The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1894-02-08
NOTHINGN THEM.
THE CHARGES AGAINST SIM
MONS.
Ransom Says They Amount to
Nothing---Further Comments
on the. Subject.

The Raleigh correspondent Of the
Charlotte Observer says this regarding
the charges made against Collector
Simmons, and why his nomination
has not been confirmed by the Senate:
Collector Simmons was told to-day
that the statement was made that Sena-
tor Vance had filed charges against him
with the subcommittee at Washington
three weeks ago, and was asked what he
had to say about it. In reply, he said:
Il do not believe it, because Vance has
repeatedly said he had no charges to
make and would make none, and one OF
the statements was made within three
| weeks to distinguished North Carroll
nian; and also because | have made in
quiry of Senator Ransom to ascertain if
any charges had been preferred and have
his reply, dated January 23rd, in which
he says: There is positively nothing
here touching your honor. Some charges
have been presented to the finance com-
mittee to try and excite Republican pre-
judice against you. They consist OF an
| affidavit made by John b. Hussey that
he as a newspaper man was present when
you, Auditor Furman and Judge Avery
| fixed up secret circular. Also an atfi-
davit each from one Wray and one Nal
| 10y, Republicans of Rockingham county,
| that in consequence of that circular Re
publicans were denied registration and
| voting in that county, and also II letter
| of Charles A. Cook, of Warren county,
stating that Republicans at some pre-
cincts in that county were wrongfully de-
| prived of the right to register and vote.
| This is the whole case There is literally
nothing in the charges-nothing what
ever
The secret circular to which Ransom
refers is letter sent by Simmons before
the election to all county chairmen in
the State advising them of the construc-
| tion placed by the State Supreme Court
on the new registration laws and in
structing them to see that Democrats
were registered according to the require
ments of that decision. Hussey, referred
to, is the Washington correspondent OF
Marion Buffers paper, the Caucasian,
under the nom de plume of Jonathan Ed
wards.' Wray and Malloy are Settle
| Republicans, were his managers in the
last campaign, and are said to have ma
| nipulated the Rockingham trade against
eX-Congressman Williams. Cook was
Harrison's district attorney If there are
other charges they have eluded Simmons
efforts to find them. He declares that
persons who assert that they exist ought
to give them to the public, and that if
Vance made the above charges that fact
ought to be made known to the Demo
Gratis of North Carolina, and that fur
thcr, il he has made other charges it is
due Simmons and the mOcratic party
that they should be specifically informed
of them.
The editor OF the Shelby Reuiew [who
had made some comments touching this
correspondence ought to know that the
news which is sent regarding this matter
is not what your correspondent says or
| thinks, but what he hears. If any person
in North Carolina thinks that there is
not deep feeling and a great stir in the
party on account of this Nance-SimmOns
matter he is vastly mistaken. II a man
is fit to be the chairman of a great party
and to aid in winning success for it, it is
calculated to shake the foundations of
party fealty to see such a man attacked
with as much bitterness as if he were a
Populist or Republican. Truly it is a
new feature in North Carolina politics.
1t is not personal to Mr.. Simmons, for
he is only an individual, but it is general
as to the past, the present and future OF
! the party. And this is no year for DEM
Ocrats to quarrel.