The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1888-02-17
WHO TO SEND CONGR ESS.
The Time has Passed for Fourth of July,
Blood and Thunder, Bonn hastic Orators.


Especial Cor. STATE CHRONICLE.l
It is natural for a man 70 urge through
the newspapers the fitness of his friends
for office. 1t is a graceful way Of paying
a compliment. But there is duty TO our
State, and before mans name is urged
seriously we should be sure that he is such
q one as Will be able to serve his consti-
tuents with credit and success 1t is but
short time before the gentlemen are to
be named who will represent US at Wash
iugton and those who have North Carolina
most at heart are anxious that they shall
be men of such brains and experience that
the State may once more take high stand
in the councils of the Nation.
There are certain requisites which a
Congressman must possess to be success
full There is not newsboy on the streets
of Washington who'iS not aware of these
conditions, and not one man in a thousand
in North Carolina who ever considered
them. Not only should our representa-
tives be familiar with public questions and
our particular needs, but he should be a
man of such capacity, tact and acqualnt-
ance with men as to meet on equal ground
the gentlemen who Will be his associates,
as well as to win to him the voting fools
which other voting fools have sent 10 rep
resent them. a man. in short, with
ming friends, to execute.
There is a ludicious idea prevalent III
North Carolina that the only requisite for
Congressman is bombastic, Fourth of
July-blood and thunder -kick-out-the
revenue Officers sort of pseudo-oratory.
John Smith jumps on a stump, catches the
old Eagle by the legs, swings it about his
head till its wings flop loose, its eyes drop
out and the screaming machinery is all
puked up Then he is lifted up by this
fellow citizen his collar button in his shoe
his coat busted down the back, and all
sweating and covered with feathers is
nominated for Congress This is patent
fact and is the direst commentary upon
the taste and brains of North Carolina
Such men are supernumeraries in Con
greSs. and can no more influence legisla-
ton than a breakman can effect the value
of ''stocks" on the road that employs him
The work in Congress is done in the
committee rooms. 1t is the result of in
fuence that comes from experience, tact,
brains, aud what we want is men possess
ing these qualities.
do not say that all our present repre-
sentatives are without brains. They are
without experience due to the insane Gus
tom in North Carolina of letting first one
then another play some"
But in the 5th District we do not desire
to confer larger experience upon the pres
ent representative. We want to choose
that man who possesses these qualities
eminently and that man is A. II. a. Viii
liams A man who has shown his brains
by carrying to success large business en-
! terprise, an experienced politician in the
best sense of the word, and legislator
who has more than once sacrificed his
personal preferment for the benefit of his
constituents. A man who knows men and
the wires that move them to action, who
can conceive plans and execute them and
whose ability to win friends IS attested
| throughout the State. In the tobacco dis
trict, he is thoroughly identified with the
| tobacco interests. A manufacturer, far
mer, a warehouseman, buyer; of all men
| he has the interests of tobacco men closest
at heart and no man is more familiar with
the details and the legislative need of this
business, nor does any man IN the district
possess to larger degree those qualities
which will enable him to give effect to the
wishes of the people.
| Let the 5th District send A. II. A. Will
liams to Congress and there will be tobacco
| legislation in accordance with our wishes.
| I have been asked hundred times in
| Washington if there were no great men IL
North Carolina. Let the district keep A.
ii. A. Williams in Congress a few years
and this question will be silenced.