The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-04-13
RATIFICATION TO FOLLOW.

i
After a continuous session OF nearly
twenty hours from twelve O'Clock
noon ou Wednesday to Thursday
morning at nine o'clock-the gavel
fell Yesterday morning upon the great
est political convention ever held by
ANY party in North Carolina.
The attendance was unparalleled;
the composition of the ticket is as
nearly perfect as patriotic human
hearts and heads could make it, and
the declaration of principles in the
platform is in. accord with the true
sentiment of the great Democratic
party in the Republic and in the
State.
OF course the paramount question
now in North Carolina is the adoption
of the Constitutional Amendment and
Il declaration in it's favor comes as Il
fitting close to sthe party's declara-
ton of principles. In State matters
the platform pledges the Democratic
party ito increase the school fund so
term in every school district in the
State a2pdedge that Will be faithfully
kept, tor the end that by 1905 there
may be no illiteracy among the white
children of North Carolina. That
is a natural corollary of the declara-
ton in favor of the amendment.
The platform also rings true and
clear upon those matters that are now
brought to the front by the action of
the railroads in invoking aid of Fed
eral courts to annul Il just assessment
of corporate property for taxes The
Craig Act is specifically approved, the
administration of the Corporation
Commission, in securing fairer rates
and in making the railroad property
bear its fair proportion of the burdens
of taxation, is endorsed. The pass
evil is condemned, legislation to sup
press trusts is promised, system of
, legalized primaries is favored and the
care ''of the needy insane of the
State is guaranteed.
Z In word the Democratic platform
White Supremacy, Good Government,
just Regulation of Corporations and
the Rule of the People.
Upon National matters there is no
wavering or shadow of turning from
the Chicago platform of 1896. And the
fact that in the convention every ref
erence to VIM. Jennings Bryan was
enthusiastically applauded shows that
the great Nebraskan is nearer to the
hearts of the people of North Carolina
than ever before
Favoring a government of the peo-
pie, by the people and for the people,
the party in It's platform declares in
favor of the election of United States
Senators by the people and demands
the enactment of laws by the next
General Assembly providing for the
holding of primary elections. The
.otsttc INecuC1Ne COMMITTEES is instruct
ed Ito make provision for the hold
ing of primary on the first Tuesday
of next November for the selection
of Il United States Senator by the
Democratic voters of the State. at
which every elector who has voted
the Democratic ticket in the Stec
election shall be entitled to cast one
vote for one man for United States
Senator
While this specific plan may not be
approved by all, it insures the hold
ing of primaries for United States
Senator next November. This is a
great point gained and one for which
the News and Observer has long con
tended. 1T means the elimination of
the Senatorial contest from the cam
paign for the Amendment, thereby
insuring the party against factional
fights And what is better still the
election of United States Senator is
placed in the. hands of the people.
The Democratic party has made no
mistake in its convention. and in Au-
gust the people will at the polls rati-
fy its work.