The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-09-05
T. S. FOSTER
Louisburg N. c.. Sent. g. 1900.
Is Opposed to AtWater.

To the Editor: Who shall we nominate
for Congress in the Fourth District?
Mr.. Atwater and Mr.. Spruill are most
prominently spoken CT. Now let us con-
slider their fitness and claims. In 1898
when everything looked dark for the
Democrats, Mr.. Atwater sought the nom
ination for Congress for his brother-in
law at the hands of the Populists. and
when he failed to get the nomination for
MIR. Strowd he bolted the convention and
ran as an independent Populist and by
the aid of the Democrats he was elected,
and now he and his friends say he should
have e q second time on account of pre-
cedent. The Democrats have never NOM
inated Mr.. Atwater. and he should feel
forever grateful for what they have al
ready done for him. Now we want a gem
uine Democrat to represent u.s. Where
would the Democratic party be now if
Mr. Atwater could have had his way with
it in 1894 and 1896. 1t is true he has affi-
LATED with us for the past two years, be-
cause we voted fer him and elected him.
We voted for b; not as Democrat, or
because we wa ed him. but because so
many like him had gone astray that our
leaders dhought we could not elect a
genuine Democrat and We took him as the
lesser evil, but should we elect him again
for being now what he should be forever
ashamed of not having been all the time +?
/, for one say, no. We welcome him back
and are willing to receive him. and all
others who wandered off after strange
gods, ard have seen the error of their
way with open arms. But / am not so
anxious fer their return. as to be willing
to pay five thousand dollars "a year per
capita for their return. No we have
good Democrats who stuck to us in the
dark days, when these men were deserving
the old ship (more than we can reward
whosdeserve IT'D
And now am not willing to say to the
faithful ones who stood by us then, stand
aside and let this returned brother who
left us. and tried so hard to wreck us,
reap the honors and rewards. No we are
willing to take them from their lost fast
sinking ship, aboard the grand old Demo
cratic ship which though battled SCARED
has weathered many storm, and we will
take them safe into port. and we think
to forgive them and take them as pas
sengay on the ship they tried to sink is
all thu have a right to expect for the
present. If then Mr.. Atwater should not
be nominated, who should be? In view of
the history of this district it seems to us
there should be but one answer-F. S.
Spruill, of Franklin county. Since he
became of age he has been one of the
most active and efficient of our Demo-
cratic workers. His efforts have net, been
merely local; but all over the State,
wherever the executive committee has
said 60 he has gone at his own expense.
No man in the State except Aycock, is his
superior on the stump. Never before has
he sought a nomination. Content to labor
without reward. he has been and is the
best type of our young Democracy. When
others were faltering and trimming their
sails to meet the popular breeze, he kept
his even course. Stalwart unchanging
Democrat He is a studious. thoughtful
man, of high order of intellect, and
above all he can be reckoned on to have
conviction upon every vital subject and
when the time comes to express that con-
viction clearly and eloquently. The threat
is made that our representation in the
State will be reduced. Thinking over the
men in the district as most available to
fight such movement Mr.. Spruill stands
easily without peer. OF good address,
fine personal appearance, easy manners,
and imDassioned style of speech, perhaps
no man in the State stands so good a
chance of making a national reputation
in Congress. We have had mediocre men