The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1920-04-23
SAUNDERS DROPS OUT
OF RACE FOR CONGRESS
Hasn't Time or Money to Carry on Primary Con
test and Isn't Too Strong for Party Any
Way-Probably HELPS Small

". 0. Saunders will not be a
candidate for Congress from this
district subject to the Democra-
tic Primary election. Saunders
reached this decision this week,
the decision being forced upon
him by the unprecedented condi-
tions confronting newspaper
publishers generally at the pre-
sent time. Neither will w. O..
Saunders be an independent can
didate for Congress from this
district. AS to what he might do
in the event of the organization
Of a new party in the United
States this summer is another
matter. 1t is known that he is
cut of sympathy with both old
line political parties and would
welcome a political organization
not so radical as the Socialists.
In Withdrawing from the pri-
mary contest Saunders leaves the
field open to Hon. John H. Small
and Hon. H. S. Ward, with the
chances now all in favor of Mr..
Small securing the nomination.
Mr.. Small will undoubtedly car
rv the district Overwhelmingly,
with few exceptions here and
there. Mr.. Ward has disappoint-
ed even his most sanguine
friends
Ward has made the old time
mistake Of asking the Democrats
of this district to throw Small
overheard because Small has
been in Office twenty years or
more. That's all. Mr.. Ward has
no platform, no program, no ex-
pressed conception of the prob
lens OF the present congress and
offers the voter absolutely moth
ing in return for his vote, ex-
cept a sly insinuation that he is
friendly to the liquor interests.
Against Wards sly pretensions
to being a friend of the monkey
RUNNER is Mr.. Small's establish
ed record. Mr.. Small, with his
States Rights, has always been
in line with the 1qiuor interests
mad Ward can't put anything over
on him on that score. The diff
ference between the two men on
the liquor question is something
like this: Mr.. Small knows how
to drink liquor and Mr.. Ward
doesn't; Mr.. Small votes the way
he talks mad Mr.. Ward gets pro-
hlbltion speeches and headaches
Git Of the same jug.
In withdrawing from the Con-
gressional race w. o. Saunders
says "When I persuaded my
self to be a candidate for Con-
gress | did not believe that I
could defeat Mr.. Small in Dem
ccratlc primary this year. I did
believe and do now believe that
l could give him such a race as
would secure my nomination with
easy running another campaign.
But [ am handicapped because of
my lack of sympathy with so
many men in the Democratic par
ty. [ am not a Wilson, Palmer,
McAdoo, Simmons man and I
would invite only trouble for
myself and for the party by
making myself too active in the
party,s affairs.
l nave been surprised and
Sr@tued at the support my can
oldacy has received in every cor
her II the district and [ am can
old enough to admit that most
o. this support came from men
Ike myself who are dissatisfied
with the party and yearning for
all opportunity to voice their pro-
la~t against things as they are.
bc}'cve that my candidacy
""'ld do more than anything
else could do to hold the Dem
ocratlc majority together in
these restless, chaotic times
when voters in both the old par
ties are ready to break traces
and show their independence.
l could give many reasons
why l will not ask for the Dem
ocratlc nomination. To begin