The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-04-29
For Governor-CharIes NJ. stcdman.


TO the Editor-One of the signif-
cant things about Major Stedman's
campaign for the gubernatorial nomi-
nation is the large number of personal
friends in every section of the State
who are working for him. His friends
are making his fight for him. And
what a host of them he has! 1t is
said that every man with whom Major
Stedman has ever associated on terms
of friendship during his young man
hood or in middle age, is enthusiastic
cally supporting him in his present
ambition. This is a great thing to
say of any man, for a man may be
known as well by the friends as by the
enemies he has made.
What is the secret of this power to
attract and hold men? | know that
his rich experience in affairs, his equa-
bic temper, his mature judgment,
have influenced many in his favor
who believe that the State needs as
chief executive man with these quail
ifications. But this is not the secret.
Nor can it be wholly because he is
courteous and kindly and consider
ate, q gentleman of the old school
and he is all these things; many men
have these qualities who are not so
successful as Major Stedman in quest
of friendship. The secret lies in his
possessing a quality that is a much
rarer thing, particularly in candidates
for office, than courtesy and kindli-
ness and consideration. and that Is
sincerity. The point is that he has
always been just the same kindly,
considerate gentleman that he is now.
All who have known him will testify
that Charles M. Stedman was the
same yesterday that he is today. These
characteristics of the true gentleman
which have attributed to him are not
worn in his case as a mere campaign
garment. In him they are the mani
festations of a sincere soul
1t is common knowledge that the
cheap politician is a past master in
the art of hypocrisy. He is Bon vi
want or Puritan, Prohibitionist or Sa-
loon defender, Christian or Scooter. q
Free Trader or Protectionst, for Mo-
nopolies or against them-anything to
suit the pejudices or beliefs of those
whose votes he wants. He can be-
come all things to all men With q IA
cility which would excite our admira
ton except that it arouses our con-
tempt. This is not the class to which
Major Stedman belongs. He would
scorn to deceive any man for the pal
try price of a vote. You will never
find him making red hot prohibition
speech and then scooting to the near
est saloon to fill his stomach and his
pockets with whiskey You will not
ma him accepting employment Of the
trusts and the railroads and then with
their money in his pockets, vehement-
ly denouncing them on the stump and
posing as the friend of the people. If
he did, it would not be surprising to
find him distrusted both by the cor
porations and the people. There are
some things sincere gentleman can
not do. Charles M. Stedman is not >
hypocrit.
Some times one act in mans ca
reer will so illuminate him that all
may see him as he is. There is one
act in Major Stedman's political life
| may call it the initiatory act Of his
political cafeer-which shows him 10
us In his essence as volumes might
not do ] want the people of North
Carolina to know about it. At one