The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-03-19
OPPOSES A PRIMARY
Hon. T. G. Skinner Wants
Senators Elected as of0ld
Argues Against Proposition 10 Elect Senators
by People, Wants no Change in Plans
The Fathers MadP.

cratic Executive Committee will meet in
Raleigh soon for the purpose of outlining
campaign for good government, etc.
One of the questions that is apt to
come up for their consideration is the
primary, and | desire to say to the COM
mittee that this part of the State is OPP
posed TO the primary: at the last State
Convention | and several others opposed
| the Senatorial primary and a large ma
jority OF the delegates to that convention
were with us; in fact we had 1t beaten,
if We could have gotten on it in full
convention; but we did not do so. It was
adopted, | think, against the protest of
majority of those present
Now, Mr.. Editor, if any thing could
have beaten the Democratic party in 1900
the primary would have done so. for in
spite of the patriotic efforts of the lead
ers of the party there were in several
parts of the State ordinations and re-
ordinations. between the friends of the
rival candidates for the United States
Senate
But just imagine If you can the heat
and hate that is likely to be generated
in the free rail- contest for United
States Senator and Supreme Court judges
this year
Look at the disgraceful spectacle now
being exhibited to the public in Arkan-
sas. J. K. Jones and his opponents act
ually canvassng the State and indulging
in the pleasure of washing their dirty
linen publicly. Jones being charged with
belonging to the round cotton bale trust
and his opponent with some shadowy
doings in bankruptcy proceeding and both
engaged in furnishing campaign thunder to
the Republicans. Now 1 do not fear any
charge that can be substantiated against
any probable candidate of the Democratic
party this year, but just picture in your
mind the state of affairs in the Demo-
cratic ranks, if the friends of Glenn.
Overman, Craig, Watson and Hoke and
others, that / do not call to mind. indulge
in getting up charges against the candi-
dates for the exalted position of United
States Senator, and the papers filled with
cards denying or explaining the charges
and making Others-and | am also afraid
that even the friends of the candidates
for judges will not be able to restrain
their zeal and will go into the business
OF throwing mud.
No, we the common people in this Sec
ton of the State, do not desire to see such
a spectacle; nor any such like thing that
will have any tendency to disrupt the
Democratic party. Give us the good old
plan of county district and State conven-
tions. Let us meet in our neighborhoOds
and send delegates to the county conven-
tion and then let the county convention
send delegates to the district and State
who have the welfare of the State-in-
cidentally of the party-at heart. and
we will thus select the best men to run
for the several offices. and furnish no
campaign thunder to our opponents and
all the candidates and their friends will
return to their homes determined to win,
and victory will be sure to crown their
efforts.
l desire to say, in this connection, that
this new-fangled idea that the United
States Senators should be elected by a
direct vote of the people is all wrong.
Those who advocate this plan, imagine
that they have more political sagacity
than the founders of the republic. But it
is purely imagination nothing more;
Washington and Jefferson and Hamilton
and their compatriots studied the situa-
ton and with prayer formed the Consti-
tuition and laid the mud-sills of the re-
public. They were, / think inspired, and
I think that we ought to tamper very
little, IL any, with their work. Besides.
whenever We elect the Senators by a
direct vote of the people we virtually do
away with the Senate and We had just
as well make the House of Represen-
tatives and Senate into one body: for they
will not act as a check to each other any
longer-both being answerable to the
same tribunal.
Let's hold on a few more years to some
part of the work which the founders
of the government did and under which
we have prospered.
l hope there will be no more innova-
tions until l get out of the way. The
present system of electing United States
Senators suits me and l think it suits a
large majority of the people of my ac
quaintance.
Don't let it be changed. Protest against
it. Fight it with all the power you have.
Don't let the executive committee recon-
mend it, Let North Carolina retain her
reputation for conservatism and call
halt on the Smart Alexis who want to
pull down our old house and build in its
place a modern, more modern edifice.