The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1900-11-01
4 FORMER CLhSSMATE URGES
THE ELECTION OF Mr.. SIMMONS

Thus by education. by pro1esslon' ~ wa, !
nahla legislative experience, by Specia'
training. hy strong native endoWnentS
NJ Will courage and capacity, lie IS III
t.omparably better fitted for the arouous
ard responsible duties devoiVlnS upon
member of the greatest laW-maklng pouy
in rha world. than any man VINO mas
S1anr his whole life in mere money get
ting. and who has had absolutely no eA-
per- nee. no training in law. politics OF
statecroft. The writer was in the same
class with Simmons in college. IN the
intimacy of those four years OF aally
contact in the class room, social circle,
society contests. etc, Mr.. Simmons eYl-
denced only the highest type of chara;-
ter. Modest, social, genial and talented,
he easily Won the confidence and esteem
Of faculty and student alike: Entering
mon his college course in his teens,
severely CONDITIONED" as the result OF
Indifferent preparatory facilities, he at
once moved towards the front in class
of exception ability, securing hrst
honors" at graduation, with a general
average ON all his studies for the entire
course, of 81 out of possible lOo. Sue
cessful as he was in his text books, ne
was even more successful in the purely
literary work of his society. Though
Young in years, he was known and rec
ccnized as one of the finest orators. and
one of the ablest Geoaters in the lnstltu-
ton at that time. But the field III which
his talents shown brightest, was that of
college Dolitics-a miniat ure Of the poll.
ties of real life. He cordially entered
into all college and society contests. In
his own canvass for ch1et manager IN
1872, he made, perhaps, the most bril-
liant campaign known in the annals OF
Trinity College. Handicapped in the be-
ginning by conditions and circumstances
| wholly outside of and beyond his control,
he maintained throughout the contest a
courage that was undaunted, a vigilance
that never slept, an industry that never
tired and a tact that never failed
Though in the councils of those who op-
| " remembers that his faultless personal
| bearing. the high, dignified and honora'
BILE plane from which he directed his
canvass, the matchless genius with
| which he organized and marshalled his
forces was the universal comment OF
friends and foes. The splendid victories
| of 1893 and 1900 are but the full fruit
age of that timely budding genius, the
| abundant fulhllment of those early
| omens. No school-mate of Mr.. Simmons
! believes that he is an accident. The Sc
cret of his success is his inherent power
| to command It.
The triumph of the Republican party
in November may mean a new force bill
1t Will certainly mean a vicious and
| spiteful attack upon the recent amend
ment. At this particular juncture. We
| need no inexperienced man in the sen
ate, but one that is thoroughly equipped
quick and resourceful in debate, strong
and convincing in argument, willing ano
able to parry any thrust by whomsoevel
made. Simmons admirably fills all these
| requirements. A grateful people hold in
| memory the personal sacrifices of thi:
man. The highest standard of Christian
giving is one-terth OF the net income, bu
this man gave all his gross income, ant
| in addition thereto he gave one-seventl
| of the net Accommodations of a life time
Is there a parallel in the history of the
State. I repeat, the people are not un
grateful. but, at the coming primaries
| they will honor this gifted Carolinia1
with their suffrages and in honorins
him, they will honor themselves and, al
the same time, serve the highest inter
ests OF the State.
| ]. D.HODGES.
Supt Public instruction for Davie Co.