The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-03-08
Mr. James D. McNeill Makes Reply.

To the Editor: With his characteristic
way of meddling with other folks al
fairs. | notice that Mr.. Mckelway, Oh
Charlotte, criticizes my article in re-
cent issue of your paper in regard 10
nv action as Senator from Cumberland
In the Senate of 1901. His attempt TO
.ekeep the record straight, is fair
sample of his general idea of right ana
wrong l certainly, however, thank him
for the opportunity that he gives me to
truthfully explain any wrong impress
sions that my friends throughout the
State may have formed from his attempt
20 present the record correct: l again
state that a White Primary was called.
not by myself-but by the members or
the House and myself-after a full con-
sultation with over two hundred leading
representative men from all parts of the
county to finally settle the question OF
the dispensary in Cumberland. Over 30
davis notice was given. The election was
not held under my auspices was
held by well-known representative men
at every election precinct-and although
the date of the primary was in February
and no other issue presented-still the
vote cast will favorably compare with
the Simmons Carr Senatorial primary,
which as all know, was held in conJunc-
ton with our National election. The dis
pensary vote was $40; against 81 for.
The vote for Senator Simmons was, 1,126;
for General Carr, 507-where were tho
3 300 registered voters in the Senatorial
urinary? Both of these were Demo-
cratic primaries AT one both side anxious
to bring out a full vote-at the other
the Dispensary people-doing all in their
power to prevent a full Vote-keeps the
record straight. Again-the Senate did
not vote to defeat the will of the white
men of Cumberland-as your correspond
ent states but passed the bill by ma
iority of over to ! on its merits and not
on o. X of Senatorial Courtesy" The
bill was afterwards defeated in the House
bv small majority, on account of some
of the prohbitionists not understanding
the after effects of the bill. Keep the
record straight and truthfully
Again-The Prohibition bill was intro
duced, and though fought by Mr.. Nc
Kelway's friends-was passed in order to
carry into effect the result of the white
primary-which instructed us to abolish
| the dispeansary leaving prohibition,
which has since been endorsed by the
people at the polls, Keep the record
straight.
/ now ask the pardon OF your readers
for a personal allusion made necessary
by Mr.. McKelway's article. In the may
orally election to which he refers, the
municipal ticket upon which l was a
candidate was opposed by a very mixed
combination. The entire city admins
tration. then in power, consisting of II
aldermen-3 members of the Board of
Audit and Finance. The dispensary and
| it's management-thc police and all of the
beneficiaries of the city. In addition,
notwithstanding, there was a Democratic
newspaper of the strietest sect in the
city-Mr. McKelway's friends started an
opposition paper-whOse daily song was
o convince the negro vote that was a
very bad man-was the leader of the
Red Shirts"-and the advocate of the
Constitutional Amendment-that as Sec
rotary of the State Board of Elections
that / stole the State" and that
would enforce the laws" and "niggeI
| would not be in it," etc. etc. Quite ma
turally this solidified the $40 odd Negro
votes. which with Mr.. McKelway'
friends, carried the day and oyerwhelm-
ingly defeated the ticket that my name
was upon. Yes. keep the record straight
| lit is very crcditable to Mr.. McKelway
and his friends from a Democratic stand
point.
| Living in a smaIl ward-only 40 votes
| and having a Ter of prohibitionists
| and city officials IN it, l failed by one
vote to secure majority at city pri-
| nary. To accomplish this result, how
| over. the City Executive Committee ha6
10 deter from voting residents openly
| for me. on account of their having failed
| 20 register on the municipal books.
AS TO the Senatorial nomination, he is
| badly out of joint in his attempt to keeI
| the record straight.
Immediately, upon my return from tn.