The Wilmington morning star., 1940-05-01
M. SIMMONS, sc,
SENATOR, DIES
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~lUk, UlES
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ed at Wake Forest and Trinity (now
Duke university colleges, gradual
ing from the latter in 1873. He then
studied law and was admitted to the
bar in 1875. Trinity and the Univer.
sity Of North Carolina conferred up.
on him the honorary Degree of Doc
tor of Laws.
In 1875 he married Miss Eliza Hill
Humphrey and they had three child
ren. She died in 1883 and on July
20, 1883 he married Miss Belle Gibbs.
Two children were born of that mar
rage. She died in 1898.
. Simmons was projected into the
forefront of North Cardinals political
situation in 1898 when, as chairman
of the state democratic committee,
he put together a strong organization
and won a striking victory in the
campaign from the republicans, who
had gone in in 1894.
AS a reward his party elected him
in 1900 to the U. S. senate, where
he grew in influence during his 80
years in that office. 1t was not his
first legislative experience, however.
He had been elected in 1886 to the
fiftieth congress as representative of
the second North Carolina district.
Named Collector
In 1898 he was appointed internal
revenue collector for the Eastern
North Carolina district and served
during the second administration of
President Grover Cleveland.
In the senate Simmons for years
was the ranking democrat on the fin
ance committee and was it's chairman
from 1918 to 1919. AS chairman he
was co-author with Oscar w. Under
wood, then chairman of the ways and
means committee of the Tariff Act
bearing their names. He also spon-
sored various wen measures to
finance this country's participation
in the World war.
In 1902 as chairman of the state
committee he backed a bill in the
North Carolina legislature to bring
the manufacture and sale of liquor
under police provision. There was
such opposition that the committee
at a meeting in Simmons absence de-
manded his resignation as chairman.
But he called a meeting and persuad-
ed the members to endorse the bill.
In 1912 he fought for a $1,000, 900
pnr0nrio{i0r for i'm nrOyoronrf IF
roads used in rural delivery of mail,
but had to compromise on $500, 900.
Three years later, however, he had
the satisfaction of seeing $S5, 000, 900
allotted for that purpose on the same
principle he had formulated.
RED Shirt Campaigns"
The state campaigns of 1898 and
1900 were so militantly waged under
Simmons direction that they still are
known in North Carolina as the
first and second red shirt cam
paigns." Bands of armed men wear
ing red shirts patrolled the state
uring a democratic victory.
In 1920 North Carolina delegates
to the democratic national conven-
ton honored their leader by voting
for him for the presidential nominal
ton.
Although pursued by ill health,
bankruptcy and other misfortunes
during his retirement, Simmons told
friends these were the happiest days
of his life until the death in 1888 of
his second wife.
The ex-senator approved much of
the New Deal, praising especially the
various laws to aid agriculture and
revealing that he had taken advan-
tage of the benefits they offered.
Funeral services will be held to-
afternoon at 4 o'clock from
Christ Episcopal church, conducted
by the rector, the Rev. c. E. Will
liams. Burial will be in Cedar Grove
cemetery.
The Rt. Rev. Thomas c. Darst,
bishop of the Episcopal diocese of
eastern Carolina, has been invited to
assist in the services.
The former senator is survived by
three daughters and a SON. They
are Mrs. Meadows, Mrs. j. F. Patter-
son of New Bern, Mrs. L. A. Mailer
of Raleigh, and James H. Simmons
of Jones county. Another daughter,
Graham Andrews of Raleigh,
died about a year ago.
an. c. MOURNS LOSS"
RALEIGH, April 30 (P) -"All
North Carolina mourns the loss of
this great statesman" Governor
Hoey said tonight in commenting on
the death of former Senator F. M.
"The death of Senator Simmons re.
moves one of the political landmarks
of the state" the chief executive said.
HE was the undisputed leader of
the dominant faction in the demo-
cratic party in North Carolina for 30
years, and he seldom lost a battle.
"He made a great record in the
senate. AS chairman of the finance
committee he welded powerful in
fluence and by his ability and indus
try Senator Simmons was able to
master the intricate problems of
tariff schedules and wrote the best