The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-11-08
DODGER PRITCHARD
His Vain Efforts to Parry the Questions OF
Chairman Simmons.
Mr.. Simmons Asks for a Plain Answer Il His Very Pointed Questions a
to Negro Rule in this State-.Prtchard Tries t. Evade the Issue
by Putting Other Questionable is Afraid to
Face the Issue.
Face tbs Issue.
Especial to The Messenger

Especial 10 The Messenger)
RaHgh, \. C., November 4-Toda y Democratic State Chairman Sim
mon wrote the following open letter to Senator Prichard:
| have been shown a open letter from you addressed to me, dated
November End. purporung % nsw a open letter writer by me o you
October 25th. propoundlng questions as to the extent of negro rule and negro
ohce-seeking and holding in North Carolina.
1 asked you in my letter to answer admitting or denying. thirtyfour
eVr oo answer a solitary one OF these questions either separately or collect
lively, thereby practically admitting the truth of every Of the assertions
contained in these questions.
You refuse to answer specifically or directly any of my questions with
reference t o negro domination and ohce-holding in eastern North Carolina,
because o could moi answer them truthfuny without convhting par
ty of the crime of negroizng the east.
Sending m e a list of the campaign fakehoods which make up the 20
called "Populht Handbook of Facts" and asking me: DO you deny" this
and that falsehood invented by mendacious local politicians is not IN n
one knows tisb better than yourself. OF cannot dodge the issue that way
contendere."
You ought to know, and you do know, if you have read the newspapers
that every n oft these statementst that democrats have elevated negroes o
office ove white men,, which you copy in your letter, has been investgat-
ed and shown o be false by the afdavits of the best mn in North Carolina
in many instances by the testimony of honest popuiss and white republi-
cans So complete and convincing has been the testimony to ths. effect that
fusion orators have BEEN forced to abandon the stale calumnies which you
seek to resurrect by your questions.
To and all Of your questions that seek to show that the democratic
party is a negro party, the sufficient answer is, that if it is the negro party
why is it that every one of the $4,000 negro voters N the state cast their
ballots against the democratic party? Why do you tell the negroes that
it is both their interest N their duty % vote the republican ticket Why
is it that negro leaders threaten to lynch any negro who dares to voet the
democratic ticket, and why is it that negro women pass resolutions Of os-
tracism against negroes who vote the democratic ticket?
While this is a sufficient and complete answer to your inquiries, will
be glad and willing to answer seriatim vel my W signature, any ques-
lions that may be propounded by you, Oh the very day that you answe the
questions in my letter of October 26h.
I fully appreciate the awkward dilemma you are placed in by my quesA
lions, and you doubt say if you answered yes" to them, it would be
a confession Of the democratic bill of indictment against you and your
party. If you answered them mo" that at least 100000 votersli living in the
section of the tate where the facts of negotiation have transpired before
heir verv ewes would know DIR stanmen 10 he untrue and if Won did mot
answer a all, it would be as bad asan pen confession
Confronted by this dilemma, you seek to elude the tissue by ignoring my
questions altogether and ask m e others; let the people have a direct answer
from you to my questions.
Respectfully,
F NJ. SIMMONS.