Newspaper Page Text
The LETTER OF MB. SIMMONS IN REPLY TO ATTACK OF MR. C. N. VANCE Exhibit of Charges Against Mr. Simmons by S. Otho Wilson and John B. Husse) Indorsement of Mr. Simmons by Supreme Court, Members of Congress, Etc. Inter views with Senators Vance and Ransom To tie Editor: T i,-n .n -v - i..fn- TTMttnn 1 by Mr. C. N. Vance, in which it is iuti- mated that the papers in the mallei of i i . i. ..,. mr connrniaun u i oiiector, whu u aa-i "; ,.r , . . now Id my possession, had Won imi.ro,.-1"- Hney is, I piibush below a state erly abstracted from the files of the j nent b.v A. . Doekery, assistant secre- enate I-inaneo Committee. With reference to this statement of Mr. Vance. I wish simply to uy that I received these papers through Senator Knnsom by express in September, 18. '4. with the following letter from Senator Ransom's private secretary : United States Senate, Washington, oept. 20, 1S04. Hon. F. "M. Simmons, My Dear Sir: I send you by express today a package of papers which G n. Ransom requested me iu a letter of yes terday to send you. With Nest wishes, I am, truly your. (Si-neU) A. BAIiNKS. Concern inir what Mr. Vance has to kjiv nhont mv not liiMiiir for saver until Fay anoui my noi ueing ioi muh mn.i after the people of the State became fori . . mwn t i . it. I on v wish to sav tin 1 hat i ma le xny first speech for silver in loiH at a public Catherine: iu Craven county, at which were present, among others. Wil liam II. Oliver, of New Hem, and Sher iff W. R Lane, of Fort Harnwell, who aaoII remember this speech. Since then I have advocated silver in every cam paign in North Carolina. In 18!2 I was criticized for beinc more pronounced for nilver than the National platform of that year. In ISM, at a State executive cam rnittee meeting in the Senate cham ber, I made a speech in -which I stated that we would not regain possession of the State until our .National piattorm ae rlared unequivocallv for free silver. ov. Jarvis and the lion. Samuel F. Fatter son have a distinct recollection of this speech. Mr. Vance Intimates in his letter that "his father's opposition to me v;is based uiiuii urouud rotlocthiir noon mv ners-on- nl churncter. In answer to thi-. I bog to ay wlu-n 1 was first offered the ro--tlon of l"Wot or. 1 tnte to Sen i".or ltitrtfOm thiit I would not ap'ct it if there vn nm oto!Ulon on t"h pni t .i v momlii-r of Oo NoriU Carolina d - Burke County New; Friday, Nov. of suppressing Republican rotes. The j I statement of John 15. Ilus-ey involves statement of Jolm 1. llus-ev J' Hon. Robert M. I urmau and the J1- A. C. Ayery, and is given below. In or-iler tlmf if iinv hr venn rhrt John ! tary State Republican executive com-; mittee in the campaigTi of lbU2, and , found tn the papers. In justice to myself, I publish belosv rerram enuorPTiienrs oi niyseii nicu i find anions the papers filed in this con-, test; one being from all the Democratic) State officials, another from the entire membership of the Supreme Court, and another from all the Democratic mem-, bors of Conrress; also letters I find hi the papers from the Into .ludso It. F. Armtiohl and the Hon. Robert W. Win-1 ston. then judge of the Superior court, j This whole controversy was in lSl-l.; Since then k have been twice chairman; of the State Democratic executive com mittee, in 1SUS and l!'0, and during! - - c those years I have never heard of any -.lifrrrt noi!a nivnnL't r. a friar fOfi t"rr i I charce made atrninst me that refleet.'il upon my personal charac ter by anr Dem ocrat, until now that I am aspiring to the position of United States Senator. Dnrinir those years the Fusiontsts hive charged against me the same things t:ati they have charged aeainst the whole Democratic party of the State, but out-1 side of charges with reference to the elation in North Carolina made by our i political opponents, no man, in all my . life, has ever made a specific charge; r gainst ;ne affecting my honor in the i!htot. so f.ir : I know. If any I man has such a charge, I challenge him 1 . , i-. i ! to ii''.nz ii lorv. t I prize character more than I do posi tion ' r wealth, and I wish to say to the people of the State that while I won'd feel it a srreat honor to represent this State in the Senate. I would not care for the place if I had to obtain it by the ; instruction of the private, character of; anv man. If Senator Vance died fooling unkind ly towards me. n his on say he 1 i -1 . knowing ns t l th- reasnn fur his o;io sit'nm to my oonfrrmnt-on. I ti.l iot 'u- iti-rt'i'tn tvnv ko ff e'r. u tnw nrU lil-n. S ior o I entertain nny itv1 towarl1 his ; 1, -NtT RIMMyw. 