North Carolina Newspapers

£+++4 4444444444444 ► M * £ THE WEATHER TODAY. 4 £ Far North Carolina* ♦ $ Rain. £ VOL. LIIL NO. 60. L©ads~ldl North Carolina Bailies in lews and Qireuiation i MOVEMENT BEGUN TO PROSECUTE REGISTRARS, Judge Boyd’s Charge to the Federal Grand Jury. RUTHERFORD REGISTRARS As a Result of the Prosecution it is Believed That 30,000 Negroes Will Vote Republican Ticket at the Next Election. (Special to News and Observer.) Asheville, N. C., Dec. I.—Judge Boyd's charge to the grand jury at. the opening of the Federal Court hero this morning was construed as having significant bear ing upon a movement for indictment of registrars. He defined the constitutional amendment of North Carolina and spoke of its qualifications, dwelling at length upon the qualifications the voter must possess. “The law of North Carolina,” he said, “should be obserVed by the court”; adding that under the law the general qualifica tion for a voter was an educational one and that any person who was 21 years of age and had resided two years in the State, six months in the county and four weeks in the precinct, had paid his poll tax and could read the constitution and write was entitled to vote. It became a right, he said, not only guaranteed by the State constitu tion but a right guaranteed by the laws and Constitution of the United States and ought to be protected. He said that in the Federal Constitution there was an inhibition against any State denying or abridging the right of a citizen, to vote on account of race or previous con dition of servitude; that when the con stitution was adopted by the State there was nothing in it as to previous condition cf servitude; that the registrar or officer who made such a discrimination was guilty cf violating the criminal law’s of the United States and would be guilty if he made such discrimination, although he exercised such under color of State law. T3E SECOND CAMP ..GS AO4XJBT THE REGISTRARS. Its Beginninning f fficially Announced by W H. Hildebrand Who Reported Pritchard’s Speeches inPritchard-Craig Debate. Campaign No. 2 of persecution against registrars has begun. It was officially announced by \V. A. Hildebrand, who re ported the speeches of Senator Pritchard in the Pritchard-Craig debate in the late campaign, in the Charlotte official or gan of the Republican bosses. The story is signed as a special from Washington, though it bears the ear-marks of having been inspired in the Federal court cir cles in Charlotte. It is as follows: REGISTRARS TO BE INDICTED. ; Washington, Nov. 29. —Prompted by. methods which, it is alleged, character ized the conduct of the recent election in some of the counties in North Caro lina. Federal officials have planned legal steps that will doubtless have the effect of increasing ten-fold the interest in what many still regard as the Couth's very much unsettled "race issue.” This contemplated step, which has for its ob ject the fixing of the status of th i edu cated negro, whose condition as an elec tor is admittedly abnomalous, calls for the indictment of a large number of elec tion officers. DISTRICT ATTORNEY HOLTON HAS THE EVIDENCE. This radical move has been formulated to the last detail, and United States Dis trict Attorney A. E. Hoiton no-v has in his possession documentary evidence which he has confided to a few friends, will result in the certain indictment of registrars from different parts of the State. To supplement tlu i evidence, however, witnesses, educated negroes, preachers and school teachers will at once be subpoenaed to appear before the grand jury at tho December term of the Federal court in Charlotte, which con venes next Monday. RUTHERFORD NEGRO PREACHER TO TESTIFY. Among the witnesses, ir is thought, will be fhc Rutherford county negro preacher who was stood aside bv the registrar because of his inability to spell correctly the word “divided,” the colored divine having written the word “divided,” in copying a paragraph from the Constitution. John W. Simpson, who represents one of the best known famil ies in the county, was the registrar who put this rigid construction on the law, and It is said that his name figures In the papers that are in course of preparation in the office of the district attorney. Republicans admit, however, that Mr. Simpson w’as consistent, and was not more lax in his mental examination of The News and Observer. ' £61% r White electors, Avho applied for regisr tration under tho grand-father clause. It was Mr. Simpson whom State Chair man Simmons singled out for a special communication in which the Democratic Senator took the position that the negro preacher had been treated with a harsh ness contemplated by neither the spirit nor the letter of the exclusion provision or the election law. As same registrars turned deaf ears to their State chair man's injunction it is not believed that he will this time come to their