The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-10-17
A PRIMARY OUGHT TO SETTLE 1T

There are four popular and able North
Carolinians whose friends have urged
them to become candidates for the
United States Senate to succeed Senator
Butler, Hon. Thos. j. Jarvis, who sue
ceeded the lamented Vance and served
for nearly year with ability and ac-
ceptability; Hon. Alfred Moore Waddell,
who made a national reputation as
member of the House of Representatives;
Hon. Julian S. Carr, who has for many
years been a trusted leader in the party
but has never held public position; and
Hon. f. NJ. Simmons, who as member of
the House of Representatives and State
Chairman has been a trusted leader of
the party. We publish to-day an extract
from letter written by Mr. Simmons
to the Asheyille Citizen, which defines
his position. While indicating that he
would feel honored at being chosen, he
wisely takes the position that the passage
of the Constitutional Amendment is so
important that until that question is
settled there should be no dividing or dis
tracing scramble over this office" This
sentiment will be universally applauded
by all Democrats who APPRECIATE the
gravity of the issue to be submitted to
the people i'll August next.
Recently willie in Richmond represent
ing the North Carolina Confederate As
ISOLATION at the funeral of Gen. Harry
Heth Hon. Julian S. Carr, of Durham,
in answer to a question by a reporter,
stated that he would be a candidate for
the United States Senate to succeed
Senator Butler. This was widely print
ed and it was stated in several papers
that Col Carr had made 4 formal an
nouncement OF his candidacy. He had
no intention of making any formal an
nouncement of candidacy or entering in
any contest at this time, as was stated in
these columns On last Tuesday in these
words:
I'm a note to the editor of the News
and Observer, Col. Carr says the para
mount question to all lovers of North
Carolina, just now, is not who is to be
the next United States Senator but one
that in every way, comes very much
closer to the good people of the State, to-
wit: The adoption of our proposed
Constitutional Amendment. Col. Carr
writes that he is fully persuaded that
a much more formidable opposition to
the adoption of the Amendment is being
developed than the Democratic party is
disposed to believe, and feels that every
true and loyal Democrat should lend all
his energies TO the success of the Amend
ment. That he for one at least does not
now nor in the future propose to join in
a scramble for office. He never has,
and he never will"
Mr.. Simmons in the same position. Both
of them would feel honored to be chosen
to the Senate, but they both patriotical-
~ subordinate their personal ambition to
the good of the State and the party in
which they are leaders. Ex-senator
Jarvis and Col WaddeH have neither
written a letter for the papers nor made
any statement in an interview. Their
past record is sufficient guarantee that
they will be in the tbickest of the con
fiict and will entertain no ambition that
would jeopardize party success.
We congratulate the party upon the
spirit shown by these four party leaders.
1t is the spirit that ought to pervade
the party from the humblest to the
ablest follower of Jefferson. But, pa
triotic as these gentlemen are, there viii
certainly be a scramble" with attendant
injury in many counties unless a method
is devised to submit the selection of a
Senator TO primary to be held after the
August election. Ii no provision is made,
the friends of the different candidates
in the several counties will seek to have
their particular supporter nominated for
the Legislature. That is where the
scramble will come in, and that will
precipitate the Senatorial fight before the
August election.
There is but one sure way to avoid a
contest that will divide the party before
the Amendment is ratified, and that is
to provide for primary after the Au-
gust election. 1t has been suggested
that it should be held in November on
the same day of the Presidential election
BY having a primary, every voter VIII
have chance to vote for his favorlte
and the 1898 platform declaration in IA
yor Of the election of Senators by the
people will be virtually carried out
This is the only sure way to avoid a
Scramble before the August election