The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-07-07
The Judgeship i'm The First District

The Democrats of Gates County
have heretofore announced that, as
soon as it was ascertained when and
how Judge Browns successor would
he named, they would present the
name Of Hon. l.. l.. Smith FOR that re-
sponsible position and in behalf OF
our candidate we want nothing but
fair play and a full expression OF the
wishes of the people of the district.
No judicial convention has yet peen
called and the matter of choice Tor
indee of the district has not been sub
mitted to the primaries in the several
precincts according to the plan OF Or
aanization. Some counties anticipat-
ing the call of a convention nave Sc
lccted delegates to the judicial con-
vention. but that would seem TO be
premature inaSmuch as it was not
known and is not now known that a
judicial convention VIII be called.
In the event that Judge Brown re-
signs before the election, we respect
fully ask the Executive Committee Oh
the District, in their call for the Ju-
dicial convention. to request the sew
eral counties to hold conventions for
the purpose of selecting delegates to
that convention, and we request also
the executive committees of the sew
eral counties to provide for the mold
ing OF primaries in the several pre-
cincts. in order that all the candidates
for judge may have a fair chance be-
fore the people.
The friends of some of the candi-
dates have heretofore refrained from
any activity in the county conventions
already held, because they regarded
such action as premature, until a
district convention has been called,
and for that reason many counties
have not selected delegates to the jul
dicial convention, having no authority
to do SO.
1t is therefore apparent that the
above suggestions are made in the
interest of fair play and democratic
harmony in the district
Now if Judge Brown does resign
and convention shall be called, and
if the Solicitor of the District is to be
a candidate for judge before that con-
VentiOn, then as a matter of justice
and fairness to all we most respectful
ly suggest that he ought to resign as
Solicitor, as soon as Judge Brown re-
signs then the convention will be
called to fill both vacancies. For un-
less he does resign what right would
the district committee have to call a
convention to nominate a solicitor,
when there is on vacancy? And what
right would they have to assume that
the solicitor will be nominated for
judge, and a vacancy thereby created ?
1t is, therefore, a matter of simple
justice to all the other candidates for
Judge, and especially to relieve the
candidates for solicitor from all en-
harraSsment, as to their choice and
the choice of their friends for the
judgeship, that we repeatedly and
respectfully suggest that, if the soil
citor. in order that the field may be
open and free to all candidates for
either position ii is a peculiar con
dition that confronts us, and we ought
to see that no injustice is done there
by, ~
We ask only for what is fair and
right for all and a full and free ex-
preston from the people of the dis
trict.
The Democrats OF Gates want to be
recognized. and we think this is a
good time for IL.
We most earnestly appeal to the
Democrats of the district to consider
the qualifications and claims of Mr.
Smith as candidate for judge. Out