Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-07-19

Raleigh n. c., July 1S.-Democratic
state Chairman L. NJ. Simmons writes
III open letter to the President, in
winch he says: THE people OF this
0tate Will hold n general State cleo
tlon on August TO elect county and
State officers, and upon Il proposition
TO amend the State constitution. No
federal officer will be elected or voted
Tor at this election. In tire considcra-
ton and determination of these nureiv
local questions | respectively submit
our people are entitled to cXemution
from meddlcSome Interference ON the
paTt oil Federal oflict holders, by using
me opportunities given them to UNI
guy influence those with whom thev
may nave official rotations or by Darod
ins the authority with which they are
invested III manner intended and cal
CuIatcd to intimidute the electors of
tne state i'll the exercise of their free
VIII at the ballot box.
10th as citizen OF this State and
as the chosen representative OF a uoll-
.icai party numbering $4,000 voters
leei warranted in making the charge
mat your appoIntccs in North Carolina
uls now daily nagrantly and openly
usihs thelr Official positions not only
TO control the conventions and thc
voters or their own parry, but To nm
uuiy influence voters of the oDDositiou
purity 10 coerce and intimidatc the in
oiVidual citizen. and to browbcat and
lntlmidate the election officers of Tho
state 10 the great scandal OF your adj
miniStration
IN making these charges | but give
expression to the righteous protest of
me people of the State against this
open lnfraction of the highest political
right guaranteed to them"
mary of some of the facts upon which
he bases these charges. He saws:
lt is notorious that Federal Office
holders not only controlled the State
convention of the Republican party
ms year, but that they have been the
dominating element in nearly all dis
trict and county conventions of their
party throughout the State. They die
tate the nominations. not only Of State
oiiicials. congressman, and electors,
but OF county officers. rs we'll
In every section of the State Office
holders are conspicuous for their ac-
tivity In local politics. Their offensive
pnriisanship is the subject of general
remark and universal scandal. II Is
openly charged that in many instances
persons engaged in the sale and man.
ufacturc OF liquors are shown leniency
or trcntcd with harShncss bv these
subordinates, for partisan reasons.
II have received hundreds of COM
pi0ints of the offensive and political
activity of these officers while engaged
In the discharge of their duties in at
tempting to persuade in behalf of their
party those whose political views they
thought they might influence"
Chairman simmons incloses the aNi-
davit that the editorial opinion OF the
Asheville Citizen was bought for 5000,
and says: II send YOU this affidavit
no = M.
fensive partisanship which I have
bcreinbefore preferred against the Col
lector of Internal Revenue and District
Attorney of the Western District and
because il shows if the statements are
true. transaction not only partisan
In its character but. to say the least.
Of questionable morals.
Recently this State has been flooded
with circulars threatening arrest of
State election officers under warrants
to be issued by United States Commits
siorcrs. with approval OF the Rcpubi-
can chairman. lIoiton, as District At
torney. | inclose you one of the
circulars Strenuous efforts have
been made by the Republican State
chairman TO frightcn these erection
officers into constituting laws in accord
ance with his views of their meaning,
and In the interests of the party he
represents. To accomplish this result
the fact that the chairman Of the Re-
publican party is also United States
District Attorney has been emphasized
FOR the purpose, it is believed, Of sug-
costing the idea that rs District At
torney he could and would invoke au-
thority Of the United States Govern
ment to carry out the threats made by
him as chairman"
Mr.. Simmons concludes: "Undcr this
statements of facts. I submit l am JUS
tilted in calling your attention Ia the
apparent organized influence and the
offensive activity of your appointecs in
this State in our local politics, aud OF
their attempt 10 Use their political po-
sitions to influence The results OF the
camnaign now in progrcss in this state