The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-03-31
FOR STATE P|uI|
N NORTH CAROLINA
MASS MEETING APRIL STE - -
ADDRESSED ny w. ).
BRYAN.
PLEDGE CANDIDATES
THOSE WHO STAND FOR NEXT
LEGISLATURES MUST STATE PO-
sITIoN ON LOCALIZED STATE
WIDE PRIMARY.
CANDIDATES

Especial to The Richmond virginiAn.D
RALEIGH, N. c., March 30.--Wtth
the date, which had been LETT open Tor
several weeks. now definitely settled -
be April Sth. at Raleigh, the day
which Secretary of State w. ]. Bryan
has advised will be available for hlD
to be here. interest in the State mAee
meeting OF North Carolina DeInncrAfa
is eclipsing that in all other political
matters.
For years the leading party men
have been seriously divided on sew
eral very important and more or less
paramount questions of party policy
and attempted legislative action.
For instance, the present Legislature
of this State year ago, ana its prs
decessor three years ago, rsfueed -
enact a Statewide primary Law for the
nomination of governor ana oeh4r
State executive and judicial pfacer, -
the face of the persistent efforts VI .
strong demand over the state that WA
pressed by an active minority Of thu
Democratic senators and representa-.
tives.
And this. too in face Of the enact
ment Of machinery to carry into o..
feet this year the provisions 81 tae
new amendment to the constitution Of
the United States, providing Tor tho
election Of United States senators and
in variance with the practice ALREADY
obtaining in many counties and c4t!ae
of choosing the county and muntctpaI
officers through primaries.
Main Object + state Primary.
1t now develops that the chief single
purpose of this State mas meeting
originally planned by Clarence Pea
who is alleged to be seeking the
gubernatorial nomination NEXT time
through primary. and Joseph. VIII
liam Bailey, collector Of internal rev-
enue at Raleigh; IA. 9. AlsxaudAss
few others--will be to so place the
Democratic party in North Carolina On
record, through the action OF th3o
mass meeting Of Progressive DAno.
Gratis" as to bind. AZ tar az it can, the
legislature that is to be elected next
fall to such q course OF act0n-t44
enactment OF .legalzed" Statewide
primary law.
There are various other matters tkat
will be given attention by this moet-
ing Of Progressive Democrate-an4
all the Democrats nowadays. here
abouts are pretty much claiming 10 b
"progressives'--and letters Alre91T r.
ceived from President Wilson ana tho
oratory Of William JenninGs Hrya1
will be used to sway the aSsembieEe.
especially for the proposed Statewide
primary law.
At this juncture 1t looks like the
plan will 20 through without serious
opposition. The legislative nouaintqa
or other candidates this summer In m
the counties will be required 70 70 ~
record before election day - 70 tASar
respective attitude on the Statewide
primary. Although the present Stafe
Officers are understood to DO oppoee4
to any change In the method Of nolA-
mating Democratic candidates tor
State offices, 1t 10 probable that their
influence 10 now not potential enough
to prevent the contemplated action ~
the mass meeting ut least whatsoever
lit may be with the next GeuerAl -
Isembly.
Overman's Successor.
The first and third time Senator
Simmons was chosen United 8eaeee
senator he had labortous ana exeat-
ing contest for the Democratic n0mln.
alton in State primary-tn 1909 80
1919, with General julian & CAT -
Governor w. W. Kttchin. respectively.
These two State primaries. however,
were not authorised by the iextal4-
ture, but were held Under A8reemeMe
between the candidates, undar yubee
and regulations laid down by the Den.
ocratic party through Its state com.
mittee.
Senator Lee s. Overman will hntsh
his second term next March ana -
candidate for denomination.
But there will be no State primary
for the nomination. unless formf-
dable opponent springs bcforpe June
4th-the date OF the Democratic
State convention-to contest the
nomination.
Today no candidate opposes the ~.
nomination Of Senator Overman, AMa
il Is the program to have him -n0xAs
mated by the State conventton--ln
June-and elected in November, whAM
congressman. are chosen. unq1r IN
terms OF the new amendment 70 tn
constitution Of the United state Pr
viding for the election Of United etAfea
senator's by the people.
Overman's hrst contest TOR eAe
senate in the Legislatures OF lees lasee4
through a deadlock Of several weeks,
when the present Governor Craig ~
one of his opponents. his prtncipeA
competitor having been Hon. Cyrus ~
Watson, OF Winston-6Alem. 0a04
then Overman has had easy setlinS.