The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-11-19
THE TIME TO HOLD PRIMARIES
Wilmington Messenger.

The Messenger cOnfesSeS to very great
interest in the adoption of the suffrage
amendment II sincerely believes it TO
he the question of all others at TINS
| time concerning the people OF Norul
| Carolina. Upon the adoption depends
| very great deal of great Importance to
+he whole people of the State. Surely
rood government and all it means are
involved-law, order, peace, content
ment. economy, justice, prosperity.
Hence. the Messenger would favor nv
scheme that would project into the cam
paign another issue to divide the De-
mocracy and invite discord. 1t has at
heart too much the welfare, honor ana
glory of the noble old commonwealth TO
advocate any plan that might yeX, eX-
cite personal antagonism and disintegrate
in the least degree the White Mans
MARTY II
There are intelligent gentlemen who
thought there would be a plan started
TO hold a separate primary, and in that
case there would be three elections. BUT
since writing the editorial concerning
tbe elections to be held, we have seen
in several State contemporaries that the
idea was simply to hold the primary for
Senator at the time of the Presidential
election. The people should be allowed
TO choose their candidates for Senators
as the Messenger has been urging at
times for six or eight years. They are
every way as capable of making as good
selections here as in the case OF judges
and legislators and governor.
The Messenger urges no objection 10
voting for Senator in the November
election. 1t does oppose any canvass by
anv one for Senator until after the
August election. Then let the noble army
of patriots offer themselves upon the
altar of sacrifice in behalf of the peo-
ple. 1t will not do to mix Senatorial
contest that may become emblttered
with the election of members of the leg
islature. 1t will not do to bring Ill
secondary question entirely to decide be-
tween several self-constituted candidates
to interfere with the great fight for
| White Mans government and the sal
walton of the State. The great domi-
mating question, above and beyond all
other questions, is to pass the suffrage
amendment to the constitution.
Let il be understood that no candidate
ENill be supported anywhere who inJects
Ehis claims" Gf he has any into the
mighty canvass for good government and
the rule of the white man and preserya-
{ ron of Anglo-Saxon civilization.
3 Let primary election for Senator
hhe held at the time of the national
election in November That will elimi-
nate all chickering's and rivalries and
lcontcntions and trades. This will shut
out all possible occasion for entangle-
ments and opposition among the re-
spective friends of the candidates fog
the Senate. 1t will not interfere with
the candidates for the Legislature III any
wav unless very unwisey forced by in
Ildscreet friends of the various aspirants.
+ A discreet. wise friend who is calm
observer of passing events as well as
close student of political issues, in a
private letter to us offers a view that
it may be proper to refer to and even to
copy his own words. He writes for our
eyes:
at the November election only the
electors and members of Congress arc
to be voted for, and it is doubtful if
we can get out full vote The great
interest will center in the August cleo
tion when the State and county officers
are to he chosen. 1t will be hard to
bring all of our voters to the polls again
in November and we may lose some
members of Congress on that account.
Besides there will be men who will vote
with us in August who being gold men,
will vote against us in November, SO
that we may need every vote we can
get in November to save our candi-
dates for electors as well as for the
House of Representatives / believe
primary held in November for Senator
would help get out a full vote"
AS has been suggested by Others the
right thing to do under the eXtraordi-
nary circumstances is for the next State
convention, that should be held not
later than middle of May, 1900, to in
struct the State Democratic committee
TO be chosen by it, to cause primary
election for Senator to be held at the
November election Of that year. Our
astute friend tells us this, and we see
no objection to it:
Let a box be opened at every pre-
cinct in the State and after the voter
has voted for the Democratic candidates
for electors and for Congress he may
then vote for Senator if he chooses to
do so. The man who gets the majority
of votes for Senator shall be elected by
the Legislature. Then when the Legis-
lature meets there will be no log roll
ing, hauling and pulling but the mem
bers can go about their work"
That looks sensible and fair without
doubt. Let it be so done, and it will
suffice. Mark, only electors will be
permitted to vote for Senator who have
first voted for the Democratic candi-
dates for the Federal House of Repre-
sentatiyes and for the Democratic cleo
tors for President and Vice-President.
But, mark, any one who may choose
can vote for Democratic representatives
and electors for President, and not vote
if it so pleases him for Senator. There
is no compulsion here. He need not
90 the whole ticket i'll other words
THE KENTUCKY SITUATION.
]. J. Spalding in Atlanta Constitution.
II was in Union county. my old home,
the day of the election. never saw
more peaceful or quiet election or one
hearing more certainly all the marks of
fairness. That is good Democratic
county and gave plurality of over
fourteen hundred for Goebel The polls
closed there, as throughout the State, at