rescue as w r as the case before, wh ?a the Leg islature appropriated funds for the de fense of the registrars before the indict ments against them were quashed, and when different conditions prevailed. This belief has encouraged the court officers in their contemplated step. JUDGE BOYD TO BRING THE MATTER UP IN COURT. Judge Boyd, will, it is understood, charge the grand jury in terms similar to his utterances before the jury at the Statesville court before the election, when he cautioned election officers against an arbitrary construction of the law’, and defined the privileges of those seeking the right of suffrage. Judge Boyd is ex pected to tell the jury that the State and Federal Constitutions can only be upheld by a fair and impartial interpretation of the law. and that when a registrar ar bitrarily supersedes and abuses his au thority he should be punished. And not the least clement of interest in this pro posed proceeding is that the registrars will stand charged with a penitentiary offense. It is not known yet just how’ many officers are marked for indictment, but it is not likely that there will be more than a score of defendants summoned at the first term. 30,C00 NEGROES MAY BE ALLOWED TO VOTE. At a moment’s reflection it is appar ent that such a procedure on the part of the United States district attorney may be attended by consequences of the greatest political import. Should the law be allowed to take its course, backed by an approving public sentiment, it will mean that something like 30,930 black men will, at the next election, or cer tainly at the election following, exer cise the right of franchise under the State constitution amendment. A Re publican of State prominence has ex pressed the opinion that such a course will throw’ the State into the Republican column, as the negroes would, out of a feeling of gratitude for their second po litical emancipation, vote the Republican ticket. This, in turn, would send Senator Pritchard back to the Senate, a possi bility that will always be to the Sena tor a cherished dream, in which pros spective judicial appointments will lose their attractiveness. But of course all this is merely deal in in futures, the interesting, not to say, sensational, fact for immediate consid eration being that once more the Demo cratic registrars are to be indicted in the Federal court. W. A. H. Following the Hildebrand story, the Charlotte Observer prints the following: THE SUBPOENAS ISSUED. District Attorney. Holton Says a Number cf Registrars Will be Indicted. District Attorney Holton was seen yesterday by an Observer reporter and questioned as to the communication from the paper's Washington correspondent. ‘ Yes, ten or twelve registrars will probably be indicted,” said the district attorney. ‘ There may be others, I don’t know how’ many. I am, of course, only doing my duty in the matter, and I shall take action only where tho law has been clearly violated. In this prosecution I am not a Republican or a politician: I am only the district attorney, who is determined to do his duty. “The specific charge against the reg istrars is that they denied the right of voting to negroes who were entitled to vote —who were school teachers, holding a county certificate, and preachers who could qualify under the educational clause.” The Observer reporter ascertained that three subpoenas were issued yester day against John W. Simpson, a regis trar. of Rutherfordton county, and F. B. McKinney and D. H. White, registrars of Cabarrus county. SENATOR PRITCHARD NOT CON CERNED. Senator Pritchard, when questioned by the Observer man, stated that he had nothing whatever to do with the indict ment of the registrars. “It is a matter that rests solely with tho district at torney,” said he, “and if I had an opin ion in the matter 1 would consider the expression of it unwise and undignified.” It is to be regretted that the reporter did not ask Senator Pritchard these di rect questions: “Were you consulted in reference to the indictment of registrars? Did ycu know it was to be done?” Takes Her Own Life. (By the Associated Press.) Dexter, Me.. Dec. I.—Mrs. Hattie Whitten, who was arrested Saturday on the charge of having poisoned her nine year-old daughter, from whose funeral she had just returned, committed suicide yesterday by hanging while in the cus tody of the deputy sheriff. Her death ends a case which promised to bo as sensational as any inquired into in many years. Drowned in Deep Bun, (Special to News and Observer.) Washington, N. C., Dec. I.