The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1900-08-30
dunn DcrtOn RobeSOuiaul

X. X. Clark, editor OF the States
vile Landmark, who was a member Of
the platform committee at the Demo-
cratic State convention in April, has
written to the Charlotte Observer with
regard to the question as to who is
entitled to vote for Senator at the
primary in Novemb Der. People every
where are Interested in the matter
and we give the letter below. Mr.
Clark writes:
STATEsvILLE, n. G., Aug. 8, 1900.
EDITOR OBsEKvEE:-Withr reference
to YOUR correspondent inquiry in to-
days paper and your answer that You
do not know the details of the Demo
cratic Senatorial primary, which is to
take place at the November election,
| will state the facts briefly for the in
formation of those who are inter
cstcd.
The platform committee of the last
Democratic State convention, April
11th, adopted the following in the
platform, which was subsequently
adopted by the conventions:
We hereby instruct the State
executive committee to make provis-
ion for the holding of primary on
the first Tuesday of next November
for the selection of United States
senator by the Democratic voters of
the State, at which every elector who
has voted the Democratic ticket in
the State election shall be entitled to
east one vote for one man for United
tat M and 10 IL ! IL TO
who receives the ma ority Of the
| votes so cast in the whole State shall
receive the support of the Democratic
| members of the Legislature; and if no
| candidate shall receive a ma joity then
the committee shall hold a second
primary at which only the two high
est candidates shall be balloted for.
| and the one receiving majority Of
the votes so cast shall receive the
support of the Democratic members
| of the Legislature.
''Provided, that if any third can
didate shall receive at the first prim
| ary 50 held within $500 votes of the
second highest candidate, then in
that event the three candidates shall
| be balloted for at the second primary,
and the one of the three receiving the
highest number of votes shall receive
the support of the Democratic MEM
bers of the Legislature for United
States Senator
This is the whole story. MIR. Larry
Moore, of Pitt, member of the plat
form committee, who presented the
draft for the Senatorial primary plan
and insisted upon its adoption, had
drawn it to read that all who voted
for the electoral candidates at the
November election should be entitled
to vote for Senator. This idea was
vigorously combatted by member of
the committee, who pointed out that
many persons would probably vote
the Democratic ticket at the August
election who mi ght not vote at all in
the November election or who might
refuse to vote for Mr.. Bryan, and this
member himself served notice that he
would not vote for Mr.. Bryan on a
| fusion ticket similar to the arrange
ment of 1896. 1t was further pointed
out that if, in advance, those who
might refuse to accept the national
ticket were to be excluded from the
Senatorial primary, they might eX-
clude themselves from the August
| election. This view was readily ac
cepted by Mr.. Moore and the other
| members of the committee and Mr..
Moore then changed the clause to
| read ..those who voted the entire
Democratic ticket in the State cleo
ton" shall be entitled to vote in the
Democratic primary. The member
who objected to Mr.. Moore's first
draft asked him to strike out the
| word ..entire," which he also agreed
to do in order that there might be no
contention as TO whether a man who
| scratched a candidate for constable or
| coroner should vote in the primary.
Every man, then. who voted the
Democratic ticket in the August elcc-
ton is entitled to express his prefer
| ence for Senator in the primary at the
November election, no matter how he
votes in November, or whether he
votes at all
These are the facts as they were
| understood by the platform commit
tee of the Democratic State conven-
ton. r. X. CLARK.