The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-02-23
SIMMONS SUSTAINED


Was Prolonged Far Into the Night
and at Times The Discussion Be
came Passionate and Thrilled Will
The Force Of Dramatic Power, anC
as II Became Apparent That Sena
tor Simmons Would Be Sustained
the Opponents Of The Ward Bill Were
Earnest and Vigorous in Their Ap
peaIs.
Resolved. that the committee take
no action i'm reference to matters sci
out in the call.
The above resolution, offered by MFR.
JOscphus Daniels, was adopted by a
vote OF fifty to twenty-five cOnstitu-
cnts the outcome of the meeting of
the executive. central and advisory
committees. which was called BY Sen
atOr Simmons at the request OF pInc-
teen members of the executive cp,l-
mittcc to consider pending legislation
and obtain q construction OF the la st
Democratic platform by the commit
tee.
The meeting of the joint executive.
central and advisory committees OF
the Democratic party. called by Sena-
tor Simmons to meet last night upon
the request for q meeting of the exec
utive committee signed by nineteen
members thereof consumed over four
hours time in the House of ReDresen-
tativeS and concluded at two O'Clock
this morning.
The argument was heated through
out and at times extreme. Messrs.
Hackett, Watson and Gillian speak
ing at times with the greatest bitter
ness and prophesying party calamity
as the result of the passage of the
Ward BILL which all speakers con-
cede will be passed.
During the progress of the discus
sion there were introduced a num-
Der of resolutions. one that the exec
utive committee had no power to IN
struct or advise the legislature nor
to construe party platforms. another
to take no action and still others by
parties representing the callers of the
meeting TO take the testimony of
members of the platform committee
at the State convention, and TO con-
strue the platform as to whether it
meant that the declaration on the
Watts bill meant that measure was to
be made more lax or more stringent.
At times the discussion was most
dramatic in quality and there were
evidences on all sides of extreme
feeling and of the greatest serious
ness. Passionate utterances followed
one another on the floor and. as it
sann mo mt
mons would be sustained. the oppon-
ents of the Ward bill became almost
desperate in their appeals. realizing
as they did that they were falling
on the deaf ears of q majority of the
members.
Test Vote Shows Result.
Sixty-eight members of the COM
mittee were represented at half-paSt
eight either in person or by proxy.
Almost in the beginning the strength
OF the faction represented by Senator
Simmons and that lead by Messrs.
Hackett Gillian and Woodland was
clearly indicated by vote which
arose on the election of a member of
the central committee to succeed DIR.
McClelland. deceased. Mr.. Hackett
announced the death of DR.. McClel-
land and stated that by a vote of the
members of the executive committee
the Eighth District, Mr.. Murphy. OF
Rowan. had been selected to fill the
vacancy Whereupon Col. Means
nominated for the position Senator
Long. of Iredell. on the ground that
while Rowan was represented. Iredell
was not. There was vigorous OppoSi-
ton TO Mr.. Long on the ground that
it had been the c-.stom of the COM
mittee to name members in accord
ance with the views of the members
of the district concerned. that
idea being combatted by the friends
of Senator Simmons.
AS Mr.. Long has been a most pro-
nounced advocate of every bill looking
to the restriction of liquor and Mr..
Murphy has been unfaltering in oppo-
sition to the Ward bill and similar
legislation, the lines We're drawn in
the election of the new member and
after the election of Mr.. Long by
considerable majority it was evident
to all sides that an implied endorse
ment of the Ward bill by the commit
tee was q forgone conclusion.
During the discussion of this point
Mr.. Hackett made the point of order
that only members of the executive
committee had a right to vote in the
election of the new member. This
was promptly ruled down by the
chairman and the spirit of the signers
of the call was shown by Mr. Hackett
who as he turned back to his seat. re-
marked audibly: Its what l expect
ed:I am not surprised at the ruling.
Mr.. Hackett was sustained in his
point by Mr.. Wilson G.. Lamb
After some further discussion put
the nominations before the body. the
result being the election of Mr.. Long
as a member of the committee. While
the vote was being taken Mr. Mcneil.
of Cumberland, remarked that he was
accustomed to being in the minority
and would therefore vote for Mr.. Muir
ply
On the call of the roll for the vote.
it appeared that there were two sprox-
les outstanding from member Finch.
Mr.. Williams, of Davidson. holding
one and Mr.. Warner the other AS
Mr.. Williams proxy was dated the