—Capt, David Hill, for twenty years in the employ of the Old Dominion Steamship Company, has resigned. Janies T. Windley, while intoxicated, was drowned in about four inches of water in Deep Itun, near Yatesville. RALEIGH. NORTH CAROLINA. TUESDAY MORNING. DECEMBER 2 1902. Smoking the Pipe of Peace Under Dangerous Circumstances. From Asheville Citizen. TOTfST VENEZUELA'S CONSTITUTION, Representative Taylor Offers a Resolution in the Case of Glass. (By the Associated Press.) Washington, Dee. I—Representative Taylor, Chairman of the Elections Com mittee No. 1 of the House, offered a resolution today proposing that the cre dentials of Carter Glass, elected to the Fifty-seventh Congress from the Sixth Virginia district, be referred to his com mittee and inquiry made as to “whethei they are based upon returns of a law ful election for members of Congress held in Virginia, November 4, 1902; and upon what character of registration lists and under color of what Constitution or ordinance such election was held, and whether at said election the right of franchises accorded to all citizens of Virginia alike without regard to race or color and whether any citizens of the United States who were entitled to vote for members of Congress” were deprived of any rights. The resolution was referred to the Committee on Elections, No. 1. It will first be determined by the committee if such an inquiry is to be made. The ob ject of such an inquiry as the resolution suggests would be to test the validity of the Virginia Constitution. VICTIM OF FIREBUGS. Change of Schedules---A Fighting Negro on the Train. (Special to News and Observer.) Greensboro, N. C., Dec. I.—Mr. R. P. Richardson, a successful farmer, near Reidsville, seems to bo as much a vic tim recently to fire bugs, as ever Mr. J. J. Laughinghouse, of Pitt county, was. Saturday night his now barn was fired, and five horses, besides a quantity of feed, were destroyed in the flames. In the effort to rescue a specially Valuable horse, Mr. E. E. Richardson was badly burned. Several months ago Mr. Richardson lost by fire his barn, stables and four teen mules, and the destruction now of the new building and team so recently supplied, makes the loss especially se vere, and the crime that much more atrocious. Efforts heretofore made to locate the miscreant have been futile and they will probably be renewed with vigor, since the last outrage. Train schedules, so frequently changed here recently, get down to a winter basis after today, when the following changes took place: A new passenger, No. 29, will pass through Greensboro from Washing ton to Atlanta, at 6:43 p. m.; the train from Raleigh arriving heretofore at 7 p. m., was moved up to 6:3.7 to connect with 29. No. 35, which now passes at 7:10 p. m., will arive at 7:13; the afternoon train for Winston left at 3:15 p. m. in stead of 1:28; the train for Raleigh left at 3:05 n. m., instead of at 1:28. These change’s are made so that mail from the North on the fast fiver, arriving here at 2-56. may be forwarded without delay and will be of inestimable benefit to Winston, as well as people all along the line of that and the Raleigh road. On the train from Reidsville last night. Bob Vanhook, a colored passenger, be came so boisterous that the conductor had to reprimand him. Ho showed fight, and it was with the greatest difficulty that tlio conductor and porter kept him in bounds until Greensboro was reached. Arriving here, he was turned over to Sheriff Jordan, and on the way to jail made several efforts to cut the officer with the knife the conductor had with difficulty escaped. I At a recent meeting of the Senior class of the A. and M. College here for colored, strong resolutions of thanks were adopt ed, expressive of appreciation of the defense made of the institution by the chairman cf the board of trustees, Hon. A. M. Seales. W. F. Robinson was elect ed chairman; A. C. Burnette, secretary, and the resolutions, offered by John R. McLendon, were unanimously adopted by a rising vote. Mr. C. B. Wilson, an estimable citizen, who has been sick a long time with fe ver and resultant complications, died this morning at 2 o’clock. He was forty years cf age and leaves a wife and several small children. Mrs. Austin Whitsett, of Graham, mother of Messrs. G. W.„ Alfred and J. W. Whitsett, ot this city, died at her home there last, night, aged S 5. Stm had been an invalid for seven years, and dur ing a long life, had been a true mother “in Israel,” prominent iri all good works. Her sons, accompanied by their wives, left for Graham today to attend the funeral. CASTRO PLAYB FOR TIME. A Written Acceptance of Fart of Germany’s Claim (By the Associated Press.) Berlin, Dee. 1. —President Castro, cf Venezuela, handed, probably on Thurs day last to the German minister at Caracas, a written acceptance of part of Germany’s claims, sufficiently compre hensive to delay the presentation of a joint ultimatum by Germany and Great British, if not rendering it altogether un necessary. It is also understood that Great Britain’s demand will be satisfied. Foreign Secretary Von Richthofen and tho British Foreign Secretary, Lord Lensdownc, arc now in correspondence over Venezuela’s change of front. .This government considers that a peaceful settlement