The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1900-10-11

examine his Exchanges" He says:
''Mr. Simmons had a discussion with
Mr.. Marion Butler in Wayne county,
in October, 1894, and in an extended
report Of the debate found in one of
our exchanges and which he had
preserved he is credited with hav-
ing said: Il am in favor of bimetallism
| am in favor OF putting silver on an
equal footing with gold, and if Eng
gland, Germany and other foreign
countries would agree to it, we could
have free coinage here right away,
but the time is not yet ripe for free
silver. If it had been, Cleveland and
the1ast Congress would have given it
to you
There was not a Cleyelandite in
with that. Mr.. Simmons was in no
danger of losing his job in uttering
such sentiments. He continued:
My friends, we are all in good
fix if we only knew it. We have got
more money today than any other
country except France. Free silver
can't DO much for you any way, for
Colonel Polk said it would only in
crease the circulation 30 cents
head.
$50, 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"
1t will be observed that the account
of the discussion was taken from one
Of the exchanges of Webster's
Weekly, which he had preserved"
Why does he not give the name of the
exchange and let the people know
what authority he had for his state
ment? We know be was trying to
Turn on the Light,' and his "only
motive" was to see the right man
elected United Senator because he
says 50. Why then does he conceal
his authority? There can be but one
reason, and that is that he dared not
let it be seen that he was using the
organ of Butler for the purpose of in
juring the influence and character of
the chairman of the Democratic
party.
When the editorial in Wcbster's
Weekly was first called to the atten-
| ton of Mr.. Simmons, he sent a tele
gram to Mr.. Webster, editor of Web
ster's Weekly, which, with the reply
are as follows:
September 24th, 1900
Hon. John X. W -Dsttr, Reidsvi!le \. C.:
Please wire NE my expense the paper,
with date OF issue, from which You quote
| in Webster's Weekly of September Doth
alleged debate between Butler and my
self +. VI. SIMMONS.
ReidsvIIle, n C., September 24, 1900
| Hon F. NJ. Simmons, Raleigh n. g.:
The GoIdsboro Caucasian, October 2
1894 J. r. WEBSTER.
| The Caucasian was then published
in Goldsboro and then edited by Mar
ion Butler, and the utterance credited
| to Mr.. Simmons cannot be found in
| any other paper. There was de-
| bate between Butler and Mr.. Sim
mons in Wayne county, but the ac-
| count of the debate given by Butler
and the Caucasion was distorted and
untrue. Mr.. Simmons did not say
| what was attributed to him. Butler
wrote up an imaginary debate, which
he published in his own paper and
he falsely puts in the mouth of
his opponent, Mr.. Simmons, state
ments and arguments, which he
could easily refute. The falsity Of
| this report. both as to what Mr.. Sim
mons and Butler said, was fully
known and exploited by the Demo
Gratis in that section of the State, at
the time of its publication.
This disposes of charges made in
the editorial in Webster's Weekly,
but if the editor thinks that the
people like such authority and will
accept it, he need not go back as far
as 1894 or 1896. because Butler is to-
day indulging in the same abuse and
misrepresentation of Mr.. Simmons.
And. if indeed, any Democrat will
examine the Caucasian of September
y, 1900, and compare it with Web
ster's weekly of September 20, 1900,
| he will find that there is much siml-
iaritv in their method of discussing
Mr.. Simmons and his achievements.
Mr.. Butler simply goes a little further
and in addition to using his news
paper, he devotes the most of his time
to the abuse of Mr.. Simmons in the
| speeches which he is delivering at
his indignation meetings. We quote
from the Ncws and Obscrrer of Sept.
%, 1900.