The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1900-04-26
RALEIGH, n. e, April q, 1900.

RALEIGH, n. C., April 81, 1900.
Hon. Marion Butler, Chairman Peo-
pies Party State Executive Commit
tee, Raleigh, n. c.:
Sir: | received this morning your
letter of the Goth inst, in which you
suggest joint debate between the
candidates Of the Democratic party
for State Offices, and the candidates Of
the Peoples Party for like positions.
The question to be presented to the
people Cor their approval in August,
and around which all other questions
centre, Is the adoption of the Consti-
tut,onal Amendment. The Peoples
Party in its late State Convention,
while urging objections to the Amend
ment, declared concerning it eve do
not make it a party question" and ex-
pressly said 1t Unjust be determined by
the judgment and conscience of each
Individual voter" In your letter you
ask for joint dsbate upon the amend
men, thereby disclosing purpose on
the part of the organization OF your
party to commit your party
which 1t has expressly refused
to take In its State Convention. This
attempt to raise an issue not made by
your convention is manlfestly the re-
suit of secret understanding With the
Republican party and in line with
the action OF your party organization
since 1894, which has been employed
to foster schemes of cooperation with
the Republican party and to prevent
the individual voter OF the Peoples
Party from participating in the nam
ing of candidates or debating its pol
icy. 1t is a matter of common knowl-
edge in North Carolina that there is a
perfect understanding between the
leaders OF the Federal office holding
element OF the Peoples Party and Re.
publican party, and in pursuance of this
understanding they have secured the
nomination of State ticket and asked
for a joint debate in order to divide
and divert the attention of the white
people while their Republican allies
are engaged in their scheme OF at
tempting to again fasten negro rule Oh
the State. Later on, by these same
tactics, the Peoples Party will I'M
doubtedly be led into fusion with the
Republican party upon the legislative,
county and congressional tickets In all
counties and districts where it is
thought that fusion Will do any good
towards the defeat OF the amendment
and the perpetuatlon Of negro suffrage
in North Carolina.
Under these circumstances it is inn
possible to consider the organization OF
the Peoples Party, as now constituted
and controlled in North Carolina, as
having any existence. separate and in-
dependent from that OF the Republican
Party. Until the organization of the
Peoples Party In this State proves its
right to be treated as political entity
separate and distinct from the Republi-
can Party, by refusing TO fuse with
that party upon State, county, legislat.
i've and congressional candidates, the
Democratic Party cannot consider your
proposition.
Concerning the suggestion contain
ed in your letter as to joint debate
between you and the Democratic can
didates for the Senate, you are inform
ed that the Democratic Party has no
candidate for the Senate and it does
not propose to discuss OR consider the
Senatorial question until after the ques
ton of whether North Carolina IS to be
governed by the white man or by the
negro has been settled in the August
election. From that paramount and
all-absnrbing question the Democratic
Party does not propose to be diverted.
either by Senatorial contest, sham tick
cts, or cunningiy devised schemes to
ssplay politics.
Yours truly,
II. NJ. SIMMONS,
Chairman Democratic State Executive
CommIttse