The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1912-04-11
CHARLES B. AYCOCK.
North Carolina Fist Citizen Died
Suddenly il, Birmingham.
THE ATTACK WAS UNEXPECTED
Vas Delivering an Educational Address
In The Alabama City When be Vas
Stricken On The Platform and
Died Before Assistance
Could Reach Hin.

Died Bei0re Assistance
Could Reach Hin.
Raleigh, n. c. April Especial
Charles Rraatley Aytocx, cx-gov
ernor Of the state and candidat,
for the United States senate, drop
ped dead while making an education
al address in jefferson auditorium
Birmingham, Alabama, last night a
1915.
Governor Aycock left here Wed
nesday afternoon to deliver an ad
dress at a branch conference Of thu
southern educational association
which met in the Alabama city
His physicians advised him not to go
but he was especially anxious te
make this speech and thought he
was able to take the trip. While ir
the midst Of tie address he sudden.
ly staggered and fell to the platform
before any enc could reach him.
JUST FROM HOSPITAL.
The ex-governor has recently re-
turned from hospital in Phi!aoel-
phla where he underwent treatment
f II the past month and thought he
was a great Geal better. He has
been in poor health for sometime
and took the hospital trea t,nent that
he might rest and recuperate for the
campaign, which he aintended to make
against Mr.. Simmons in the United
States senate this fall. He returned
from ire hospital saying that he was
much bet Fer than for the past year,
b:t sill looking very badly. He
seemed to have undergone a com
plete break in health, though there
was no constitutional ailment, So the
physicians said.
He had announced that he would
open his campaign for the sena-
torship the 12,h Of this month ard
at the time of lis sudden death
was carrying in his pocket the speech
he intended to deliver at the
Raleigh AUDITORIUM. On this occa-
sion he intended TO set forth the
platform On which he was to make
the race for the senate.
BORN IN WAYNE.
Charles Brantley Aycock was born
in Wayne county fifty-three years
ago. He spent his boyhood in that
county and prepared himself fer col
lege in the public schools of kinston.
He graduated at the state university
and also read law there. After re-
ceiving his license to practice he
moved to Goldsboro and there he re-
NAMED till 1900 when he became
governor Of the state of North Caro-
lima. At the expiration of bis term
as chief executive he formed a law
partnership in Raleigh and has been
practicing in that city since.
Mr.. Aycock was twice married,
each time marrying the daughter Of
Elder Woodard, Of Wilson. He is
survived by widow and eight
children.
THE WHITE SUPREMACY CAMPAIGN.
The campaign Of 1900 was nota-
BILE one in that the democratic sue
cess that year marked turning
point in the history Of the white
supremacy" was one Of the party is
sues. The constitutional amend
ment, taking the vote from the un-
educated blacks, was before the peo-
Die Of the state. The campaign fol-
lowed Tie unfortunate arrogance Of
the blacks in the eastern Carolina
where many Of the Offices Of town
and county were filed by negroes.
As candidate for governor Charles
3. Avcock paved q Very important
part in thi great and epoch making
s.rngg!. However, it was not On
this issue alone that he made his
caD1p4isr. He promised that, should
he be elected, Every boy and girl in
the state would have the opoortunl-
t. ofHattending school at least four
m ,nths in every year. He made this
figbt for a longer school term the
great issue in his campaign. He
spoke in every section OF the state
and the people believed that ne
meant what he said. At sun doWa
on election day. when the polls were
ri ,sed and the votes counted, 1T was
fornd that he had swept the state
nv about 60, ,0C0 plurality, one OF the
most flattering votes that any candi-
date for governor has ever received
THE EDUCATIONAL GOVERNOR.
Ao1, for that iS the