The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1912-06-13
GOV. KITCHIN SPEAKS.
SAYS ihe simmons endorsement" VIII
net Cause Hin 10 Stop Discussing
The Senator's Record.

II ceGtdiNly Will MOI. IL oiliy
iustifies the course l have pursued
and emphasizes the necessity OF its
continuance. IF the purpose Of So
called Simmons Endorsement was
to prevent Democrats from discuss
ing his record, it is equivalent 70 a
confession from his friends that it
cannot stand discussion. | shall con-
tinue to promote sound and progress
sive Democracy and discuss the ac-
tons of Senator Simmons showing
his departure from its principles and
policies. His friends recognized the
truth Of my statement that the re-
cord Of Senator Simmons cannot be
upheld without repudiating their re-
cord and the principles Of the Demo-
cratic party on which we hope to
elect a Democratic President this
wear, for the convention which was
organized by his friends voted down
an Endorsement Of the record OF the
| Democratic party in national affairs.
If his friends had considered his re-
cord in harmony with that party,
they would doubtless have incorpo-
rated in the platform an indorse-
ment of the party's record in Con-
gress, especially as we have the
house for the first time in Is years.
Recognizing that an Endorsement Of
the record Of the party in national
matters would not be an indorse-
ment Of Senator Simmons, his
friends, without daring to boldly
indorse his violation Of our platform,
his speech in support Of Lorimer,
his repeated votes and speeches for
protective tariff rates, his repudia-
ton Of many sound doctrines he
preached to our people from 1902 to
the election Of 1903, for which trans
erosion thousands Of Democrats op-
pose him, included his record with
out mentioning his name in gene
raj Endorsement Of the record Of
our senator's and representatives in
the United States Congress.
This of course secured the sup
port Of many who would not have
Endorsed the record Of Senator Sim
mons, specifically as the actions Of
our other senator and members Of
the house are frequently at variance
with his. Such general Endorsement
by democratic convention applies
to those actions which are in accord
with democratic principles, policies
and platform and does not apply to
any Of his actions when his col
leagues Or members Of the house,
whose records are indor3ed, in the
senate acted on the same matters at
variance with him, and in accordance
with % democratic principles and
policies. Any other application
would be 2 reputation of Senator
Overman and our members Of the
house on all matters when they dis
agreed with Senator Simmons.
The effort OF his friends to boost
! him by such an Endorsement after he,
Judge Clark, and mpscf had signed
an agreement for a primary and the
committee had ordered and the con
vention had approved a primary at
the November election for the dem.
ocrajic voters Of the state to name
: their choice for senator, looks like
: an effort Of politicians to force al
+ the people from inquiring into his
! record, and ought to make the PEG
= pie more determined to have STATE
wide primary law, although oul
platform fails to ask for one. The
:, people had every right and reason
, to expect our convention to hole
;, hands off of the senatorial confess
, SO far as the candidates are concern
f ed. They did not anticipate that
f there would be any attempt to pro
o mote the cause Of any candidate
whose record is under discussion by
! any sort Of Endorsement, however
a general in its terms or contradictory
: in its effects.
= The senatorial contest havin:
s been committed to the people shall
q appeal to them to repudiate steam
roller methods in trying to repreg
h the issues involved in the contest
r The democratic masses control tn
e destiny OF the party and on primar
is day each Of them whether he at
q tended the convention or not, ca
d cast an equal ballot with the mos
# astute politician. Partisan sctio
is of the friends OF Senator Simmer
D. in the convention has made my non
e. ination more certain than ever E
ii the people will resent their refus:
Sc to indorse the record of the demo
to cratic party solely in the interes
m of the senator's candidacy. tt
O. party's interest are and should
70 above the interests Of any candidate
the party's record should be prefer