The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1900-05-03
SIMMONS AFRAID OF DEMOCRATS.
A Strong Document-vigorous and Plain
Array Of Facts-Every North Carolir ian
Should Study Them and Act as Ps triots,
Not rs Bigots.

Not rs Bigots.
WASHINGTON, D. c., April 80.
Ion. F. NJ. SIMMONS, Chairman
Democratic State Committee, RAJ
leigh, N. C.
DEAR SIR-Your letter of the 2lst
INST, declining my request for a
oint canvass between the candi-
lates Of the Peoples Party for SEN
atOr and State officers and the cam
1idates of the Democratic party for
ike positions, and giving your al .
legged reasons for declining, has been
received.
/ understand thoroughly that !
you are afraid of the results of a
Joint discussion in this campaign,
but it is for "reasons" other than
those you state. | can understand
that you have some good and strong
reasons for fearing to let the peo-
pie hear both sides of the great
questions at issue presented on the
stump in joint discussion, but you
dare not state those real reasons.
Your bogus reasons are given to try
to call attention from the real ones.
You seem not to be aware of the
fact that the people of North Caro-
lima are fairminded to marked de
gree, and desire to hear both sides
of every important question presented
in joint discussion, so that they may
the better get at the truth, and then
make up their judgment accordingly
before they vote. This is especially
true in this campaign. Besides, the
only opportunity that the illiterate
white voter has to get at the facts
and truth about the real questions
at issue, is to go to joint discussions
and hear both sides present their ar
guments, face to face, on the stump !;
and in this campaign, when the illit-
crate voters right to vote in the fu-
ture, and that of his children, is at
stake, he has right to demand that
every candidate. and every party,
that asks for his vote, shall be will.
ing to meet his opponent on the
stump, and he is justified in suse ect'
ing the sincerity and honesty Of
those who are afraid to do so.
| You say that since the Peoples
Party Convention declared that the
Constitutional Amendment was
above party, that there is no issue
between US on that question, and that
when I challenged you and you
party candidates to a joint discussion
on the merits and dement's of tina
important question, including tn,
Election Law and other issues a
stake, that I am guilty of trying t.
raise issues that the Convention o
my party did not raise. 1t is tru'
that the Peoples Party Convention
declared that the proposed Amend
ment was a great question, abov
party lines but, at the same time
that Convention pointed out specifi
cally not only the Objectionable fea
lures that appear upon its face, bu
also the great dangers that turk be
hind it. 1t is as to these points witt
reference to the Amendment, whic
we're raised by the Convention, o.
which I challenged you and you
party to joint discussion and o.
!, which you dare not meet US.
| Yes, it Is true that the People
Party Convention declared that tn
Amendment was above party, an
why did not the Democratic Conver
ton take the same high ground
There are many voters in all partie
who believe that. the propose
Amendment is in violation of tn
Federal Constitution. Can such
Democratic voter (even if he did ia
, vor the purposes of the propose
, Amendment vote for it withou
violating his solemn oath to sur
port the Constitution of the Unite
States? Do you intend to lay th
3 party lash on the backs of such We
/ ters, and try to force them wit
abuse and ostracism to violate thei
consciences and also their oaths
You evidently do not believe tina
/ you could convert such voters b
3 argument and reason in a join
discussion.
3 Permit me to remind you that 70
underestimate the manhood and ir
dependence of the voters of Mort
Carolina if you think they will sui
l NIT again to ruffianisn, red-shir
Q ism, and wholesale debauchery {
the ballot-box and that you ais
underestimate the intelligence {
the voters of the State if you thin
they will be misled by the films
and absurd reasons which you Civ
for fearing a joint discussion or
you think they will believe blind
your many fair promises made in tn
campaign, in the face of your so
Q emn pledges made and broken i
the last campaign.
q You solomnly pledged the peop]
In the last campaign that if the
would put your party in power ths
: no scheme would be submitted If
: DISTINGUISHING any voters in til
! State. You pledged the people ths
4 not single man in the Legislatul
would favor such scheme. 70
solemnly declared that Democrat
: State Convention "would spit upon
any man who would offer such
: proposition. You denounced ever
man who made such charge as
slanderer and a liar. 1t was not til
: peoples fault that you fooled the1
u then; it was your fault. Do yo
think you can fool them again?
You are now declaring, daily, tn;
the proposed amendment Will n,
l. disfranchise single white man.
b you believe this, and can make
plain to the voters, why are yo
afraid to meet us in joint dlscussio
on the stump? II a joint campaie
were arranged, a much larger pe
centage of the voters of ali parti
y would go to the joint speakings
q hear both sides presented. Are vo
afraid for these voters to hear bot
. sidesi
Ii you and the candidates of yor
party had confidence in the SOM,
= ness and business of the position f.
which you contend, you would A.