The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1900-11-01


the LegisIators-One Democrat Suf.
ficiently Amused With the Sena-
toriai Primary.
Correspondence Charlotte Observer
1t was my intention for a long time
to wash my hands of this mischievous
primary, and not even vote in it, but
there being no means of preventing it
now, | have concluded to vote, and to
vote for Simmons. If the race were
between Mr.. Simmons and Governor
Jarvis, or between MIR. Simmons and
Col. Waddell, it would be difficult for
me to choose between them, but it is
plainly apparent that the contest is
between Simmons and Carr, and |
flnd no difficulty in choosing between
these two. If the only question Gas
it should beg, is which of these two is
best prepared and best equipped to
represent North Carolina on the floor
of the Senate, there could be but little
difference OF opinion. 1t ought not
to be forgotten that when Butler goes
out Pritchard will still be there, and
Pritchard is q very able man and we
ought to have a man able to hold up
his end of an argument with him.
One Of the reasons, it is said, that
Mr.. Carr ought to be elected, is he
has never held any office. Well, sure
ly this lack Of political experience is
not proper qualification for United
him, also, that he has literally con-
tTibuted to churches, colleges, and
schools, and to the Democratic cam
paign fund, but these attributes are
no evidences of states manship. If
the United States Senate were not
political body, but instead thereof, an
educational institution, these claims
for him might more appropriately be
| insisted upon.
Again, it is claimed that the old
! soldiers, and their descendants, ought
ly asked, ..Where was Simmons when
julie Carr was in the trenches2"
Well, | don't know where Simmons
was about that time, but | suppose he
was in his shirt-tail. | have no per-
sonal interest in this matter. | would
not know the Honorable f. Nj. Sim
mons, nor the Honorary General Carr,
| if | were to meet them in the road;
but do know that under the leader
ship of +. M. Simmons, against all
the enemies of Democracy, in the
last two campaigns, we have achieved
two famous victories, and ! bolieve
that the magnitude of these two vic
tories was mainly owing to his
thorough organization of the party,
and his able conduct of the campaign.
Under the theory and condition con-
fronting us, am not only for Sim
mons, but against Carr, because of the
scandalous charges and insinuatiOns
against the chosen leader of North
Carolina Democracy. And it was Mr..
Carr himself that cast the first stone.
In his first campaign speech he an
nounced himself as the soldiers and
the peoples candidate; and that he
had no machine behind him, but, bor
rowing the language of Marion But
Ter, and Abe Middleton; declared that
he would be elected if he could get
free ballot and fair count. In aim
| ing at Mr.. Simmons this partisan
arrow, l suppose he was utterly un-
conscious of the fact that he was in
sulting every district, county and
township committeeman and every
Democratic registrar and Judge of
elections, for these are the men that
constitute the so-called Simmons ma
chine.
Mr.. Simmons has invariably voted
| the straight out Democratic ticket,
but for all that, and in spite of his
energetic and untiring labor for his
party, he is accused Of not having al
ways been sincere Democrat, be-
cause, forsooth, he held an office
under President Cleveland, and be-
cause he was a friend OF General Ran
som, the greatest living North Caro-
Imam. These assaults upon Mr.. Sim
mons and through him upon General
Ransom are-some Of them-made
! by men who have not themselves al
way. been Democrats. Col. John K.
| Webster, one of Mr.. Simmons most
malignant assailants, must surely
have forgotten that he was elected
(by coalition of Populists and Re-
publicans) speaker of our first fusion
house Oh Representatives.
Is it possible that Mr.. Carr and his
friends are unaware that they are fur
nishing to the enemies of Democracy
campaign material more effective than
any they could manufacture for
| themselves?
The best thing, think, in sight is
to elect Mr.. Simmons, and forever
| hereafter leave the election Of Sena-
! tors to the Legislature, their only
| Constitutional constituent, and then
| let's all try to forget that we had
primary election.
j. {. MILLS,
Brindletown, n. c., Oct. 21, 1900.
1t was once usual for Highland
shepherds to take their dogs into
church and leave them outside the
pews. Two shepherds at enmity sat
on opposite sides of the aisle one Sun
day. and. soon after the sermon be-
gan. the dogs-one collie and the
other not-seemed to enter into their
masters quarrel. The shepherds egged
on their dogs in undertones, and soon
| there was a real fight in progress.
Most of those in the immediate neigh
borhood craned their aecks over the
pews to see how the encounter was
coming out, and not few were stand
ing up. The minister's patience was
ultimately exhausted, and so he called
to his "hearers" and said: "Ah, weel.
my britherin, 1 see We are more inter-
ested in the dog fight than in my SER
al x11 1>Vyt
| and I'll bet half crown on the col