The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-04-30
ATTACK ON JUDGE WALTER CLARK
Mai J. W. Wilson Attacks Justice Clark and Opposes
His Nomination as Chief Justice of the
Supreme Court

The political situation in North Caro-
lima is one of some uncertainty. The
approaching election is to be held under
conditions and circumstances that are
new to us; we cannot with any certainty
foretell the result of the various changes
in the Constitution and the election laws
enacted since the last election. The
enemy is awake, preparing for vigor-
Gus campaign. 1t therefore behooves us
to look we'll to our defences, to take
counsel of one another, to plan wisely,
to execute carefully.
We are just now emerging from the
baneful effects of Fusion rule in North
Carolina. The education of our people
and the industrial development of our
natural resources will soon put our State
in the front rank of Commonwealths;
but mistake now would be fatal. l
feel that my life long adherence to the
Democratic party gives me the right to
speak to Democrats My knowledge of
Il peculiar danger that confronts the par
ty impels me to warn it. l respectfully
ask the thoughtful attention of all Dem
ocrats, leaders in party thought and ac-
tion, as well as the rank and file, to
whatI have to say.
The candidacy of Associate Justice
Walter Clark for the nomination at the
hands of the Democratic party for the
office of Chief Justice of North Caro-
lina is openly avowed, and seems to be
seriously received. Personal injustice
received at the hands of this man led
me to an investigation, the result OF
which 1 feel it is my duty to make
public. If any charge l shall make is
untrue, Judge Clark has his remedy In
a suit for libel, and he may be sure /
shall plead justification and produce
proof
Judge Clark should not be nominated
by the Democratic party because.
l. He is not a Democrat, ana was
against us during the Fusion regime.
2. He is morally unfit for the place.
8. He is not and was not. during the
Fusion regime, Democrat. In the
first place, he was elected in 1894 by
Fusion votes. The Democratic judicial
ticket headed by Judge Shepherd in
Guiding Clark-was defeated. The Fu-
sion judicial ticket, headed by Fair
cloth-including Clark-was elected.
Judge Connor declined the Fusion nomi-
ration (as any other Democrat would
have done). Judge Clark accepted it,
at least by not declining, and was elect
ed by Fusion y1+cs Clark, Democrat,
was defeated. and there has been no
such person in 'Iorth Carolina since that
election. Hang turned his face to-
wards Sodonl.'' is II any wonder he was
soon deep in the fiesh-pots of Fusion
ism? What was his own estimate of
his political etatus at that time? Let
us see. IIc undertook to convince the
good ercagh a Populist TO go to the
United States Senate instead of Mr..
Marion Butler. He held private inter
views With leading Ponulsts in the Leg
islature Ct 1895, and sough- at their
hands the senatorship, pleading that lie
had the endorsement of the Populist
party in the election Of 1894. When he
says for himself that he is a PopuliSt,
shall Democrats gainsay him?
He was the confidential adviser of
Eutler. Russell. Aver & Co. He had
private nay, even secret conferences with
them; he inspired and suggested edito-
rials in the Caucasian while the Fusion
lists were in control; he was one of them.
Throughout the whole Gf that black page
in North Carolina's history he was III
close touch with the enemies of de
mocracy. He had 40 sympathy nor en-
cCuragement for the Democratic party
during the White Supremacy campaign of
1898; instead he was comforting secretly
with Marion Butler, with DIR. Thompson
with Hal Aver, With Mr.. Cade and other
leading Populists. He thought the De-
mocracy was done for in North Carolina,
and aligned himself with, what he
thought was, the winning side. After
Faircloth died and before te was buried,
he requested DR.. Cyrus Thompson to see
Governor Russell in his behalf, asl1ing
for himself the appointment as thiel
Justice to succeed Faircloth, saying that
his appointment would be acceptable to
the Fusionists, and referring again tc
the support they gave him in 1894.
His correspondence with Governor Rus
sell. Mr.. Butler, Mr.. Cade and other
Populists was very volunminous, very in
teresting. and a part at least is still in
existence He wrote and spoke freely
then, because he thought Democracy was
a dead duck in North Carolina. He
was not a Democrat then. he is not a
Democrat now, and he cannot be elected
Chief Justice of North Carolina. II
nominated, the correspondence l have re-
ferred to will be produced and scattered
broadcast over the State. Republican and
Populist leaders may be able to whip
their followers in line and elect unfit
ren to office, but Democrats have too
much intelligence and too much honesty
to vote for such a man; they cannot
be made to do it.
Already these things are flying from
mouth to mouth, and this hidden history
or "a to '9S is even now the subject OF
common talk. If Judge Clark shall be
the standard bearer of the Democratic
party in this year of 1902 Democracy
is doomed TO defeat.
In October 1898, when it became ap-
parent that the Democrats would win