The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-09-02
NEXT CONGRESSMAN
Will the Convention Nomin-
ate Congressman Atwa-
ter of Chatham I?
Views Of Two Life Long Democrats. One Favors
Aiwater and the Other Wants Him 10
be Retired From Congress.

mate hlm-that IS the question that
is agitating Democrats in the Fourth
Congressional district.
The withdrawal of Mr.. E. w. Pou
from the race has caused much dis
cussion. 'Why did he do it?'' rs it
in the interest of Atwater?" are
questions asked on every hand.
The fight now seems TO have come
to this: Shall Atwater be nominated
or some man who has always been
"a Democrat?
Below we give the opinion of two
lifelong Democrats, one contesting
for Atwater and the other earnestly
against him:
FAVORS ATWATER.
One of the staunchest Democrats in
the district, speaking of the action of
the Congressional Convention to be held
on Wednesday, said yesterday:
"Atwater ought to be nominated with
out dissenting vote. Two years ago,
when the Populist Convention was con-
trolled by the revenue officers, he walk
ed out of the Fusionist party and in
that campaign spoke in favor of White
Supremacy in every county and in al
most township in the district. He not
only spoke in public, but in private, and
day and night he labored with the Pop
ulsts to show them that their party
had been captured by the party of the
negro and the gold bug. He not only
induced many of them to vote for him
fer Congress but also to vote for the
Democratic ticket from top to bottom.
His efforts and the efforts of those who
went with him carried Wake, Franklin
-
year, and put them back again into
the Democratic column. Such efforts in
the dark days of 1898 ought not to be
forgotten.
yin 1888, upcn the advice of such Dem
ocrats as f. M. Simmons, Jas. H. Pou,
H. A. London and r. H. Hayes, the Dem
ccrats voted for Mr.. Atwater and he
was elected. If it was proper to vote
for him then, why not now? Since then
what has he done to forfeit the confidence
reposed in him? In Congress. he went
into the Democratic caucus, voted for
the Democratic candidate for Speaker,
and has voted all the time without a
break with the Democratic Congressman
from North Carolina. There is not
flaw in his Congressional record and no
criticism has been made of his votes.
He has been industrious and alert to
serve the people of the district No
man who has preceded him has done
more in a practical way for the dis
trict He has secured rural mail de
livery and has had an eye single to what
ever would help his constituents.
SIN the late campaign he made over
one hundred speeches, and no man was
more aggressive and valiant in support
ing the amendment. He travelled all
over the district and made some speech
es in other counties for the amend
ment and the regular Democratic ticket.
And it made votes. He went into the
campaign and made speeches under the
direction Of the State Chairman, and
his friends had every reason to believe
that he would be nominated for Con-
gress after the August election. If the
Democrats had held their convention be-
fore the August election and refused
Mr.. Atwater a nomination. that would
not have subjected the party to criti-
csm, but now after he has helped pull
the plow, is he to be turned out in the
harvest time? Is that right?
ut would not be good politics to deny
Mr. Atwater a denomination. The Dem
ocrats could not have won in 1898 or
in 1900, if thousands OF former Populists
had not voted the Democratic ticket.
and given a seat at the table. If Atwa-
ter is defeated, will they not feel that
none CT them need hope to aspire to
Lonors at the hand4 OF the party?
These are the reasons why l am for
Atwater's nomination.
ED. Pou evidently thinks Atwater
ought to be nominated for he has with
drawn from the race against him when
he stood fine chance of securing the
nomination. Many of the best party
leaders think he ought to be named 1t
would be fatal blunder not to nominate
him in my Judgment
AGAINST ATWATER
A lifelong Democrat of high party
standing, speaking CT the proposition to
nominate Atwater. said
THE nomination of Atwater will work
to the injury OF the Democratic party in
the Fourth district. 1t will mean an alb
solute abandonment Of the ground we have
gained, encouragement to resolute,
faithful, tried aEd-true Democrats.
temptation and a reward fer dcubters
dissenters, boilers and kickers hereafter.
1.-The district is now safely Democratic.
We have just carried it by 5000 majority.
We carried every county in the district
excert Atwaters How did we do it?
BY compromising our principles? No.
BY nominating men who had bolted or
opposed the Democracy? No. We car
rfed it by nominating State ticket COM
posed Of full blooded Democrats from head
to foot we refused to renomnate
Mebane for superintendent of Public In
struction, although he was with us for the
amendment ard voted for the Democratic
1icket. How many votes did we lose by
falling to nominate Mebane? Not half
as many as we gained. 1t will be the
same wit? Atwater. Did we nominate,
hybrid legislative ticket ring streaked-
and-striped affair. circus tent Chinese
gang tcmtom- combination to attract
stragglers and please our past, present,
future political adversares? No. We
flung the Democratic banner to the
breeze, selected Democratic leaders from
legislator to constable, played good old
Democratic music. started the ranks for
ward and swept the field. The little year
lings, the bob-tailed, the brdle- tailed, the
loud bellows, all got out of the way or
else were run over.