and Send Delegates TO
comfy Convention.
Dear Sir:
gocublican primaries in Johnston
-, have been called TO meet
---..5av. August 9th, TO send dele
n the county convention, which
IN meet in Smithfield, Friday, Au-
gust 10th.
Tho state and County Committees
%, meetings when only half OF
49, roenbers were present, 1t taking
49,. hartman in each case 10 make
r.nrum. by less than majority OF
g. f,,I committee, decided and pass
- rasolutions attempting to exclude
.-..a the Republican primaries and
.--antiOns. all Republicans who Will
.n, hedge themselves TO vote Tor Mr..
~..- for President, the effect OF
.hirh would be to run out of the Re-
,ghlican party, three-fourths or more
~ All Of it's membership.
:, has been a custom heretofore,
.-naclally in this county, to invite all
,..~sous who were opposed TO the
,.-.og'' methods of the Democratic
orr primaries and conventions, thus
3d.. impIication denouncing such
namocratic methods. For the first
+iree At meeting of the Republican
Eyecutive Committee, last Thursday,
when il was necessary to count the
chairman to make quorum present.
some other members OF the commit
too not being present on account OF
not having received notice or the
meeting from the chairman IN time
- attend. the whole committee be-
irr sixteen and the chairman max
ing seventeen, by vote OF only
seven including the chairman, It was
decided to dictate to the primaries
and the convention, what particular
brand of Republican should particl-
rarp. thereby not only adopting
ring" but gag rule and attempting
10 exclude from the primaries and
The convention. not less than 1000
Pppublicans of the county, many OF
whom have been Republicans ever
since there has been a Republican
IN
Of the members of the committee
beIping to attempt to read them out
we're either associates of the red
shirters' or in those trying times
we're so skittish that they could moi
have been caught and brought into
Republican primary or convention D.
full pack of the fieetest greyhound
that ever chased a prairie rabbit.
Such a course is party suicide
pure and simple. In due time, tn
Presidential situation will solve 1t
self and without reading in tWall
orr PARTY in this county if the prop
er course is pursued.
Let every Republican attend tn
primary next Tuesday and the coun
" convention Friday, the goth, an
see that the wise and sane course /
pursued and if any one wants to pas
a resolution to gag for Mr.. Taft o
anv one else, vote it down and pro
coed as if nothing had happened.
Seven men have no right or poWe
TO read 100000 Republicans out o
the Republican party in the State an
the same charmed number has n
right or power to read 1000 Repur
leans out of the Republican part
in Johnston County. Such power be
longs only to the primaries. GU
policy should be to try to read /
instead of read out.
Ask any veteran Republican Wn
has grown gray in the service Of tn
great party of Lincoln, Blaine an
Roosevelt why he has followed II
light for a lifetime, and he will al
swer, Liberty! it gives me liberty.
And no seven men, although they b
clothed with a little brief authorlt!
can deprive him of that liberty
the same of the great party OF Iii
erty. J. D. PARKER.
Smithfield, y. c., Aug. 20.