The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-09-15
And Makes Reply to Charges
of Bad Faith.
EXPLAINS HIS POSITION
he Writes aStrong and Manly Letter
to Chairman Young.
NOMINATION WAS WITHOUT HIS CONSENT
Opposed to the Negro in Office, Whether Eiec-
ted by His Republican Allies in the
State or Appointed by Re-
publican President"
publican President.


publican President.
Hon. Edward w. Pou, who has been
quite seriously i'll for several days,
has so far recovered as to be able
to sit up,and yesterday he dictated
and sent to Hon. James Young, of this
city, his letter of accentance.
On last Tuesday Mr.. Young formal
ly notified Mr.. Pou of the action of
the convention in the following letter:
Raleigh, N. c., Sept. II, 1900.
Hon Edward w. Pou, Smithfeld, N. c.:
Dear Sir: As presiding officer, I have
the honor of informing you of your nom
ination as the candidate of the Democrat
ic party in this district for a seat in the
57th Congress. You are selected as the
unanimous choice of the convention which
assembled IN this city on the 9Th inst
This was a great honor, but one which
the Democrats of the Metropolitan dis
trict believe was worthily bestowed upon
a faithful Democrat. who has not only
earned it by past services to his party
but who will lead the party to victory and
ably and faithfully serve them and the
whole people in the halls of Congress
/ am with best wishes for your success,
Very truly yours,
JAMES R. YOUNG,
Chairman.
Mr.. Pou's reply to this is a frank.
manly letter in which he defends him
self against the charge of bad faith in
securing the nomination, and states
boldly and frankly his position on the
issues of the present campaign. He
writes:
Smithfe1d. N. c.. Sept IA, 1900.
Hon. j. R. Young, Chairman, Raleigh,
IN. c.:
Dear Sir: beg to acknowledge the re-
ceipt of your favor of the 18th inst in
forming me of my nomination for Con-
gress by the Democratic convention over
which you presided, and which assembled
in the city of Raleigh on the 9Th day of
September.
/ accept the nomination. mindful OF the
grave responsibility which it imposes, and
with deep sense Of gratitude to the gem
tlemen who constituted that great con-
vention.
Inasmuch as I have heard that in the
bad faith was made against me or my
friends / shall ask your permission to
state frankly my position prior to the &C
ton of the convention. / have nothing to
conceal. I do not give my adherence to
that policy which obtains somewhat among
public men which would prefer to treat
with silence a suggestion of this charac-
ter.
The treatment I have always received
at the hands of the people Of the FOurtn
Judicial and the Fourth Congressional
districts makes it my duty to deal with
them candidly and to conceal nothing, be-
cause or three occasions, by acclamation
they have conferred upon me nominations
for high and honorable position
WITHDRAWAL FROM THE RACE.
On the 18th day of August l gave out an
interview withdrawing from the Congress
sional race and assigning my reasons for
so doing At the same time | wrote to
friends oil over the district that l was
out of the race and thanking them for
their support during the short time was
a candidate for the nomination. AT the
time | wrote the interview above referred
to | had information from every county
in the district which led me to believe
that my nomination was a foregone con-
clusion, but felt it my duty to withdraw
from the contest in order that the politl-
cal condition in this district, SO far as my
candidacy was concerned, might not be
complicated.
| thought then, and think now that my
withdrawal injured the chances of no as
pirant except myself, for my action in this
respect would have been silly politics in
deed if | had intended thereafter to enter
the race.
From the time I wrote that interview
until the day of the convention / never
believa6lhlfor one moment that my name
would Be presented to the convention, or
that it would be seriously considered as
a possibility 1t is true that one or two
of nv friends wrote me that they intend
ed to disregard my withdrawal card, but
I thought this was merely a pleasant way
they had of expressing their regret at the
action had taken I never authorized any
human being to present my name to the
convention. Not a single delegate will
say that I solicited his support after my
withdrawal card was published.
INSTRUCTIONS DIsREGARDED.
When the delegates left here there was
no understanding, so far as | know,
that my name was to be presented On
the contrary there was quite sentiment
amongst the delegates, so | am informed,
to present the name of another CITIZEN
of this county, Sheriff j. T. Ellington,
man in every way qualified to fill the posi-
ton 7 have been told by the delegates,
since their return from Raleigh, that at
ter they arrived in the city they found
sentiment prevailing amongst the dele
gates in everal of the counties in the
district favorable to my nomination and
then it was for the first time they deter
mined to vote for me in the convention re-
CARELESS of my withdrawal, if an oppor-
tunity to secure my nomination was pre-
scented.
On the day of the convention, though
painfully sick, left my room long enough
TO go to the phone twice and request the
withdrawal of my name. The second mes
sage was sent about eight o'clock, was
taken down in writing in the city of Rail