Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1908-04-02
Craig for Governor.


To the Editor:
It has been my habit ever since I be-
nomination for various offices. I am
always for somebody and never against
any Democrat. This time I am for the
nomination Of Mr.. Locke Craig. I am
supporting him because I know him
and have known him for thirty years.
He and 1 were classmates, and T boarded
for one year at his mothers table. I
know the man in his personal and pri-
vate life; I know his public career. He
is a gentleman, a patriot and a states
man. He has the courage of his con-
victions. He has the unselfshness of a
genuine love for the people. No toll
has ever been too arduous for him to
undertake in behalf of Democracy. He
made the first speech which was made
in the year Of our revolution, 1895. It
was his speech which set the pace tor
that campaign.
I made the second speech from the
same platform with him, and followed
his footsteps. His speech was along
the line of appealing to the old De-
mocracy and going to the people on the
bad record made by the Republican
party. He frankly and openly avowed
the thought that a straight fight in be-
half of Democracy would redeem the
State. From the hour he made that
I~-1oob 49, k;1 klo o11@A;on - Nox1-oL--
1898, I never ceased to believe for one
moment that he would win the great
victory which he achieved that year.
While he was going to and fro through
the State awakening all our people, his
own people in Bumcomb be county NOM
mated him tor the Legislature md
elected him, and he came to the Legis-
lature in 1893 n rendered most val
nable service in perfecting the consti-
tutional amendment which has already
accomplished SO much good for the
State. But the adoption OF the amend
ment by the Legislature was but the
beginning of n OF the greatest fights
that this State has ever seen. The
"@ 0t0oA
by the people at first and the Republic
cans made a most adroit appeal to the
unlettered wife voters and sought to
convince them hat the adoption of the
amendment would disfranchise them
and their children.
No one contributed more to the re-
moval of this difficulty than Locke
Craig. AS I recall it, he began his can
vass in Buncombe county in January
or February OF 1900, and from then
until the November election he worked
without ceasing.
When I reached the moutains In May
of thai year., on my canvass, I found
that his splendid work had preceded
me and the Democracy was fast uniting
in support Of the amendment.9
When the election came, the fruit OF
his work in hat country was seen, from
the fact that the amendment came near
carrying the mountain district, and I
had carried it by o small majority, q
thing which no one would have pre-
dicted In January, 1900.
Mr.. Craig 10 a true Democrat, believ-
ing in the right of the people to make
nominations and platforms, but when
the platform is made and he Is elected
upon it., no number Of men, however
great, could make him vary one iota
from the requirements Of 1t. He is q
liberal and broad-minded man. He
loves his friends, and has no enemies
to hate. In hin as governor I believe we
shall have not only good government,
but good government with q united
party, carrying out every pledge in the
platform and steadily growing in the
confidence of the people.
I sincerely hope to see him nomi-
mated. That he would be elected fol-
lows as a matter of course.
Very truly, yours,
G. B. AYCOCK.