The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1894-03-08
THE SIMMONS CASE.
Senators Jones and Harris Out
spoken for Him---He Will be
Confined Unless Other Charges
are Filed---Some Facts Con-
corning Editor Hale.
ISalisbury Herald. |

the Statesville Landmark furnishes
some very interesting facts in regard
to the fight against MIR. Simmons, in
which he also gives some information
concerning Editor Hale, of the Fay
etteville Observer, and the position
held by him under the former admin
istration of President Cleveland. What
he writes is given below
Mr.. Simmons was here last week
several days and put in some good
work for himself. His confirmation
l know to he inevitable unless other
charges than those trumped up by Re-
publicans and Populists are brought
fOrword and substantiated. Senator
Jones, of Arkansas, told me that he
had carefully examined these alleged"
charges and had made a report favor
able to Simmons. Senator Vance's
warmest friends, told me he had also
examined these charges" and that
he cordially approved of Simmons for
collector. When Senator Vance comes
back here think he will withdraw his
opposition TO Mr.. Simmons. l have
always believed that he would do this.
He is not the man to risk the welfare
Of the party in the State he has served
so long and with such distinguished
ability.
Mr.. Hale would have been our min'
ister to Turkey if Prof. Alexander had
not gotten ahead of him and secured
the appointment as minister to Greece.
There was never ghost Of a chance
for Mr.. Hale to have been made consul
general to London. l do not blame
him for striking high for it, and |
admire and endorse Senator Vance's
zeal in Mr.. Hale's behalf, but the
. first gentleman" in the State could
not have secured the consul general
ship to London. have reason to be-
lieve that this place was intended for
the Hon. Patrick Collins. a distin-
guished Irish-American whose services
to the Democratic party are we'll
known. The position is the most
lucrative one within the gift of the
Executive. During the last fiscal year
it paid about sl7, ,446 more than the
President himself got. The salary is
$4,000. The fees last year were s62,-
446. Mr.. Patrick Collins is in until
the adminisl lration changes or he ceases
to behave himself. He was promptly
confirmed and Senatorial courtesey
can II OF touch him. 1t look. to me, in
the light of the above facts, that the
people ana press of North Carolina
N5rthHf UnaGrStidsse Stidssefala fladp pRRo RRo eXfE ,Slt myth;
to absorb this s67, ,446 place, not if
Senator Ransom and Senator Vance
had both asked it for Mr.. E. j. Hale.
Mr.. Hale was consul to Manchester,
England, four years. The salary is
$4,000 year. Last year the fees were
$50, 553, and last year was bad one.
Average Mr.. Hale's salary during his
incumbency at $4,000 low esti-
mate-and multiply it by 4. We have
$4,000. This is pretty good pay as
things go in North Carolina. There
are other editors in North Carolina
and there are other papers there whose
deserts can at least approximate those
Of the worthy gentlemen whom the
Democratic party thus rewarded. II
looks to me as if the war against the
chairman of the party, F. NJ. Simmons,
who has been appointed to a $4,000
place is unjust when it emanates from
brother Democrat who has already
received nearly if not quite 100000
from Grover Cleveland's former ad-
istration. If Mr.. Hale had been ap-
pointed consul general to London and
the fees of the Office had kept up to
their lowest average he would have
received by the end of his term some.
thing in the neighborhood of s269, 784.
If Mr.. Simmons is confirmed he will
receive for three years and the few
weeks of his incumbency not quite
$40, 900, less than Mr.. Hale received
in one year as consul to Manchester
According to these figures, the Demo.
cratic party can not be accused oi
making fetish of Mr.. Simmons and
sighting the claims of Mr.. Hale.
have nothing to do with the merits o.
the gentlemen involved. These figures
simply show the fimsy basis on which
this State quarrel rests. 1t is un-
worthy the Democracy of the State, and
is unlike anything in her history. II
gives her worst enemies weapons will
which to strike her in her most vita
part. | do not blame Mr.. Hale fo
wanting s2G9,784, but North Caroline
ought not to suffer because he did moi
get it. And Chairman Simmons earned
his cOllectorship if ever Democra
earned place by doing party service
Moreover. if he was fit to be Congress
man and chairman, he is fit to be col
lector. He ought to be confirmed AM
that speedily.