of the question in dispute is cpiite probable and attributes President Castro’s yielding to tho fact that he has become aware that the United States would not interpose any obstacle to the forcible collection of the claims of Ger- many and Groat Britain. President Castro tried by every means to keep Great Britain and Germany apart in discussing the settlements, in timating or promising one thing and then another. Germany, having entered into a general agreement with Groat Britain to exact a settlement jointly will not make a separate agreement. Conse quently the two powers may yet con clude it necessary to disregard Presi dent Castro’s qualified offers and present an ultimatum to Venezuela. The German cruisers Amazon©, Ari adne, and Niche continue fitting out at Kiel for prolonged absence. The view in naval quarters is that th*’ cruisers will be sent to the West Indies irre spective of the Venezuela affair, hence it is believed they will sail, even though President Castro may yield- It is under stood that the squadron will touch at the Azores and thence go to St. Thomas where it will receive Commodore Schc dere’s instructions. 3 his is the com modore’s first command promising action beyond routine sea duty. He is reputed to be a cool, sensible man, who will do nothing hasty. Caracas, Venezuela, Dec. 1. President Castro lias twice sent for United States Minister Bowen during the last few days and has had prolonged interviews with him, at which the Minister of Foreign Affairs was present. Both the President and Mr. Bowen refused to be interviewed. Snow in Cherokee. (Special to News and Observer.) Murphy, N. C.. Dec. I.—Snow fell here all day throughout Thanksgiving, but it did not remain long on the ground. The mountain peaks on .ill sides of Murphy, however, are covered in white and sro very beautiful. The weather this fall has been the best in the remembrance of the oldest inhabitants, and fires having boon necessary for only about two weeks, and even yet it is not too cold to enjoy being out doors. ! BILLS TO REGULATE THE TRUSTS. A Number Along This Line Introduced IntotheHouse Yesterday, (By the Associated Press.) Washington, Dec. 1*- —A number of bills were introduced In the House- today af fecting commercial combinations. None of the measures is introduced at the request of the administration. Several have been shown, to Attorney General j Knox, but he neither has approved nor disapproved any of the proposed meas ! uros. A joint resolution offered by Represen tative H. C. Smith, of Michigan, pro i poses an amendment to the Constitution, conferring upon Congress power to de fine, regulate, prohibit and dissolve trusts, monopolies, etc. Representative Hepburn (Iowa), chair man of the Committee on Commerce, in troduced a bill in the House today ap propriating S3OO-000 to be expended under the direction of the Attorney-General in the employment of special counsel and agents of the Department of Justice, to conduct proceedings, suits and prosecu tions in the enforcement of the Sherman Anti-Trust law. The resolutions and all bills on this I subject were referred to tho Committee on Judiciary. B,G THEFI OF DRY GOODS- Two Mon are Arrested and Sent to Greens boro. (Special to News and Observer.) High Point. N. C., Dec. 1. —Early yes terday morning parties entered the stores of the High Point Clothing Company and Mr. J. H. Petty, on North Main street, and stole almost a wagon load of clothing, shoes, etc. Entrance was effected at th*’ High Point Clothing Com pany’s store by breaking the large one half inch thick plate glass in the front show window, and at Mr. J. H. Petty’s store by breaking the glass in the door. It is supposed that a large rock or crow bar was used in breaking tho glass, and that it was done at the time a train was passing in order to counteract the noise, as parties living in close proximity would undoubtedly have heard the noise. About two \yeeks ago there came two suspicious looking characters here and engaged work at one of the factories, and secured board with a Mr. De Lapp. These two parties were up all of Sat urday night, in their room, so reported by th” landlord, whose wife on going to make up the bed the next morning found a large bundle of clothing and shoes under the mattress. On asking what this meant, one of the party, who had happened to come into the room, re plied that they belonged to him and his friend: that they had bought them last night from a negro agent from Rich mond, and not to touch them. This aroused the suspicion of Mr. Do Lapp, the landlord, who was told the circum stances by his wife, and he immediately sent un the street to find if any store had been broken into and with the re quest to send officers to his house and secure the burglars, if this be the case. The men gave their names as Goode and Parker. They were arraigned before ’Squire Johnson in the Mayor’s office and sent