The news & observer., 1901-03-21
TO BE LEFT TO PRIMARY !?
The Times Has an Editorial Opposing
This Idea.
M. R. A. THOMPSON Repuis TO IT
The Democratic TX Committee of the City VIII
Meet in few Days and Decide the
Matter. A Warm Contest
[xp,cted.

Bonds or no bonds!
Shall the question be submitted to the
voters in the Democratic primary and
their decision bind the new Board of
Aldermen?
That is the question that is agitating
the people of Raleigh during the 'Ides
Of March, The City Democratic
Executive committee viii meet in few
days and determine whether or not
they will submit the, question to the
voters in the Democratic primary.
In the meantime the discussion goes
On. The opponents OF a bond issue now,
have made this request of the City COM
mittee:
Resolved by the members of the
citizens of Raleigh that the Democratic
Executive committee shall be requested
to submit to the Democratic voters of
the city, at the same time that the pri-
mary is held to nominate officers and
aldermen of said city. the question of
bond issue of 100000 for street inn
provement under the act of the Legis
lature, 1901, and if {. majority of the
Democratic voters shall vote against
said bond issue, the Board of Aldermen,
elected at the next May election, If a
majority thereof be Democratic, shall
not during it's term for which they are
elected submit said question to a vote
Of the people. But if majority of said
Democratic voters shall vote in favor
of said bond issue, then the question
shall be submitted to the voters of said
city"
THE TIMES OPPOSES RESOLUTION.
Commenting on that request, the
Raleigh Times, in its issue of March
18th. said
'"rhe resolution proposed to the City
Democratic committee by the oppon-
ents of the bond issue last night is un-
fair. The resolution declares that if the
majority at the primary decide against
bonds, that will settle the matter, and
the Board of Aldermen is instructed
not to call the bond election. But in
case the majority IS in favor of the
bonds, they are to go ahead and do
their duty, as the Legislature COM
mands them TO do. In other words, if
it goes against bones, the bonds are
defeated, but if it goes for bonds, this
does not settle the question, but simply
allows the aldermen to call the election
The resolution comElicates the bond
issue with the city election, and there
fore does not allow 6 full and free ex-
preston of public sentiment 1t compels
the advocates of bonds to make two
fights, where it's opponents make only
one. 1t puts the Democratic party OF
the city in the attitude of instructing
the Board OF Aldermen to evade plain
instruction of the Legislature to call a
bond election. In the bond election
every citizen will have the opportunity
of voting his convictions 1t will be
settled by the people And it is ques-
tionable whether the destruction of the
primary would hold good in law. If
a primary were called TO decide the atti-
tude of the Democratic party on the
bond issue. unmixed with the rivalry
of candidates, it would be fairer but
then the election would have to be held
The gentlemen who are opposed to
bends deserve as much consideration as
any other Democrats. They are prom
inent citizens and should have a part
i'm the settlement of all questions that