Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-11-18
Republicans are Determined to
Down the Senator Elect.
THOMAS SETTLES LETTER.
In a Letter to Senator pritchard. He Points
Out That the Republicans Cannot Afford
to Object to simmons Being Seated in
the United States Senate n Move That
May React Against Its Promoters.

The following is an open letter from
Hon. Thomas Settle to Senator ]. c.
Pritchard. urging tie latter to take no
part IN opposing the seating OF Hon. f.
NJ. Simmons as successor to Marion
Butler in the United States Senate:
Asheville, n. c., Nov. 13, 1900.
Hon. j. c. Pritchard Marshall, n. c.:
My Dear Senal or.-Having. like your
self, the interest OF the Republican
party at heart, National and State.
trust you will not misconstrue the mo-
tves prompting me TO address YOU this
letter.
The results of the November election
speak for themselves. to the intelligent
mind. l understand from various
sources, official and unofficial, that it
is the policy Of a number OF gentlemen
composing the Republican organization
OF this State. through you as Senator
to protest against seating Mr.. Sim
mons when lie presents his credentials
as MIR. Buffers successor. 1 am OPP
posed to that policy and hope you will
not give ear to it. see no good in 1t
to the Republican party or to the
State. On what grounds will you OBJ
ject to his being sworn in. and ask the
reference of his credentials to the COM
mittee on privileges and elections? The
case of Roberts from Utah is not april
cable. You cannot establish anything
against MIR. Simmons, personally, that
would justify the Senate i'll refusing
him admission. You would therefore
have TO base your case on political and
legal. or politico-legal issues. to-wit:
North Carolina had not at the time Of
the election of the members Of the Leg
islature which elected Mr.. Simmons
United States Senator Republican
form of government guaranteed by the
Constitution. and. therefore, said Leg
islature, so elected, had no power 10
! elect Il Senator. Suppose you succeed
in convincing majority of the Senate
that the contention is sustained by the
law and the facts, what then?
| Mr.. Aycoclk would immediately APP
| point Mr.. Simmons TO nil the vacancy,
and your fight would have just begun.
You would in the language of MY Ia
mented friend. General j. NJ. Leach
only have entered the vcstibule of at
| tack" Could you continue the fight
upon the ground that AycocS, the Gov
ernor himself, elected under the same
| law had no power TO appoint Sena-
! tor to fill q vacancy? Again. should
| you succeed, If the United States or
State Supreme Court should, upon q
1 contest growing out of any act OF the
I present Legislature. sustain such de-
| cison of the Senate, where, oh,
| where?" The returns of the Novem
Der election as compared with those of
! the August election show great gains
| by the Republican party. The August
election and the November election
were held under the same law. II we
had no republican form of government
in August we had none in November.
| Our laws We're the same in each cleo
ton. If the credentials OF the MEM
bcrs of the Legislature can be investi-
| gated and set aside by the United
| DC TO tho alteration tim
! there existed 10 republican form of
| government ut the time they were
| elected TO the Legislature, and. there
| fore. il declines to admit the man this
! Legislature has elected to represent the
| State, have not gotten the State and
| the Republican party in very awk
| ward position? How can YOU assault
the credentials of Mr.. Simmons and
not assault the credentials OF every
| Congressman from the State including
| those OF Moody and Blackburn Re-
| publican members from the Eighth and
| Ninth districts? If the election of
| either is under the condition of the
| non eXistonce Of renMhllcAO- form Of
| government. the same is true with re-
| ference to all our national Representa-
| tiVeS. You cannot maintain that Black
| burn and Moody We're elected under .
| republican form of government and
| that Simmons. Klutt8. Eitchin. Small
ct al. We're elected under q non-repub-
| mean lOIln Oi government.
| / am not Mr.. simmons champion.
suppose | had as much TO do with the
opposition in his conirma ton as Col
| lector of Internal Revenue as any liv-
ing man in the State. My opposition
| was political and as l was then in a
| contest for seat in Congress with Mr.
| Williams. and Senator Ransom was
| taking sides with Williams, made the
| fight in behalf of the Republican party.
| and to give Senator Ransom something
| to attend to at home.
If this issue IS made, how will It be
done? Clearly on the ground OF the
| present improperly called Simmons
election law" the constitutional
| amendment and the conditions and cir
cumstances attending the election. is
! the answer. You cannot invoke the
| Wilmington riot. that occurred under a
Republican and Popuiist election law
The business interests OF the State
as represented by the merchants, man
ufacturers. hankcrs, railroad men and
all lahorers will come to us If we only
| give them an available opportunity to
| do So
Why. then. not ''iet the dead pas,
bury its dead? Act In the living pres
ent. heart within. and Cod o'erhead"
Sincerely your friend
THOMAS SETTLE.
WASHINGTON Expects a CON
TEST OVER SIMMONS SEAT.
Washington d. c. Nov 1i.-Repub
lican politicians returning from North
Carolina say that Mir. simmons right
to his seat in the Senate will be CON
tested. Evidence is now being accumu-
lated by the Republican State Com
mttee to sustain charges of fraud and
intimidation.
OXE0Pn