The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-01-28
A RARE BLUFF BY
HALLELUJAH AVER
In Reply to Chairman Sim
mons Interview.
TO ELIMINATE STRIFE
OPPONENTS OF THE
AMENDMENT WILL ADVISE
THE NEGRO NOT TO VOTE"
AND LEAVE THE ISSUE TO WHITE VOTERS
Chairman Simmons When Shown the Com
municatioa Said He Did Not See Any
thing in Il Worthy Of Con-
siderat n.

State Auditor Aver yesterday gave TO
n News and Observer reporter the fol-
lowing reply to the dressing down
given him by Chairman Simmons, with
the request that he be given q hearing.
Here's his reply:
Mr.. Chairman Simmons seems 10 be
at EN- again. His last pronunciamenIo
is nothing but mouth. mouth. he
lodged and evaded every essential point
OF issue. He had 10 do this or igf,piiil-
iously fall down. He continues to aS-
sumo conditions that do not exist, and
bases his talk on his assumptions. He
reminds me Of Quilp who could not, ara
dared not, attack anything except the
straw man of his own making. 1t IS
both tiresome and useless to handy
words with a man who talks and talks
and says nothing TO the point.
1.-The only thing worth notice in Mr..
Simmons last interview is The tac.r
admission that he intends to maugurate
and conduct q campaign based IN pre-
JUDGE. lawlessness and riot, if he can.
OF course it is not possible to make such
a campaign effective all over the State,
but If not vigorously opposed it may be
Mr.. Simmons slogan is to be "nigger."
I have declared it to be the intention
and purpose of a number of leading
opponents OF the Democratic machine
to advise and urge the negro to decline
10 register and refrain from voting in
the coming election. This Is desirable
for two reasons: First, to eliminate n
factor which may be made the cause of
strife and riot. Second. TO refer the
issues of the coming campaign to the
white voters exclusively, and let them
be decided by a majority of the white
vote. Is Mr.. Simmons in favor of this?
| think not. for if it is not already a
foregone conclusion. there are good rea-
sons for believing that unless the Demo-
cratic party can count heavy MAORI
ties in what are known as the negro
counties, that party cannot win, the com
ing election Mr.. Simmons may. and
probably will. go ON crying ',nigger."
but if the campaign shall develop as I
now think it may. Mr.. Simmons and his
supporters will be found to he much
more active in soliciting the negro vote
for support than any one else. / speak
from the standpoint Of one who is nor
candidate for office, and shall prob
ably have no more to say"
A reporter called TO see Mr.. Simmons
and read him the above and asked him
it he desired TO answer it. The State
Chairman said II see nothing in II
worthy of consideration"
Or course this is all big bluff on
the part Of Hallelujah. who has aspira-
ton 10 be what Artemus Ward used to
call an "amoosin' cuss." The picture OF
the fusionists begging the negro to stay
away from the polls next August is as
big a joke as the morals Of the Ashe-
vile Gazette. If the negro had followed
that course when Hallelujah was run
ming for Auditor he would have remained
private citizen by round 100000
votes and to this day would not have
known the lingering sweetness of pie.
Fancy then Hallelujah protesting against
that 100000 votes being cast for him
; when he stands for reelection, if he
should be induced to abandon his posi-
ton of acandidate-for- office. The
streak of humor in Hallelujah is coming
out broad and strong.