The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-09-30
MR.. wEBsTER's EDITORIAL.

MR.. WEBSTER's EDITORIAL.
The editorial to which the above is
reply appeared in Webster's Weekly on
September goth. 1t is but fair to the ed
itor of that paper that it should be here
reproduced. 1t is as follows:
TURN ON THE LIGHT.
The people of North Carolina for the
first time in their history are to pass d.
rectly upon the question of who shall
represent them in the United States SEN
ate. 1t is automatic that the great body
of the people are honest and patriotic and
want to do right. If they go wrong. it ia
because they are mistaken and not be-
cause they want to bring evil upon the
country. When they see their error they
have the courage and manhood to correct
it, We believe the people are less liable
to make q mistake in the selection OF a
public officer than convention. party
caucus or Legislature. Our reason for
thinking so is that influences can be
brought to bear upon conventions, eau
cuses and Legislatures that could not
mislead the great bulk of the peole. There
are too many of the latter to bride with
patronage or intimidate with power. .
delegates or representatives ambition or
cupidty may be appealed to, and office
or the hope of office may be used to induce
him to vote for the wrong man. The Sem
atorial contest of 1897 affords a striking
object lesson of this. Senator Pritchard
was reelected by the power of Federal
patronage. The promise of postoffice
to one, a deputy's place to another, .
store keepers Job to a third-these OUT
weighed the sense of duty Of fifteen Popu-
list members of the Legislature to the
people and they joined with the Republic
cans in electing friend of Mark Hanna
to the Senate. This would have been inn
possible had the election of Senator been
left to the popular vote. or to the rank
and file of the Populists.
Since the people are to choose their
Senator, they are entitled to know the
record of every man who soiicits their
support. If any one knows any good rea-
son why Gen. Carr. Mr.. Simmons. Gov.
Jarvis or Col. Waddell should not be Sem
ator; if there is anything wrong with their
Democracy; if they have ever faltered in
their devotion to the principles of Jeffer-
son Jackson and Bryan; if either of them
wavered or was an uncertain quantity
when Cleveland tried to lead the party
into the enemy's camp in 1898, now is the
time to speak. 1t is not question OF
supporting the nominee. The party has
no candidate for the Senate, as Chairman
Simmons informed Senator Butler last
summer when challenged by the Populist
Senator for Joint discussion of the is
sues. The whole matter has been turned
over to the people. Whoever they select
will receive the support of every Demo-
cratic member of the Legislature and will
be Senator for the term beginning March
A. 1900.
We discussed in our last issue the
claims of Mr. Simmons upon the Senator
ship, as set forth by Judge Womack, OF
Raleigh Judge Womack gave eleven rea-
sons why he thought Mr. Simmons should
have the place His fourth reason was
what the newspaper craft would call
SCOOP" a piece of important news
given to the public for the first time.
We beg to quote:
"a In 1894 and 1896 he boldly and pub
Iicly, in the State conventions and else
where, advocated policies opposed by the
President, declaring he would surrender
his office before he would surrender his
AAS
principles"
AS stated last week. we were mem
Der of the conventions of 1894 and 1896,
but do not recall that Mr.. Simmons was
conspicuous for his opposition to Mr..
Cleveland's policies The North CAROLYN
ian. Raleigh paper, gave a full report
of the proceedings of the convention OF
1894. a copy Of which we have preserved
g. or q
showing that Mr.. Simmons opened his
mouth upon silver or the Senatorial pri-
mary. which were the leading questions
before the convention. His speech IN call
ing the convention to order gave no indi-
cation of his position upon these questions
being purely formal. How different from
this year, when he made ringing speech
in opening the convention, declaring MS
position upon both State and national is
sues. Gov. Jarvis request for primary
to settle the Senatorship was defeated by
large majority, and that meant tnal
Senator Ransom, who followed Cleveland
off the platform, was to go back to the
Senate if Democratic Legislature was
elected, of which there seemed to be nc
doubt at that time. The convention adopt
ed a free silver platform. but the cam
paign was not waged upon that line. The
whole power of the Federal patronage was
used to re-elect Clevelandite to the
Senate Our speakers talked tariff anc
6S and did not enlarge upon 16 to l. Mr.
Simmons had a discussion with Mr.. Ma
rion Butler in Wayne county in October o.
that year and in an extended report OF the
debate found in one of our exchanges, anC
which we have preserved, he is credited
with having said:
81 am in favor of bimetallism; am II
favor of putting silver on an equal foot
! ing with gold. And if England, Germany
and other foreign countries would agree
to it we could have free coinage here
right away, but the time is not yet ripe
| for free silver. if it had been Cleveland
and the last Congress would have give1
| it to you
There was not Celevelandite in thu
State who could have found fault witt
that. Mr.. Simmons was in no danger
losing his Job for uttering such sentl
| ments He continued: