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

do much for you any way, for Col. Polk
said it would only increase the circula-
tion at 80 cents head
So in Mr.. Simmons opinion the time
was not ripe for free silver; the people
were in a good fix if they only knew it;
and besides. there was not much in free
silver anyway. Yet the Democratic party
of North Carolina in convention assem-
bled August 2, 1894, had solemnly de-
clared:
) "Resolved l. That we reafflrm the doc
trfnes of the party as enunciated by the
Chicago convention of 1892; and desire to
signify as follows what is the construction
placed by us upon the section thereof re-
lating to silver. viz:
1--WE hold that it is the duty Of the law
making department of the government.
now in the hands Of the Democracy. to
take immediate steps to restore by legis
lation the equal privileges of silver with
gold at the mints, by the free and unlim-
tied coinage of both gold and silver at
the ratio of 16 to /, such being the ratio
of coinage which heretofore has held in
the United States"
We do not say that Mr.. Simmons is not
for independent bimetallsm now man
Judge Womack having urged his opposi-
tion to Cleveland's policy in 1894 as we'll
as in 1896 as one Of the reasons why he
should be Senator. we submit that the
people are entitled to know all the facts.
The truth of the matter is that Mr.. Sim
mons was regarded as a fast and firm
friend OF Senator Ransom in 1894, and
was indebted to him for the collectorship.
He will not deny that whatever influence
he possessed was given to re-elect Sena-
tor Ransom, who stood by Celeveland on
the money question.
Senator Vance opposed the confirmation
of Mr.. Simmons as collector of internal
revenue in 1898. Now the ex-collector's
friends are repeating the saying of the
old Roman that the horse that pulls tho
pillow should have the fodder. If Senator
Vance had reason for opposing him for
collector it is incumbent upon Mr. Sim
mons to show that it would not be suff
cient for Vance's friends to urge against
his election to the Senate.
The Weekly thought In 1899 that Mr..
Simmons services as chairman entitled
him to the eollectorship and advocated
his cause. We did not see the matter
from Senator Vance's standpoint. He saw
more clearly than any man In North Car
olina that Cleveland had determined to
crush out the silver sentiment In the
party. He saw in Mr.. Simmons shrewd
manager and a remarkable organizer and
thought him a dangerous man for Cleve-
land and Ransom to have on their side.
Time has shown that Senator Vance did
not misjudge Cleveland's intentions in
trying to convert the party to the creed
of John Sherman. Mr.. Simmons can tell
better than any one else whether the pct
ronage of the collectors office was given
to Vance men or Ransom men; to Demo-
Gratis who believed in the free coinage Of
silver by this country alone or to those
who favored waiting for Europe to come
to our relief
Mr.. Simmons in an open letter publish
ed in the Raleigh papers Tuesday denies
that he was a lobbyist for any corpora
ton or interest during the session of the
Legislature in 1899. He is unfortunate in
being yoked together with 'unbelieVers"
in this particular. 1t is a notorious fact
that the law firm of Simmons. Pou &
Ward, of which he is a member. did a
large business in representing trust cli-
ents who were interested in bills before
is said, the Raleigh Office had more work
of this character than could be handled
and it was necessary to bring the New
bern member. Mr.. Ward. up to relieve
the pressure.
We recall that Mr.. Jas. H. Pou was
represented by the News and Observer as
having antagonized certain features of the
Stevens antitrust bill before the Senate
committee and being reminded by the au-
thor that he was satisfied with them at
the other end of the Capitol. answered
that it was true, but he was speaking for
his clients. That was the day Senator
Glenn, of Forsyth, asked if the declaration
of the party in this State against trusts
was not n mere echo of the national
platform The dictionary defines an
echo" as a reflected sound"
The following from the News and OBJ
server report of the Senate Committees
hearing shows that Mr.. Pou was a star
performer on that interesting occasion:
Senator Fields: with the amend
ment whom would the bill reach?'
Mr.. Pou: ANY trust in the State"
Mr.. Stevens: THAT would make
the bill nullity. would it not, Mr..
Rountree?"
Mr.. Rountree: cit looks very mncn
like it,"
Mr.. Hicks: "The bill looks like it
was aimed at foreign trusts, but let's
in State trusts"
Mr.. Pou: 81 do not think there are
any trusts in the State"
We will quote again from the same re-
port;
Mr.. Stevens said he was surprised
that Mr.. Pou should oppose the bill,
because he had agreed to the bill as
it passed the House. Mr.. Pou said he
was acting in behalf of clients.
Mr.. Simmons has not yet disavowed
the client" plea of his partner for urging
and, with Senator GIenn's help, securing
the adoption of amendments to the Ste
vens' antitrust bill which in the opinion
of Mr.. Rountree. of New Hanover. an
able lawyer, made it nullity. Hic atten-
tion has been called to it by the Weekly
more than once. but he has remained
dumb as an oyster. He had influence
with the Legislature, which he tells us
he exerted in behalf of the amendment
and the election law. Why did he not
urge the Legislature to enact stringent
antitrust law?