The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-04-01
WANTS LIE UT. GOVERNOR
And Urges That He Should Live West
Of Greensboro.
Mr.. WATTS URGES CLAIMS OF Mr.. TURNER
from Greensboro to the Tennessee Line is
the Battle Ground Of The Amendment
He Declares in Forcefu!
Communication.

To the Editor: 1t is with regret
that we see disposition on the part
of the eastern and central parts OF
the State to hog" the best places
on the Democratic State ticket this
year. 1t seems to be conceded that
the East is to have the United States
Senator to be elected by the next Leg
islature, and by almost universal con-
sent the governorship is given to
brilliant, gifted Charles b. Aycock,
of Wayne, the second Zeb Vance of
North Carolina. Our Western coun-
ties have been as hearty in their en-
dorsement of Aycock as have been his
neighbor counties of Eastern North
Carolina.
Early recognizing Aycock's splendid
abilities and eminent party services,
some of our Western Democrats,
whose ability and work for the party
entitled them to aspire to the govern
orship, decided not to allow their
friends to enter them as candidates
for Governor, but to ask only for the
enant-Governorship. Among
these was IredelFs honored son, Hon.
Wilfred ID. Turner, whose name has
been mentioned favorably in all parts
of the State for the Office and who
lives farther West than any of the
candidates for Lieutenant-Gov
Recently. however, booms have been
started for gentlemen living east of
Greensboro To nominate q man
east of Greensboro over Messrs. Tur-
ner, Smith and Fields. who have only
asked for the second place on the
ticket, would be unfair to these gen
tlemen, whose abilities. public services
and devotion to Democratic principles
gave them as much reason to aspire
to head the ticket as the services of
any able and devoted Democrat of the
State. The nomination of any man
in the Eastern half of North Caro-
lima would give to that section
both the Governorship and the Lieu
tenant-governorship. Such has not
been the custom of the Democratic
party. Vance and Jarvis. the one
from the West and the other from the
East. We're the magic names we con-
jured with in the memorable cam
paign of 1876. Jarvis and Robinson.
Scales and Stedman, Fowle and Holt,
each time the two candidates from
ic victories and good government in
$780, 's4 and 'Ss. Carr. an eastern
man, and Doughton, citizen of one
of the our Western mountain counties.
led the last successful Gubernatorial
race in 1892. III 1898, Watson from
the West and Mason from the East
led the forlorn hope which failed.
Western North Carolina has always
conceded to the eastern section it's
full share of the offices. This is not
all western Democrats have done for
their eastern brethren. For years and
years they carried an unpopular sys-
tenn of county government, which
frequently lost them votes and in
some cases the control of their coun-
ties, in order that the counties of the
East night be governed by white
men. Western Democrats now heart
ilv support the Constitutional Amend
ment mainly because it is necessary
for their eastern brethren. In certain
counties and sections of the West this
amendment will cost the Democratic
party votes. but there is no drawing
back by Western Democrats. The
amendment is necessary for white SUI
premacy in many of our eastern coun-
ties. and the Macedonian cry of our
eastern brethren counts more with us
than increased party majorities in
our counties.
From Greensboro to the Tennessee
line is the battle ground of the amend
ment. 1t will be in this magnificent
section where Republican misrepresen.
tations will be thickest and hardest
to correct. and at least the second
place on the ticket should be given
it.
Iredell county, which has never had
place on Democratic State ticket
has presented her gifted son, Wilfred
ID. Turner. whose legislative expert
ence and parliamentary knowledge pc