The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-11-07
THE TIME TO HOLD PRIMARIES

The Messenger confesSeg to very
great interest in the adoption of the
suffrage amendment. 1t sincerely be-
lieves it to be the question Of all others
at this time concerning the people OF
North Carolina. Upon the adoption de-
ponds a very great deal OF great I'M
p%ortance to the whole people Of
the state. Surely good govern
ment and all it means are in
volved-law, order, peace, contentment,
economy, justice, prosperity. Hence,
The Messenger would favor no scheme
that would project into the campaign
another issue to divide the democracy
and invite discord. 1t has at heart too
much the welfare, honor and glory of
the noble ole commonwealth to advO-
cate any plan that might vex, excite
personal a~ntagonisms and disintegrate
in the least degree the White Mans
party.
The Messenger has corrected the err
ror into which it fell as to HI offices
would be filled in November. A dis
tinguished gentleman called our atten-
ton to the error last week. We Lad at
the time of writing forgotten the action
of the legislature of this year in
changing the time for electing gov
ernor lieutenant governor n state
officers from November to August, the
old time so long observed by the people
VI Tie Sldlc. Liz pISSluSlllIdI t1IClOiS
and members of the federal house will
be voted for. 1t is a misnomer to write
member of the congress, whether of the
usage, because both houses constitute
the congress. 1t is not exact to say
Congressman" meaning the represen-
tative. A congressman properly is a
member of the congress, whether the
senate or house. The right title for the
latter is representative-for he theoret-
cal1y rpDrpSQntS the pp0nlp.
There are intelligent gentlemen who
thought there would be a plan started
to hold q separate primary, and in hat
case there would be three elections.
But since writing the editorial on
corning the elections to be held. We
have seen in several state contem-
poraries that the idea was simply to
hald 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 selec-
tions here as III the a of judges and
legislators and governor.
The Messenger urges no objection to
voting for senator in the November
election. 1t does oppose any canvass
by any n for senator until after the
August election. Then let thu noble
| army of patriots offer themselves upon
the altar of sacrifice in behalf of the
| people. It will not do to mix a SEN
atorial contest that may become embit-
tered with the election of members of
the legislature. 1t will not do to bring
in a secondary question entirely to de-
eide between several self-constituted
candidates-to Interfere with the
great fight for a White an's govern
ment and the salvation of the state
The great dominating question, above
and beyond all other questions, is to
pass the suffrage amendment to the
constitution.
Let it be understood that no candi-
date viii be supported anywhere whc
inJects his claims Cf he has any)
into the mighty canvass for good gov.
eminent and the rule of the white mar
and the preservation OF Anglo-Saxor
civilization.
Let a primary election for senator bt
held at the time Of the .nationar, cleo.
ton in November. That viii eliminate
all chickering's and rivalries and con.
tentions and trades This viii shut on,
| all possible occasion Tor ENHANCEMENT,