The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-11-16
SETTLE SETTLED EN-.

Mr. Thos. Settle, who as Republic
can hopes for accessions to the Repub-
lican party from the ranks of men of
character, has written a letter to SEN
ator Pritchard which will make the
Asheville Gazette and Richmond Pear
son and the rest of the extremists
madden than ever. They will be mad
because Mr.. Settle writes, but madden
still because he writes a letter that
exposes to pitiless ridicule their pre-
tense of a reason for contesting the
election Of Mr.. Simmons to the Senate.
Here is his letter:
Aaheville N. c., Nov. IS, 1900.
Hon, J. C. Pritchard, Marshall n. c..
My Dear Senator-Having, like yourself,
the interest of the Republican party at
heart, National and State, 1 trust that
you will not misconstrue the motives
prompting me to address you this letter.
The results Of the November election
speak for themselves, to the intelligent
mind. / 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.. simmons when he presents
his credentials as Mr.. Buffers successor.
| am opposed to that policy and hope
that you will not give ear to it. l see
no good in it to the Republican party
or TO the State. On what grounds will
you object to his being sworn in, and ask
theasFeference of his credentials to the
Committee on Privileges and Elections
The case OF Roberts from Utah is not
applicable. You cannot establish any
thing against Mr.. Simmons, personally
that would justify the Senate in 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 Legisla-
ture which elected Mr.. Simmons United
States Senator republican form of gov
eminent guaranteed by the Constitution
and therefore said Legislature, so elected
had no power TO elect Senator. Suppose
you succeed in convincing majority OF
the Senate that the contention is sIs-
tanned by the law and the facts, what
then? Mr.. Aycoclz would Immediately APP
point Mr.. Simmons TO fill the vacancy
and your fight would just have begun. You
would, in the language of my lamensed
friend, Gen. j. M. Leach, only have EN-
tered the vestibule OF attack" Gould
you continue the fight upon the ground
shat Aycock, the Governor, himself elect
ed under the same law, had no power
TO appoint Senator to fill vacancy:
Again, should you succeed; if the United
States or State Supreme Court should
upon contest growing out of any act
of the present Legislature, sustain such
a decision of the Senate, where, oh
where?" The returns of the November
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. If we had no Re-
publican form of government in August
we had none in November. Our laws
were the same in each election. If The
credentials of the members of the Legs
lature can be investigated and set aside
by the United States Senate upon the
allegation that there existed no repuhli-
can form OF government at the time they
were elected to the Legislature, /; 1t
therefore, declines to admit the man this
Legislature has elected to represent the
State, have you not gotten the State an(
the Republican party in a very awkward
position? How can you assault the Gre.
dentials of Mr.. Simmons and not assault
the credentials of every Congressman
from the State including those of Moo dy
and Blackburn, Republican members from
the Eighth and Ninth districts? If ths
election of either is under the condit or
of the non existence of a republican fern
of government, the same is true Will
reference to all our National Representa-
tives. You cannot maintain that Mood.
and Blackburn we're elected under a re
publican form of government and tina
Simmons, Kluttz, Kitchin, Small ct al
were elected under a non republican form
of government. | am not Mr.. Simmons
champion. ] suppose l had as much t
do with the opposition to his confirmation
as collector of internal revenue as an
living man in the State. My opposition
was POLITICAL; and as l was then in
contest for a seat in Congress with Ill
Williams, and Senator Ransom was tax
ing sides with Williams l made the figh
in behalf of the Republican party, an
to give Senator Ransom something t
attord to At home.
If this issue is made how will it
done! Clearly on the ground of the pres
ent, improperly called. simmons cleo
tion law" the Constitutional Amendme n
and the conditions and circumstances at
tending the election, is the answer Yo
cannot invoke the Wilmington riot. Tha
occurred under Republican and Pog u
list election law.
The business interests Of the State. a
represented by the merchants, manufac