The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1900-10-11
THE PRIMARY.


on. AT present the question as to
who is the best man for Senator is re-
ceiving more attention and creating
more talk than either the Presidential
or Congressional elections in North
Carolina. 1t is well that interest is
being manifested on the subject but
we must not lose sight of Mr.. Bryan
and our Congressional candidates
nevertheless. 1t is quite as impor-
tant that we should elect the great
champion of the plain people and
Democratic Congress to uphold him
as it is who shall be Marion Buffers
successor in the Senate.
Following up and emphasizing what
the GOLD LEAF said last week about
conducting a clean, dignitied contest
for Senator, free from bitterness and
attacks upon private character, we
wish to repeat that we should re-
member that this is a Democratic
primary and that the contest is among
brethren. 1t should be conducted
upon a high plane. Many indiscreet
things are being said and written by
overzealous friends in.their advocacy
OF their favorites This is not to be
countenanced by the friends OF either
candidate. 1t would be well for some
OF the candidates to call off their
travelling agents and not presume
that such attacks as they are making
will not be resented and lead to bit
tcrness and ugly personalities. The
otficious interference and meddling OF
Republicans and their P.pulist allies
should be repudiated by every true
Democrat. 1t is not their primary,
nor do the Democrats of the State
wish to elect their choice. They
have had their day and selected
| Marion Butler and he and his whole
gang have been repudiated by the
people of North Carolina.
We very much mistake the temper
of the Democratic party Of North Car
Dina if they are willing to have their
chosen leader in the great battle for
white supremacy, Hon. F. NJ, Sim
mons, misrepresented and abused by
men of his own party. They have
| had enough of the abuse of him by
Butler and his crowd, That was bad
enough but not so despicablc AS the
lies and abuse heaped upon him by
| Democrats or their hired allies.
Mr.. Simmons has done everything
to deserve the lasting gratitude of
every true white man and woman in
| North Carolina. For them, their
desire and best interests. he has
labored in and out of season. In
recognition of this nothing was too
! good to say of him during the cam
| paigns and after the great victories of
1898 and 1900. Why this change MOVE
Has Mr.. Simmons done anything
mean? No, indeed. The only trouble
seems to be that now when the bulk
of the Democratic party of North
| Carolina wish to reward him aud
| honor themselves in selecting him as
| the best fitted man, in ability and
training, to represent them in the
| United States Senate. he stands in
the way Of the money power and
must be sacrificed.
| Simmons is charged with being a
"trickster" and his supporters a
'lnachine.' He has had the ability
to lead the white men of North Caro-
lima in the redemption of their State
from Butler and negro rule. His sup
| porters are the great body of the
working Democrats of the State, who
are not ashamed to acknowledge him
as their leader and have the nanli-
ness and gratitude to wish to reward
him by giving him an opportunity in
the Senate to do them even better
| service.