The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-10-22

complexion of the Senate, and open the
way to the ruinous financial and tariff
policies of the Republican party This
question cannot be kept out of the APP
preaching campaign even if the candi-
dates for the Senate and the party man
ayers should be united in their efforts
to do So The people will. and, in my
opinion ought to, have something to say
about it. If this be true then it is
the part of wisdom to 60 direct to the
people with this question, and let them
settle it. To this end I suggest that
when your committee meets it pro
vide the machinery for holding a pri-
mary election in such manner that the
Democratic voters may determine for
themselves, who shall be the Demo
cratic candidate for the United States
Senate This election can be held at
the time the Democrats meet in their
township or precinct meetings to elect
delegates to the county conventions in
July or at. such other times as your
committee may select. The returns can
be made to the State convention, and
the result declared. | merely suggest
this time and method Amy other which
gives the Democratic voters ample OPP
portunity to express their preferences
will be entirely satisfactory with me.
If the committee shall say it has NOT
the authority, even with the request of
the candidates, to take this action, then
| beg to suggest that the committee
prepare a plan for such election and
submit it to the State convention when
it meets.
Il am aware of the fact that there
has been n suggestion that such Il
course as | propose will tend to disor-
ganize the party. | do not take any
stock in that objection. / do not be-
lieve there is anything in it. 1t does
not seem to me that a party can be dis
organized by letting the voters them
selves say who shall be the candidates
of the party. On the contrary, be-
lieve that such course on our part will
tend to unite the party and restore con-
fdence on the part of the people in our
methods and our efforts to ascertain
and execute their will. There is a feel
ing among the people lin which feeling
| must confess a sympathy that the
election of United States Senator too far
removed from them. / would be glad
to see our State convention insert in
It's pldlIOIH pIoNISloH hHeCtiuS OHE
Senators and Representatives to sup
port an amendment to the Constitu-
tion of the United States providing for
the election of Senators by a direct vote
of the people. | believe that such a
proposition in our platform, coupled
with the primary election, showing our
sincerity in the matter, will give us as
party great strength before the peo-
pie, and enable MS to present a united,
aggressive front to the enemy.
For myself | wish to be on record
as in favor of taking the sense of the
Democratic voters as to who shall be
the candidates of the party for the Uni
ted States Senate. If the party man
ayers agree with ME, as | hope they
will. there can be no difficulty in pro-
viding the machinery for this purpose.
That is an easy matter. This office
as well as all Others, belongs to the peo-
pie. We, therefore, cannot make a mis-
take in requesting the Democratic vot-
ers to assemble at their respective vot-
ing places and name the candidates Of
their party for this as well as other
Offices L will be my pleasure to abide
and support the will of the voters thus
obtained, no matter whether / be chosen
or not, and no matter from what sec
ton the chosen candidates may be
selected; and | take it all other candi-
dates are ready to do the same"
Very truly yours,
(Signed) THOS. j. JARVIS.