The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1908-03-30

borders or North Carolina.
The app, ais from the negro
ridden counties of Eastern North
Caroilla to the Western Democ.
racy was not made in vain and
the assistance the Eastern Dem
ocracy received during those DARK
days from their Western bretb.
ren ought never to be forgotten
and in my Judgment this would
be most fitting occasion for the
Eastern Democracy to show their
appreciation for assistance rem
dered them in that awful hour,
for in honoring Locke Craig, the
faVorite and choice Of the West
ern Democracy, you would in
part repay them for their loyalty
and self sacrifice.
From the standpoint of party
service, Craig's nomination
would be just recognition of the
many years Of faithful and effect
i've work for the party by a man
who, for twenty years, has been
canvassing North Carolina for
the Democratic party. l make
this assertion without fear ofsuc-
cessful contradiction. Locke
Craig has done more work for
the Democratic party in North
Carolina than any manin the
State who has not been reward
ed. Craig's friends do not claim
the Democratic party is under
obligations to him, but want to
say that do not belong to that
class of Democrats who are to-
day end-avoring to minimize the
services rendered the party in
the dark days of Republican
misrule, by such men as Sim
mons, Az cock. Glenn and Craig.
The Democratic voters should
not forget that in three Presi
dental eections Locke Craig can.
vaSSed the State as Presidential
Elector, once as a Cleveland Elec
tor and twice rs Bryan Blector
For twenty years or more his SCI
vices have been at the command
Of the Democratic party and al
though he was = man of limited
means he left his work and at a
great pecuniary sacrifice to him
self he gave his time and servic,
es to the Democratic party, pay.
ing his own expenses wherever
he went. How many counties in
Eastern North Carolina that
Craig did not visit? l venture to
say very few.
Locke Craig has labored all
these years with zeal and devo
tlonafor the principles of Democ.
racy that challenge our admira'
lion, and now his friends think a
generous and appreciative Dem
ocracy should honor him.
| 1t was my privilege to serve ir
the Legislature with Locke CraiQ
and there I learned to admire anG
appreciate him. His record as Z
legislator is well-known.
He was one of the most inAu
ential and prominent members O
the Legislature that passed tn
constitutional amendment tina
meant so much to the eastern
counties. His speech in th
General Assembly in support Q
the constitutional amsndmen
and his campaign for the amend
ment in 1900 should live in tn
memory of our people.
The part that Locke Craig too
in the passage and adoption {
, the amendment that liberated tt
: white people of Eastern Mort
/ Carolina from the curse Of negI
r domination cannot be overes,
: mated. Having been born an
? reared in Eastern North Car
= lima, having canvassed almost e
t cry county in the East, he kne
o what our people had to confer
: with and 50 with the "esteI
J. Democrats, Wuo were not afflict'
e with negro rule and thereforen
: benefited by the amendmel
Locke Craig plead the cause
the negro-ridden counties of t
e East and welded a mighty inf
y ence in persuading the Weste
y Democracy to come TO the rel
j. of Eastern North Carolina.
t. Craig is an Eastern man livi
ig in Western North Carolina.
st loves every inch of North Ca
RS lima soil, but no section moretf
N that of his nativity, and the 10.
al service be has always render
in the Eastern Democracy sho
nt secure for him a warm place
rn cur hearts.