The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-09-16
Written by Friends Of Hon, F. N. Simmons.
Rockingham. n. c., Sept. s, 1900.

disposition in some quarters to question
the right of gentleman, who has sac
rifced his tastes. time and business in
terests, to assist in organizing the Demo-
cratic party by serving on the State COM
mittce or a county committee, to partici-
pate in any way, except in an humble
and apologize way, in the selection of
our next United States Senator. And
some of the opponents of Mr. Simmons
talk as if it would be absolutely con-
temptuous of the peoples rights for
gentleman on little campaign commit
tee and also a member of the General
Assembly to express his choice for Sem
ator. Under the Constitution the duty of
electing United States Senators is placed
upon the various General Assemblys of
the States. But we have made a neigh
borhood repeal of this section of the Con-
stitution, and as every sane man knows,
our Senatorial primary elects a Senator.
This primary was agreed to, and
of course every Democratic member
of the General Assembly will cheerfully
obey the instructions of the people. 1t
seems to me that members of the GEN
eraI Assembly can, without improperly,
advocate in the primary their choice for
Senator Members of the General Assem-
citizens and Democrats. At any rate
your humble servant, although suffering
under the odium of having been chairman
of the Party committee in the last two
campaigns in a county always Republi-
can until 1898, begs leave of the busted
politicians and "illigint" gentlemen who
would call me a part of the Machine
and little" ringster, to advance
+hr vol
sons why, in my humble opinion. Mr. F.
M. Simmons should be selected by the
primary.
First and above all other reasons, Mr..
Simmons moral character and private
life are without stain. Elected to Con-
gress when a very young man, he with
stood all the Devils glittering tempta-
tions there, and returned to his people
sober and clean. From that early age
until now he has been subjected to all
the temptations which beset the path
way of a prominent and commanding pub
lie man. He has passed through it all
without blemish on his character for So
briefly and uprightness in all the re1a-
tions of life. There has never been a
charge ~rroo+iuq his character except that
he acted as Chairman of the State Exc
cutive committee of our party in the last
three campaigns in which we were sue
cessful This is a very serious offence
to negro organizers and to those who
would have sold their votes to the ne
groes of North Carolina for small offices
but for the public sentiment which Sim
mons aroused against such treason to the
white race Every man who voted the
Democratic ticket because he feared the
indignation of the people if he voted
otherwise hates Simmons for being chair
man,
We challenge any Democrat to show
any wrong he did during his three cam
paigns We challenge any Democrat to
show where he advised one lawless act.
There is not a cleaner, manlier man in
the race for the great honor of being our
Senator.
We contend that Mr.. Simmons should
be chosen because of his great ability.
He is the peer of any North Carolinian
in intellect and mental powers. In my
humble opinion, he is the peer OF any
man in the State in argumentative ora
tory, which is the only kind effective in
the United States Senate. There are men
in North Carolina who surpass Mr.. SIM
mons in the style of speaking effectively
upon the stump, but in clearness of
| statement, and power in debate he is
| without a superior in the State. lie
| would so conduct himself in debate in the
Senate that all North Carolinians would
! be proud of him. He has legal mind,
| and his success at the bar attests his
| ability. We invite those who, while ad-
hitting Mr.. Simmons superior claim TO
! the gratitude of North Carolinians, favor
| the election of some other candidate VINO
| belongs to the legal profession because
| in their opinion he possesses greater
| ability than Mr.. Simmons, to compare the
career AZ. the bar Of their favorite with
that of Mr.. Simmons Mr.. Simmons has
not only exhibited great ability in the
practice of his noble profession, but in
his public service he has shown himself
to possess ability of a high order lie
| was a member Of Congress when quite
young, and did not hesitate to discuss
the great questions which came before
Congress. He exhibited in the debates
before that great kody at that early
age abilities which gratificd the whole
State.
He was materially useful to she State
and the entire South in his skiltul hght
while in Congress, to place jute on the
free list and cheaper bagging to the
farmers. His fight for cheap basglng won
him the gratitude of the farmers OF his
district and the hatred and fear Of the
Tagging Trust At the expiration OF his
term the farmers unanimously renomina-
ted him for Congress in the Black Dis
trct. 1t was charged at the time, and
believed to be true, that the Baggine
Trust poured money into the district with
which to organize the negroes and de-
feat him. He was defeated.
We will only slightly notice his conduct
of the campaign in 1892, although 1t was
brilliant service to the State. We viii
call attention to the fact that this cam
paign was conducted especially for the
farmers and Aliancemen who had nomi-
nafcd their candidates for State offices
Conrressmen, county and legislative tick
ets in almost every county in the State
and this after they had defeated him fol
, the nomination for Congress in his dis
trict When the convention assembled
in his district the farmers and Alliance
men were overwhelmingly in the major
itv. A committee had waited upon Mr.
Simmons and informed him that the
farmers and the Alliance appreciated mn
as useful Representative, and especial,
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