The news & observer., 1905-12-15
Says Attitude of Senator
Simmons Was Not Gen
orally Known.
GLAD He HAS SPOKEN
Mr.. Johnson Had Never Seen any Pub
locations Showing Favorable
Attitude of the SeratGr on
Rate Regulation, He

VI y
the Merchants Journal. was shown
yesterday the Interview of Senator
simmons in The News and Observer
with reference to the Senator's at
titude on the rate-making legislation.
Mr.. Johnson said:
The brief editorial in the Mer-
chants Journal seems to have kindled
the wrath OF Senator Simmons, and
caused him to lose his temper and re-
sort to several questions not germane
To the subject, and which it becomes
me to ignore. The article was Writ
ten without malice or ulterior pur-
poses and is in these words:
1T also might be mentioned
that United States Senator F. NJ
Simmons is keeping quiet in seven
or more different languages as to
his attitude on Railway Rate
Regulation"
That editorial paragraph" con-
tinued Mr.. Johnson, does not state
that Senator simmons was for or
against Railway Rate Regulation, but
calls attention to the fact that he was
silent on this ali important question
at a time when nothing less than en-
thusiastic and persistent advocacy of
such legislation was necessary.
Il have been in cXtreme doubt as
to the Senator's attitude. l read
nearly every paper published in North
Carolina and read them carefully. |
have never read the personal letters
that Senator Simmons has written to
private individuals. They were not
written for the public. In regard TO
his letter published yesterday in The
News and Observer to the Secretary
of the Chamber of Commerce of
Greensboro, dated August 25th, 1905.
and which he says was We'll dissent
mated throughout the State press. L
frankly confess that l have never seen
or heard of it before it appeared yes
terday. although ! read every day The
News and Observer. Raleigh Evening
Times, Wilmington Messenger, Star,
Charlotte Observer, News and Chron-
icle AsneViIle Citizen, Gazette-NewS
and other publications. What is more.
Ishave. today carefully examined the
files of these publications, including
the Morning Post, which was pub-
lished at that time. and no where on
or between the dates Of August 2Hta
the date of the said letter. and Sep
tember lst, does this letter appear,
Important news Of this nature is rarely
ever kept out of such publications
later that the day it is given out.
1t ic also significant that no editorial
has ever appeared in q State paper
calling specific attention to the Sena-
tors attitude. This silence of the press
can be explained in no other way eX-
cept il be that Senator Simmons at
titude had not been clearly defined. L
read practically every newspaper IN
North Carolina, and | am sure that
very little. if any, editorial space has
been given to the Senator's views on
this question. Because nothing came
from the Senator. and the further
fact. that Harper's Weekly. one of
the leading national publications IN
a very recent issue. placed Senator
simmons name among those of
doubtful attitude. | feel that my edi-
toriai was timely.
II congratulate Senator Simmons on
his letter To the Salisbury Labor Or
ganization, in which he states that he
favors 1.-The adoption of legislation
giving the Interstate Commerce Com
mission adequate power to regulate
rates when the rates prescribed by the
road. are found after an investig ttion
and hearing, to be unjust.
The Senator deserves the com
mendation of the people of North
Carolina for this clear and emphatic
statement and it is news to great
many of his constituents
senator simmons views, ] think
were not generally known. Certainly
The facts that l have set forth Wou q
Indicate this. and | feel that | nave
done Senator Simmons great taVof
by publishing the editorial. as the :et-
tar to the Salisbury Labor Organi-a- /
ton would not have been publ'sned
had not the editorial appeared in The
Merchants Journal I beg also 10
"all attention to the fact that me
Merchants Journal appeared on De.
"emher 1st and that the letter OF
Senator Simmons was dated Decem-
her 18th. l merelv wanted to know
his attitude. and 7 am glad he eX-
pressed himself publicly on this ques-
ton. | hope that Senator simmons
win now he convinced that the publ
cation 6nes not only purport to rep
resent the Retail Merchants Assocla-
-ion. but II does represent il, and II
has GOno both him. and the associa-
tion. q valuable service in removing
whatever of doubt there was in re-
~o~' 70 his attitude
'T l,ovo hoen told tc6~v nv Col.
T~o7 Hlde Robert NJ Phillips
~'~renoa II. Poe-all prominent news
~a~~r ~noo-"nd others equally prom
'0c1f = tho busira interests Of tho
state. that they do not recall seeing
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