THE STATE
May 9, 1936
GOVERNORS OF NORTH CAROLINA
- No. 64— DANIEL L. RUSSELL -
- By Mrs. Max Abernethy — -
Governor Russell's administration
often lias been characterized as one
of tlie worst which this state ever
has experienced. Many turbulent
scenes occurred while lie was in
office.
Fusion of th<- Rcpui>-
lien» nml Populist
parties in ISO*; result¬
ed in the election of l)anii,l
L. Russell a* governor of
North Carolina. Russell
had been regularly nomi¬
nated by the Republican convention
after n hitler contest by three-sevenths
of one vote over Oliver II. Dockery
and dailies K. Boyd, his nomination
finally being secured by the seating of
twenty-two contesting delegates from
five enmities which were dearly for
Dockery.
By the election of 189(1 a sweeping
change wn« made in the State govern¬
ment and for the first time in twenty
years a governor who was not a mem¬
ber of the Democratic party was chos¬
en. and his ticket was elected with him.
William Jennings Bryan carried the
State by 19,000, Russell winning with
a plurality of more than 8,000 votes.
The turn-over swept the Democrats out
of office wth the exception of William
W. Kitchin who alone was elected to
Congress in the fifth district along
with live Populists and three Repub¬
licans.
Native of Brunswick County
Daniel I.. Russell was horn in Bruns¬
wick County August 7. 1815. the son
of Daniel L. Russell and Caroline
Sanders Russell. He was educated nt
Bingham’- school and attended the
University of North Carolina for two
years. Elected to the General Assem¬
bly from Brunswick County in 1S64
and again in 18C5. Russell served
both terms before lie was of age. In
1868, when ho was only 2ft years old,
lie was elected a Superior Court judge,
holding that office until 1874. He was
a member of Congress in 1S76. At
the time of his election Governor Rus¬
sell was practicing law nt Wilmington.
With the triumph of the Republican
party, there were many changes in the
officer# of the State. The Supremo
Court was almost entirely changed and
many of the Superior Court judges
gave place to new officers. The Gen¬
eral Assembly, composed of 01 Pop¬
ulists, 72 Republicans. 3ft Democrats
and one Silver member, arranged for
tile successful party to take charge of
the State institutions, and most of
them passed under the control of
Itoards named by Governor Russell.
In opening his inaugural address
Governor Russell used the exact words
of Governor Vance in 1877. “There is
retribution in history." Unlike Vance'*
address, however, Governor Russell's
#|H*ech was filled with bitterness. His
first recommendation was that drunk¬
en judges l>e removed from office, this
being directed at one of the Democratic
judges who at times became intoxicat¬
ed. lie commended the election law,
demanded the suppression of mob rule,
advised retrenchment in expenditures,
and urged the invalidation of the lease
of the North Carolina Railroad. The
Solid South had been broken with bis
election and ho congratulated his party
upon having accomplished this feat.
Russell made the absurd suggestion
that the United States should seize
ami occupy all the remaining regions
of the earth which were open for ex¬
ploration. Why he considered this n
matter to include in the inaugural ad¬
dress of a governor was not apparent.
Russell, in his campaign for the
governorship, made a plausible plea
for the Negro vote despite the fact
that he had characterized them as sav¬
ages who “stole all the week and
prayed it off at church on Sunday/'
and who were “no more fit to govern
or have a share in governing than
their brethren in the swamps of
Africa.” He solicited their votes,
promising them a full share of the
spoils after his election. His favorite
bait was that be had been suckled at
the breast of a Negro woman and that
he stood for the Negroes. The Negro
leaders, however, were not fooled by
his campaign statements and they did
not trust him.
As the campaign progressed a con¬
vention of Negro Republi¬
cans met in Raleigh in
July, 189*> at which 65
counties were represented,
passing a resolution calling
upon every Negro “in
whose heart there was still
a spark of self-respect and manhood
to exert himself to the utmost to de¬
fend the honesty and integrity of their
race by doing all in their power to de¬
feat Russell’s election." They urged
support of the National Republican
ticket and endorsed W. A. Guthrie,
the Populist nominee, for governor.
The Populists urged the Democrats,
who considered Russell a menace, to
vote for their nominee. The claim was
made that the Republicans had prom¬
ised that Russell would lie withdrawn,
but had refused. Efforts were then
made to bring Guthrie down but he
also refused, this giving the Populist
leaders the opportunity they welcomed
to cut loose from him. since H. V.
Ayer, the Populist nominee for State
auditor, and others had found that
Guthrie could not lie controlled where
principle was involved.
A Bad Administration
Russell's administration during the
first two years with the fusion Legis¬
lature in session was doubtless the
worst the State has ever experienced.
Negroes were in office all over the
State, the Legislature was thoroughly
incompetent, many of its acts were de¬
clared unconstitutional and but for
the fact that the Democrats and
enough 1ml ting Populists united great¬
er harm would have been done. At
times there was disorder in both houses
of the legislature, policemen being
stationed in the lobbies at one time to
prevent violence. Governor Russell
was considering keeping the Legisla¬
ture in extra session which brought
this comment from the Progressive
Farmer, indicating the distaste the
people had for it :
“There is talk of an extra session
of the legislature. Please don't. Gov¬
ernor Russell. We can endure famine,
(Continued on page twenty-six)
