The semi-weekly messenger., 1902-09-26
CONDUCT OF THE SENATORIAL
CAMPAIGN.

DeIOTS d sPeclai ltlSsEdin AfoiiA 1ieNAiS-
boro. stating that there was a move
ment on foot by some Of the friends OF
certain candidates for the democratic
nomination for senator to prevent DEM
ocrats attending the joint discussions
between Senator Pritchard and Mr..
Craig, one Of the democratic candidates.
The Messenger took occasion 10 COM
ment upon the fact that the race for the
nomination for senator by the demo-
Gratis was open TO every one who wished
TO enter. While disowning any intention
to advocate Mr.. Craig's claims above
those of any other one of the democratic
candidates The Messenger insisted that
there should be fair play and stated
that in its opinion Mr.. Craig, IL he saw
fit, had the right 10 accept Senator
Pritchard's challenge to a joint debate
and that it was no body else's business
If he did so. 1t is well understood that
Senator Pritchard will be the republi-
can candidate for reelection. No one
else in that party will oppose his nom-
ination for reelection. He is virtually
already the nominee of his party. The
only question is whom will the demo-
put up to oppose him before that body.
There are a number Of candidates each
one of whom has the same right as any
other to use all honorable means TO Sc
cure a majority Of the votes of the
democratic caucus. If Mr.. Craig or any
other of these candidates chooses to
stump the state in the interest of his
candidacy, either alone, as was done
two years ago, or in joint debate with
the republican candidate. we say it is no
business of any body else.
In speaking of this matter The News
Lee S. Overman, one Of the candidates
for senator as saying.
Il have no knowledge whatever of any
such movement 1 have never thought
of such a thing, nor have l ever heard
of it before. While it is a fact that
Mr.. Simmons has written letters to each
of the senatorial candidates stating that
it was the unanimous sentiment of the
democratic executive committee that
there should be no joint canvas between
any of them and Mr.. Pritchard on ac
count of the unfair advantage against
the other candidates it would give to
the one making the canvass, yet since
Mr.. Craig, notwithstanding this fact,
has agreed to joint canvass, it is my
desire that democrats turn out and
hear him. My first concern in matters
political is the success Of the democratic
party
Now the question we wish to ask is
this: What has Chairman Simmons
got to do with this matter? Has he as
chairman Of the democratic executive
committee in this state any right to die
tate to the candidates in this matter?
Has the state executive committee any
right to dictate to them? Mr.. Simmons,
perhaps, will reply, that he has not die
tated, but simply advised; but when he
writes a letter to each candidate in
forming him that the committee, of
which he is the head. was of unanimous
opinion that there should be no joint
canvass between any of them and Sen
ator Pritchard it looks very much like
an attempt at coercion. He puts = on
the ground of unfair advantage against
the other candidates. How can this be
an unfair advantage? Have not all the
other candidates the same privilege of
going upon the stump? We will admit
that there is one candidate who cannot
do so, but he is debarred by reason of
whether in joint debate or
other wise, and we are glad to know
that he is a man who would not stoop
to lay under suspicion the integrity of
the judiciary of the state for all the pO-
litieal honors and preferments the party
could confer.
1t strikes us as being a piece of un-
justifiab1e meddlesomeness in the chair
man Of the democratic state executive
committee to take any part in the
for the nomination of a dem
ocratic senator by the party. This is
another illustration Of that ring-rule
and coercive policy Of the leaders of
democracy in this state which has
brought the party face to face with the
crisis which now confronts it. This is
the most momentous political conflict
our party has entered into since 1876.
In that campaign we made a desperate
effort to throw off the last vestige of
rule. In the elections of
1894 and 1896 we were defeated, but
with prospects Of rallying our forces
for better success in the future, which
we did in accomplishing the overthrow
Of the fusionists in 1898 and 1900; but
if We lose the battle in November this
state is hopelessly republican. There
is no use denying this fact.
Instead of doing all it can to capture
what is liable to become a floating
vote in this state, the leaders of the
party seem to shut their eyes to the
fact that there is certainty of there
arising such a political element in our
state. for the first time since the close
of the civil war, and insist on the dem
ocrats of former days submitting abb
solutely to their dictation as to party
policy and party measures. Can't they
learn that those days are passed?
We claim that Mr.. Simmons and his