The daily times. [volume] (Wilson, N.C.) 1902-1936, 1918-12-21
DR.. POE'S APPEAL
FOR HARMONY
Beca use He Wanted a Presi-
dent Agreeable to Both
Factions He is a
"THIEF AND PLUNDERER."
Raleigh, N. c., Dec. Is, 1918.

Ralelgn, N. u, Dec. 10, 1918.
Editor The Co-Operator:
In the issue of your paper appear
ing just the week before the State
Union Meeting, some member shoot
ing from ambush, said he had "just
a minute to answer an article of
mine which appeared October 1S and
proceeded to devote three columns
and half of valuable space to an
attack on me.
If he can write three and one
third columns about me when he has
"only minute" l guess he could
write a 12-volume biography IL he
had little time.
Josh Billings once remarked, how
ever, cts better not to know SO
much than to know so much that
amt so"-and the trouble with the
brother in ambush was that he knew
SO much that amt so.
My Course at WinstOn-Salem
can't get three and one-third
columns to the minute, but l do
wish to say that insofar as that ar
ticle tried to make it appear that l
went to Winston-Salem last year
anxious to help any faction or to
knife any individual, it is not only
not true but just as nearly the re-
verse of the truth as it is possible for
erring mOrtals to get. The brother
charges that | went ahead Of time to
WinstOn-Salem and sought out and
brought out a certain candidate for
president, ETC., etc. The facts are
that the writer at Winston neither
directly nor indirectly asked any
body to become a candidate for pres
iden, and | didn OF know that the
gentleman who was voted for had
ever been put in nomination until
after the election was over.
My constant purpose at Winston
Salem was to get both factions to-
gether. l thought it would be
happy solution if DR.. Alexander
would retire voluntarily-and | sug-
gested that the last one of us who
were then in Office retire with him,
if he would-but since he would not
retire, then | favored concessions on
both sides which would promote har-
mony and save the Union.
Do you remember what Lincoln
wrote Horace Greedy about saving
the Union regardless Of the slavery
issue: "If there be those who
would not save the Union unless
they could at the same time save
slavery, l do not agree with them.
If there be those who would not
save the Union unless they could at
the same time destroy slavery, do
not agree with these. My paramount
object in this struggle is to save the
Union, and is not either to save or
dsetroy slavery. If could save the
Union without freeing any slaves
would do it; and If could save it
by freeing all the slaves, would do
it; and if | could save it by freeing
some and leaving others alone,
would also do that What | do about
slavery and the colored race, I do
because l do not believe it would
help to save the Union"
So as l saw it, the main thing
was neither to elect Alexander or de-
feat Alexander, but to save the
Union, and as God knows my heart,
strove to this end. My position
was very clearly set forth in my let
ter to Dr.. Alexander October s, 1917,
in which | said;
Dear Dr. Alexander:
''In all the controversies about
your speeches and your course since
the war started, | have been your
friend; somewhat hurt and disap-
pointed friend, and yet your friend
hurt and disappointed that you could
take a position however sincere, the
only result of which was sure to be
the weakening of the Union, and the
Continued on last page.)