The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-04-17
CAMPAIGN BEGUN
BY CAND|DAT Is
1t Promises to be a Trium-
phaI Progress.
THOUSANDS HEAR THEM
Mr.. Aycock Makes Thrilling Speech
at Burlington.
THOUSANDS HEAR THEM
HEARTS OF LISTENING THRONGS STIRRED
Mr.. Simmons is Called Upon and Responds in
Short But Powerful Speech Which Will
Bear Fruit. Strong Arguments
For the Amendment
Especial to News and Observer


Greensboro, n. c., April 16.-If one may
Judge by this, its first day, the tour OF
the State by the Democratic candidates
Will be triumphant one.
Alamance county sent upwards of two
thousand people to Burlington today TO
hear the amendment discussed.
body and the citizens of the village came
to the station as the train passed and
called for speech from Mr.. Aycock.
His appearance was greeted with loud ap-
pause, and the college yell. He made
them a short speech from the rear of the
train. In this city preparations are be-
ing made for a great crowd tomorrow
night. The candidates passed here this
afternoon on their way to Winston, where
they will speak tonight and tomorrow.
The whole West, / am told, has been
aroused by the convention at Raleigh last
week The people in that section are
anxious to see Mr.. Aycock, and his as
sociates on the ticket and hear them
discuss the amendment.
MR.. SIMMONS GRATIFIED.
Il am very much pleased with the
day, and with the indications of the
campaign" said Chairman Simmons here
tonight. 1.-The meetings are going to be
a big success. The enthusiasm through
out the State will grow every day. I
am now certain of that The Democrats
are united and determined while the Re-
publicans are uncertain, and dispirited.
Our majority will not be less than thirty
thousand. / believe it will be much
greater
A finer day could not have been chosen
for Inauguration Of the campaign. The
sky was clear, the sun blaZed overhead
and the people sat in the open air at
Burlington and heard the gospel of De-
mocracy gladly.
There were some two thousand of them,
representative men, from all parts of the
county, and from all callings in life.
Among them were not few Republicans,
and Populists, and these at times ap-
plauded almost as vigorously as did the
Democrats. Quite a number of ladies
were also present, who took keen in
terest in the proceedings, and who, after
the speaking, waited to be introduced to
Mr.. Aycock, and the other candidates and
wish them success.
One risks nothing to his reputation as
a prophet when he predicts that Ala
nance county will give a large majority
for the amendment 1t was easy to see
today from the demeanor of those who
were counted as against the amendment,
their guarded applause at first, and their
unreserved expressions of approval to-
ward the end of Mr.. Aycock's speech that
they had only been in doubt, waiting for
information. This information given and
the amendment explained, they became
enthusiastic for it's adoption.
When the tour is over Mr.. Lacy will be
sent back here to make o thorough can
vass of Alamance, Guilford and Rock
ingham counties. The mill men are very
anxious to have him speak in this sec
ton.
MIR. AYCOCK'S SPEECH.
The following candidates were pres
ent and spoke in the order named: Ay-
cock Governor; Turner, Lieutenant Gov
ernor; Gilmer, Attorney General; Lacy.
Treasurer; McNeill, Corporation Com
missioner; Toon, Superintendent Of Pub
lie instruction; Patterson, Commissioner
of Agriculture, and Warner, Labor Com
missioner.
Mr.. Grimes, Secretary of State came
up on the afternoon train. and will be at
Winston tonight. DR.. Dixon, Auditor. will
Join them at Hickory, on Wednesday. Mr..
Chas. E.. Mclean introduced Mr. AycocI1
as "a gentleman whom every Democrat
in North Carolina thought most fit to be
our next Governor"
AS Mr. AycccS arose and stepped to the
front of the stand he was greeted with
applause and hurrahs. He began: "rhe
amount to but one thing, the negro ques-
tion. For years the Democratic party
has been fighting this issue until at last
it has made up it's mind that it must
be settled, and settled once and for all.
Continuing he predicted the success of the
campaign adding: I'VE are going to win
this fight, and we want to win it with
practical unanimity. I've sort of got used
TO the unanimous way Of doing business
and I'm in favor of it (Applause)
We've had Republcanism at two pc
riods in North Carolina, and they didnt
last long. One of them lasted from 1868
to 10; the other from 1896 to 9S. Why
this short life? 1t was not accidental.
Accidents don't happen in this world
There's design, reason lying back OF
all this"
Then he spoke of the war, when more
Iwere sent to the front by North Caro-
lima than there were voters in the State
and told of how the people were humilia-
ted at its close by having placed over them