to jail at Greensboro on the noon train yesterday. In their possession were found one half dozen overcoats, four pair shoes, six light suits of clothes and on their backs they each wore a new suit of clothes, all belonging to Mr. J. H. Petty. None of the clothing taken from the High Point Clothing Company was found, and it is not known whether confederates have these articles or if they were hidden in a different place by the two thieves. Their old clothes were brought from the boarding house to the* Mayor's office, and there Messrs. Goode and Parker were required to hand over the stolen clothes on their baqks for their, own old clothing. On the witness stand the two swore they were innocent as angels, and that they simply bought the clothes from the negro named, be cause it was a big bargain. However, they failed to give a clue to the negro's whereabouts or his name. REFUSED INCREASE OF BALARY- Reverend Mr, Vinos of Asheville Who is Greatly in Demand (Special to the News and Observer ) Greensboro, N. C., Dec. I.—Rev. W. C. Newton, the much beloved pastor of the First Baptist church here, recently re signed his charge, in consequence of a determination to take up missionary work in China. The congregation called Rev. W. M. Vines, of Asheville. Since receiving the call from Greensboro, Mr. Vines had been also invited to become the pastor of a church in Danville, Louisville and Knoxville. Mr. Vines has declined the call at Greensboro. There was a report current in Ashe ville that to retain him the Asheville church had increased Mr. Vine's salary SBOO per year. This rumor was effectually settled in a communication from tho officers of the church to the Asheville Citizen, which incidentally shows that this consecrated, godly man is much in demand. The card stajes that instead of the salary having been raised for the purpose of holding him, Mr. Vines had, before having received this recent shower of calls, refused an increase of salary, and upon the assurance re cently of an additional five hundred dol lars a year, he declared that instead of that having any influence over him, if he decided it was his duty to remain in Asheville, he should do so at his old salary, refusing to consider any increase at all. In the meantime the congrega tion here-Is doubly disappointed, and the Asheville church buoyed up with hope at being able to keep their beloved pas tor. CONCHA IS RELIEVED. And the Chances cf a Treaty With Colombia Seem Brighter, (By the Associated Press.) Washington, Dec. I.—Senor Concha has | been relieved as minister for Colombia by orders from Bogota, and it is believed that Dr. Thomas Herrau, the present secretary of the legation here, will be accredited as minister to succeed Senor Conchas in the course of a few’ (lays. Meanwhile Dr. Herran has been clothed by his government with full authority to prosecute the negotiations looking to a canal treaty with considerably enlarged cowers. Minister Concha having stood fast against several strong representations from his own government favoring a treaty, the latter decided to place the further negotiations in the hands of Dr. Herran. It is, of course, assumed from this change that tho chances of the treaty have been bettered. WRICK OF A STEAM SB. Fourteen Men Eelieved to Have Gono Down With the Charles Hebard (By the Associated Press.) Sault Ste Marie, Mich., Dec. 1. —The steamer Charles Hebard was wrecked at Point Mainse early today. She broke up and disappeared completely, and it is believed her crew of fourteen men were also lost. The schooner Alcha, with the Hebard had in tow is still missing on Lake Superior. Dewey on Active Duty. (By the Associated Ptjcss.) Washington, Dec. I.—Admiral Dewey resumed active sea duty today for the first time since his return to the United States from his ever memorable cruise in the Philippine waters. His four starred pennant was hoisted on the President’s yacht, Mayflower, at the Washington navy yard about 9 o'clock, and accompanied by the members of his staff, the Admiral sailed away to as sume direct command of the large fleet engaged in the maneuvers in the Carib bean Sea. A Mutineer in Irons. (By the Associated Press.) Newport News, Va., Dec. 1. —The Ger man steamship Briscarnia, Hamburg to New Orleans, stopped here for coal early this morning and put ashore for safe keeping H. Zatncr, a seaman, who is charged with mutiny and assault upon is first officer. When the ship sailed this evening Zatncr was put aboard in irons. He will be taken back to Ger many for trial. Two Thousand Bales Ablaze. (By the Associated Press.) Genoa, Italy, Dec. I.—A pontoon con taining 2,000 bales of cotton, which had been discharged from the Italian steamer Mongibello, from Pensacola and New Orleans, caught fire today and it is prob able that the cotton will be totally lost. Hartsville Post-Office Robbed. (By the Associated Press.) Charleston, S. C., Dec. 1. —Early yes terday morning the postoffice at Harts ville, Darlington county, was robbed cf about S2OO. Most of it government funds. The safe was broken open- No clue to the robbers has been found. Buncombe moved into her new court house today. 