The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1908-06-04
LOCKE CRAIG FOR GOVERN
-
OR.
J. w. Bailey, Former Editor of
the Biblical Recorder, Gives
Convincing Reasons Why He
Should be Nominated.

the Biblical Recorder, Gives
Convincing Reasons Why He
Should be Nominated.
The Robesonian has been re-
quested to reproduce the follow
ing letter from The Raleigh
News and Observer Of March
22d.
To the Editor:-I wish to sub
nit, through the columns Of the
News and Observer, some con-
siderations with a view to the
nomination of Mr.. Locke Craig
by the Democratic party to be
| Governor of North Carolina. |
am for Mr.. Craig, not by reason
of any obligation whatever or
any peculiar relation to him. |
am for him because of reasons
which constrain me as a citizen
and a Democrat; and, therefore,
| venture to think that a plain
statement of them may appeal in
| like manner to other citizens
and Democrats.
First of all, let it be under
stood that the present political
conditions are unusual. There
have been periods when the
Democratic party might choose
it's standard-bearer indifferently
from among many of it's leaders
with impunity. There never
was time when it could afford
to choose men who were not
leaders, but only because they
wished the honor of being Gov
ernor. 1t is true that our ma
jority in the State is large. But
it is likewise true that a long
period of national defeats has
seriously diminished the party's
prestige, even so that in the Solid
South, there are tendencies
which must gravely concern
every Democrat who reckons
with the future rather than the
! immediate present. 1t is the
South's peculiar duty to main
tain the party's spirit and the
party's strength in these trying
years, abiding the time when oul
: whole country will sicken of the
Republican and look once more
to the party which gave it the
immemorable glory of those
great years when the nation was
forming.
If we in North Carolina would
, perform this duty, we must b.
Y sure to commit the party's stand
7 ard to men not only worthy O
o the party's name, but such a
will readily command on thei
own account the glad acclaim O
r all classes of the people-yOuni
a men, business men, farmers an,
r professional classes. We mus
select men that will add to tn
party's ranks; not men VIII
t create unnecessary antagonisms
S men who make for unity, no
S division; men who in themselve
Il represent the party's and people
ideals, and not their own person
=, al craving for honor or power
1t men whose records speak Of as
g gressive measures for the publ
d good rather than of private {
IS public selfshness.
Moreover, within the State til
aggressive policies of the Demo
n cratic party have produced a
IS extraordinary degree of unres
ID This was inevitable. and is NJ
:. to be regretted. l do not depr'
lf cate these policies. If there hay
Il been blunders, they were blun'
al ers in the right direction; and "
h will not abandon our course. v
IS will go on in our work for ter
N perance; we will go on in Of
- control of the public service co
d porations, we will go on Wi
/ our war against the trust
Nothing could be so fatal to Il
r party as to hesitate here. B
N if we would go on SUCCESSFULLY;
" we would go on to victory; v
~ must proceed by means of lea
IN ers who will act intelligently al
ar not strike blindly; who will NAL
r the battle for the causes sal
no and not for the fame of it; WI
0e will be moved by the highe
II motives, not by personal animus
on any malice whatever and ce
If. tainly not by mere selfish al
he billions of any sort,
~ In Mr.. Craig we have such
y man. He can be trusted to mai
t tain the party's policy; and
n maintain it intelligently and wi
If noble purpose. In him we ha
% a citizen who would come in
ro Office with no old scores to p
5 off, but only a high duty to p
IT. m;who could be trusted, the
fore, to act surely and with disc
ton. The current restlessness
is not due to resentment of
,er party's policies so much as to t
VOC fear that its policies may fall