The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-06-05
UEPATRIOTIC STIFFNESS.

Some weeks ago, in The Commoner, Mr..
Bryan said he would publish a weekly
sketch Of an able Democrat worthy to be
the Democratic nominee for President in
1904 Among few others he has named
Chief Justice Walter Clark, of North Caro-
Ina. Immediately the grand circuit of
monopolistic or anti-Democratic papers,
which had openly or secretly fought the
Democratic national ticket in 90 and 1900.
and used all the influence they could com
mand to defeat Judge Clark for Chief
Justiee-the whole half dozen of the North
Carolina ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS press began
an exhibition of unpatriotic Stiffness never
equalled except in the absurd and impo-
tent onslaught against Judge Clark IN
1902
There isn't a ten year old boy in North
Carolina who does not know that neither
Chief Justice Clark nor any other man who
served in the Confederate army will be
nominated for President, but every one
of them rejoices to know that abroad as
well as at home it is recognized that we
have men qualified for that great office.
This paper is always glad when North
recognizes his fitness for high hon
ors. That is the feeling of all patriotic
North Carolnians and the cheap wit of
boilers and monopoly organs directed at
Mr.. Bryan's suggestion has Disguised all
good North Carolinians, independent of
whether they agree with Chief Justice
Clark's views or not. If Judge Clark had
gone West when young, or had even been
a grandson OF North Carolina, risen to
be Chief Justice of some Western State,
and been mentioned for the Presidency,
the very papers now abusing him would
good old North Carolina stock. He
made the mistake-if he desired their com
mendation-of staying home and fighting
monopoly But in 1896 and 1900 Mr..
Bryan carried the State, though Vice
President Andrews, of the Southern Rail-
way, boss of the monopoly crowd, and
everybody he could influence, voted for
Mckinley, and in 1902 Judge Clark won
in a walk in spite of their venomous hos
tility I'm fact the hostility of the mon
opoly crowd is the best thing that can
happen to any honest man who wishes
preferment in North Carolina. Good men
avoid their support as they would the
bite of a poisonous serpent, for they never
earnestly support any man not believed
to belong to the monopolies or capable of
being seduced.
The Freeport qll) Daily Journal, writ
igg of the suggestion of Judge Clark for
the Presidency. says:
Judge Walter Clark, Chief Justice of
the Supreme Court of North Carolina, is
said to have the earnest support of Will
liam Jennings Bryan for the nomination
for President by the next National Demo-
cratic convention. He would be an ideal
candidate for the Democrats; a clean, hon
orable able, well educated gentleman, al
ways popular with the people, and a bit
ter opponent of monopolies. He was a
gallant soldier in the Confederate army,
a circumstance that would make him ex-
ceedingly popular with the Democrats of
the South and that would be no objec-
ton to the Democrats of the North. We
still think that the Democrats will nomi-
nate Judge Alton b. Parker, of New
York, because the Democrats must carry
New York in order to elect their candi-
date North Carolina will support any
candidate from any State that the Demo
Gratis may nominate. But Mr. Bryan is
certain to control many delegates in the
next National Democratic convention, and
Judge Walter Clark may be nominated
for President, and if he is he will make
a strong candidate and grow In strength
from the day he is nominated until the
election. IF THE DEMOCRATS ARE
GOING TO CONDUCT THE CAM
PAIGN ON THE ANTI-MONOPOLY
ISSUE, JUDGE CLARK WOULD BE
THE STRONGEST CANDIDATE THAT
the Democrats could place in nomination. !"
The only mistake made by the Journal
is that Judge Clark is to have 'the earn
est support of William Jennings Bryan .