44 »♦ 44444444 ►444-4*4*4* t THE WEATHER TO-DAY.* 4 For Raleigh: ♦ £ FAIR. I *♦♦♦♦♦♦♦4444 +4444444*+ PRICK FIYK CE^TS. SECOND SESSION OE FIFTY-SEVENTH CONGRESS, Great Crowds Were Present at the Opening Yesterday. LITTLE BUSINESS DONE The President’s Kissage Will not b 3 Delivered to Congress Until Tc-day —Soth Houses Were in Session but a Short Time, (By the Associated Press.) Washington, D. C., Dec. I.—The second session of the 57th Congress was con vened at noon today. Long before the gavels fell in the two houses large crowds thronged about the doors of ilia visitors’ galleries seeking admission. Early in the forenoon the corridors gave evidence of an approaching session. There were the usual scents and inci dents that attend the opening of Con gress. A bright sunny dav brought out a large crowd to greet the law makers. In the lobbies of the House members were exchanging greetings, white on tho Senate side there were similar ex changes. Large numbers of Represen tatives also journeyed to the Senate Chamber to shake hands. To be seen in the corridors and lob bies on both sides were many public officials who left the departments to witness the opening. Notable among those who gathered at the Capitol this morning were some of the meinber3-ele<t who will take seats next December or earlier, should an extra session be called. Former Speaker Thomas B. Reed was among the visitors at the Capitol. Prior to the hour for convening he visited among the members of the House, where he once served so many years, then among the members of the Senate. He f was greeted on both sides by fr ; cpte" and former associates. A Twelve Minute’s Session. (By the Associated Press.) Washington, D. C., Dec. 1. —The Senate was in session twelve minutes today, the first day of the session, an ad journment until tomorrow being taken out of respect to the memory of the late Senator James McMillan, who died during the recess. Rarely has ihe historic Chamber presented such an appearance as it did today. The custom of placing flowers on the resks of the Senators of the opening day of a session is one which long has been followed, but the dis play today was admittedly the most magnificent of any that heretofore have been seen. Many of the Senators were early on the floor and were kept busy ex changing greetings with old acquaint ances. The galleries were packed to suffoca tion and hundreds stood outside the cor ridors anxious to gain admission. Among the interested spectators were several members of the diplomatic corps. Senor Quesada, the Cuban minister, occupied a conspicuous place and exhibited much in terest in the proceedings. The absence of Rev. Dr. Milburn, the blind chaplain, was particularly noticed. His place to day was taken by Rev. J. F. Prettyman, of Washington, D. C. No business was transacted, beyond passing the custom ary resolutions that the Senate was ready to proceed to business and fixing the hour cf convening the session at 12 o’clock. President pro tem Frye appointed Mr. Platt (Ccnn.) and Mr. Jones (Ark.), as the committee to wait upon the Presi dent and the Senate adjourned until to morrow. In the Lower House. (By the Associated Press.) Washington, D. C., Dec. I.—The 52nd Congress in the House was as usual a spectacular event. The galleries of the freshly decorated hall were packed to the doors with people prominent in society and politics and the flower show on the floor, although not as elaborate as usual, filled the chamber with perfume and added grace and beauty to the scene. The members were good-natured and jovial and there was no outcropping of partisan feeling to mar the re-assembling. Speak er Henderson received a cordial reception as he assumed the gavel, but beyond this there was no demonstrations. The proceedings were purely perfunctory. A prayer, the calling of the roll, the swear ing in of members elected to fill vacan cies created by death or resignation dur ing the recess, the adoption of the cus tomary resolutions to appoint a commit tee to wait upon the President, to inform the Senate that the House was ready to transact business and to fix the daily hour of meeting, summarizes what was dene. Then the death of the late Rep resentative Charles A. Russell, of Con necticut, which occurred In the early fall, was announced by his successor, Mr. Brandge, the usual resolution of regret was adopted and the House, as a further mark of respect adjourned until tomorrow when the President's message will be received. The session lasted less than an hour. The leaders on both sides were sur rounded and greeted while they found their way to the desks, hut there were no I (Continued on Page Five.)