The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-04-30
BOTH sides OF CONTROVERSY PRESENTED
JUDGE WALTER CLARK DEFENDED
Mr.. W. p. Bachelor Replies to Maj Wilson and Ad
vocates the Nomination of Justice Clark
For Chief Justice.

and for Henry G.. Connor to succeed
Judge Armstead BurWell. as Associate
Justice"-two well known Democrats,
the two other gentlemen being equally
we'll known Republicans. Judge Clark
was at the Supreme Court room when
he heard news of his endorsement and
as / learn from Hon. +. r. Lacy, our
present public Treasurer he Immediate
ly sent for him and Hon. f. M. Simmons,
then and now Chairman OF the State
/ Democratic Executive Committee and
now Senator. Judge Clark stated 10
them so Mr.. Lacy says, that he was sur
prised, and said that the next day he
would come out in such card as they
thought proper, declining the endorse
ment, or he would take any other course
they thought proper. Chairman Simmons
advised his not declining, saying that he
| thought Judge Clark would probabl<-be
nominated for Associate Justice by the
Democratic Convention the following
week, and that it was his duty to his
party to obtain all the votes possible
for the candidate Of the Democratic
party. Judge Clark told him he had
carte blanche to write what he thought
fit and proper. 1t was thought best to
! puI IL III lllC lOl IA VI al AAAICA NiNN' "AAA
the following interview was thereupon
written entirely in Mr.. Simmons own
hand writing, and was adopted by Judge
Clark without alteration, and appeared
next morning in the News and Obser-
Yer, parallel with a column containing
the report of the Populist Convention.
The original in Mr.. Simmons hand writ
ing is still in existence and is in the
possession of Mr.. Lacy at the public
Treasury, where it can be seen. Here
is q copy as taken from the News and
Observer August End 1894, on file in the
State Library:
IAN INTERVIEW WITH JUDGE
CLARK"
Judge Clark was seen last night. and
said in substance: that the action OF the
Peoples party in endorsing him for AS
socate Justice was neither sought for IN
any way, or encouraged by him, that
While he greatly appreciated the desire
OF any body of his fellow citizens to elect
him to this position, it must be dis
tinctly understood that he is a Demo-
crat, and is not, and has not been can
Gidate fer the nomination or endorse
ment CT any party, except the Demo
cratic Party, that if nominated by the
Democratic Party at its convention on
August Sth, he would be a candidate for
recollection, otherwise he would not De a
, candidate"
The News and Observer in comment
, ing upon it states that Judge Clark and
Judge Connor had been nominated with
out their consent, suggests q reason wi y
Judge Connor would not be a candidate,
eoIIo :
not in the same boat Assuming the
Democrats will nominate him. he will
receive the votes Of his own party and
the Popuists, and it may be that tho
Republicans will follow suit ard he will
be elected unanimously"
On the following day the News and
Observer editorially, Capt. S. a. Ashc
being the editor, said as follows ct is
well to observe that Judge Clark in his
interview which we printed yesterday
says in effect, that the action of the
Populsts in endorsing him was without
his sanction, and that he would abide by
the action of the convention of his own
party just as if the Populists had taken
no such action. otherwise he will be no
candidate"
After these prompt and excellent de-
cl2ratiOns, the Populsts and Rcpubli-
cars who voted for him. could have no
misconception of his attitude.
Two days after Judge Clark's card.
Judge Connor published a very similar
, one in the News and Observer on Au-
, gust 4th The following wreck. on Au-
gust Sth. the Democratic Convention
met and with all the facts known to
(Nha
, and indeed to the public, Judge Clark
was unanimously nominated by the
Democratic party. Judge Connor could
: not run against Judge Burwell, the nom
inee of mis- own party. but Judge Clark
being the nominee of the Democratic
party had no right TO refuse any votes
rendered for its nominee His declara-
tion that he had not sought the Popu-
list endorsement is as explicit as pen
can make it, was written by the chairman
OF the Democratic party and was not de-
MED by single man, Populist or othe.
wise, in the whole state
Two year later, as Major Wilson SAYS
Judge Clark was rendered the Demo
, cratic nomination for Governor, and we
! know that he was unanimously endorsed
> for Vice-President by the State Con-
Vention. and later was voted for by sew
, eral States at Chicago as the running
mate Of Mr.. Bryan, and his friends say
o he failed of the nomination solely and
only because when boy he had been q
E Confederate soldier. After these part
endorsements, six or eight years ago. it
is too late to question his party loyal
ty. We who live in Raleigh. where he
Gc1 fnr al, ,r-A
' know that he has attended every Dem
|, ocratic primary and always voted the
a Der ccratic ticket without scratching
q For great part of the time / lived in
J, Continued or Page Three)