The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1908-06-11
M'Ninch Scores Simmons

Charlotte Man Severely Crit
cises Senior Senator for Mix
ing In the Gubernatorial
Fight---Thinks as Between
Democrats and All Good
Men He Should Keep Hands
Off.
The following open letter recently
written by Mr.. F. r. McNinch to
Senator Simmons explains itself:
Senator F. NJ. Simmons, Washington,
D. c.:
Dear Sir:--I have just read your
remarkable edict proclaiming Mr..
Craig our Governor-to-be,a and sug
costing by necessary Implication
that to vote against Mr.. Craig is les
majestic! Alas, after ten years Of un-
finching loyalty to you and your po-
litical fortunes l am now charged
I with the crime of treason against the
king merely because l am advocating
Mr.. Kitchin. I emphatically plead
mot guilty" to the charge. Yousay
that those of us who may have criti-
cised your unseemly interference in
the gubernatorial contest have used
that merely as a pretext for our
criticism, but that the real cause is
that we belong to a certain element
in the State which has long desired
, to get lick at you" This state
ment I resent, because | never have
sympathized with or belonged to any
political element inimical to you,
but on the contrary have, as already
stated, been your uncOmprOmislng
friend. That [ have criticised your
participation in the present contest
between Democrats is true, for l
think your activity is unprecedented,
in bad taste, and unj ustifable. The
gravamen of my criticism is thatyou
| now. occupy the exalted station OF
United States Senator by the support
of the friends of both Mr.. Horne and
Mr.. Kitchin as we'll as of Mr.. Craig;
that by reason of the high position
we have helped elevate you to, you
necessarily have greater influence
than you would have as private in
diyidual; that having accepted our
support to gain your vantage ground
| you now turn upon us and use it
| against us. Is that fair to your
friends who happen also to be the
friends of either Mr.. Kitchin or Mr..
Horne?
But you say, Senator, that you
"would hold your tongue in this
contest but for the 'assaults upon
you and Mr.. Craig" Let us see: Were
you not actively supporting Mr..
Craig long before it occurred to any
one to criticise you? Are not the
assaults" upon you, which you say
are "unparalleled' the direct and
natural result of your unparalleled
interference from Washington in a
contest here at home between Demo-
Gratis? You say that early in the
contest you declared for Mr.. Craig:
did your colleague, Senator Overman,
declare early or at all for either?
Did ever before Senator from North
! Carolina "declare' for one Democrat
against another in such contest?
And before you declared" for Mr..
Craig did you not write, or cause to
be written, a letter to him, or to
another, encourag cling him to run,
and pledging your support? And
did not your secretary about a year
ago, with your consent and approval,
make a visit to Mecklenburg and
other counties, and let it be known
that you were for Mr.. Craig? Nc
assaults had then been made upon
you. But you say that "surely it is
my duty, having special knowledge
of the facts gained as chairman, tc
see that a faithful party worker is
not denied credit for his work
and elsewhere in your letter you ex
ercise a commendable though tardy
= solicitude to reward Mr.. Craig fol
his party services. When did yol
experience such a conviction of duty
to reward him? Certainly you die
not advocate his nomination fol
Governor four years ago when th'
west was entitled to and got thu
nomination. And why, Senator, die
you refuse to lend your assistance tt
Mr.. Craig when he ran for the SENATE
against Hon. G. B. Watson and Hon