The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1912-10-31
Is SANDER of Senator Simmons to Prevail? i?
political Advertising J

| (fOlltlcal
A fortnight or more ago Archibalc
Johnson said this of the speech
which Governor Kitchin delivered il
Thomasville: with the exception
, of the first ten minutes, in which tht
speaker eulogized Woodrow Wl!5.r
and Locke Craig, the whole speech
was a bitter and relentless tirale
against the man who for twenty
seven years has been q recognized
leader in the public life of NORTH
Carolina, and a fulsome and disgust.
ing tribute to the fidelity. ability and
honesty of William w. kitchin."
In later edition of Charity end
Children Mr.. Johnson said: eve arc
bordering dangerously near South
Carolina in our political methods,
and we cannot imagine anything
more unfortunate than to have here
in North Carolina a political situa-
ton lie that in oar sister state"
The gravamen Of the charge
against Senator Simmons is not that
he voted for q revenue tariff on lu.n-
ber, With some Incidental protection,
while Republican tariff bill was be-
ing framed. Other members Of the
North Carolina delegation, all pos
sessing a good measure Of human in
telligence, did that. What Governor
Kitchin and his supporters are try
ing to do, and what they are spend :
ing a great deal of money to DO, is
to create in the popular mind the
impression that Senator Simmons.
unlike other Democrats who voted
as he did, was Influenced in his vote
by Interior or corrupt motives.
That was exactly and precisely the
kind Of fight that was made against
Locke Craig. No Democrat who be-
lieved the things said about Craig
four years ago by the Kitch;n fac
tion and under Kitchin auspices can
vote for the Democratic candidate
for governor this year without COM
a nauseous and contemplate
act of If-stultifcation They
sought to create the impression that
Craig was trust creature, a man
who would yield to corrupt innuen-
ces, man who had been untrue 10
the Democracy. In the last analysis
every Democratic vote cast for Craig
this year must be looked upon as a
rebuke to Kitchin all the Kitchins,
as witness what Mr.. Craig said
while that contest was in progress:
Il have been further informed that
w. w. kitchin intimated in some Of
his speeches that | voted the Repub-
lican ticket in Bertie county IF
these statements be denied | can
prove my authority. | denounce
each and all such statements IS vile
falsehoods. | defy either OF the
Kitchins or any Of their supporters
to produce any proof Of these sland-
ars.'
In fine, Craig, the greatly honored
standard bearer of united Democ-
racy, declared in formal statement
that he could furnish the proof Of
the accusation that kitchin had set
IN motion vile falsehoods. Yet
today Mr.. Kitchin, while running
for another Office, ami while some
body else happens to be in his way,
seldom makes speech without pro-
an appreciation Of Craig.
The wonder is that MIR. hitchin's
tongue did not then. or that it does
not now, refuse to perform its
strange office. Said Mr.. Craig, out
.aged as he was, Il defy either Of
The Kitchins or their supporters to
produce any proof Of these sland-
ers."
We believe the word was used ad- !
No doubt it was slander,
and if the element of SANDER could
be removed from the cam
)algn against Senator Simmons