2, 1900. Sepplemeet and mailed all of them. I sent one or more to every Republican county chair man and to more than one Republican in every voting precinct in the State, and even to Warren county, besides to other persons. Our committee regarded yonr action as shrewd, and we felt equally shrewd in being able to so quickly counteract it. There was no thought that you had done anything unfair in politics or that we our selves would not have done. The Col. John R Russey who files aii affidavit against you was in constant communication with Captain Eaves, both while in Kaleigh ana trom otner points during the campaign. I saw during this campaign several telegrams known to be from Hnssey, thouch signed ficti tiously, one of which I distinctly recol lect, "asking Captain Eaves to meet a certain party in Greensboro by a cer tain train. We thought him to be con nected with the Republican National Committee or its funds. We knew him to be acting against the Democratic r-irtv whilo nrnfsjainc tr ho n Demo- erat. We knew him to he especially favorable to lfiomas jetties eiecnon, had little confidence in him. Thorn ia mneh inorf Ht thf back Of this which can be forced out, but, as I write this much without having had a wora with Captain Eaves or Mr. Tajdor Wal ser, secretary State Committee, with whom I labored for- undilated. Republi canism during this campaign, I must stop at the remark that all of us regarded -nn nc n tron?r and honorable foe. Some little justice requires this much to be said from those who fougnt you straitrhtest and hjtrdet, and whatever mv past or present afTdiations. I love fair play, shall help to get for others and assert it for Yours trulv, (Signed) A. V. DOCKER Y, Asst. Sec. State Repub. Ex. Com. of N. C, Campaign 1892. (Copy.) Raleigh, N. C, Feb. 17, 1S94. To the Honorable the Finance Commit tee U. S. Senate, Washington, D. C: Gentlemen W respectfully ask your honorable body for speedy action on the. confirmation of lion. r. m. Simmons iu be Collector for the Fourth Collective District of North Carolina. Mr. Sim mons has been in public life in this State for some years, an ex-member of Congress in high standing, and we take great pleasure in certifying to his integrity of character, his ability and fit ness in all respects i'or the position. His nomination by the President gave great satisfaction to our people, and there is an exceptionally strong demand fol ios confirmation. We have the honor to bo Your obedient servants, (Signed; ELI AS CARR. ' Hoy. of North Carolina. OCT. rOKK, See. of Snto Of N. C. 1 I. OSUOltNK. i Attoriiov-OniTsI X. C lioimir-r m. i"rt:M.N. 1 Anilitnr of SliUO X. . - (Copy.) Oxford. N. C. Feb. IS. 1894. Don. Daniel W. Voorhees, Washing ton, D. C. Dear Sir: F. M. Simmons, Esq., of New Rem, has been well known to the writer, both personally and by reputa tion., for many years. It has been my pleasure to aci in an official capacity in that section of our State in wnich .Mr. Mmmous was o jrn inrt rmrod T-?f i rxpjitlv esteemed and beloved by the people who know him best. He is a man of fine common sense; of great breadth of vision; of lofty and laudable ambition; of uncommon suc cess in life. In a -word, no man has ever impressed me as a broad guaged man and lawyer than Mr. Simmons. His character is without spot or blemish, so far as I have ever heard. I cordially commend him as a true and tried man in all the relations of life. Yours very trnlv, (Signed) ROBT. W. WINSTON. Senators Hansom and Vance's State ment T? nlot rrVi nrrA!nnondint of The I 1UC i.uiif," , I tCl.f ; Charlotte Observer, January 30, lbH, reports General Ransom as saying. "There is positively nothing here ItoueSfcg your honor. Some charges 'have been presented to the finance com mittee to try and excite Republican i prejudice against you. They consist of ian affidavit" by John B. llussey that he as a newspaper man was present when vou (Simmons), Auditor Furman and Judge Avery fix-d up a secret circular. iAIso an affidavit each from one )N ray and one M alloy. Republicans or kocu- ingham county, tnat in conequeiu.e -i , that circular Republicans were denied j registration and voting in that county, and also a letter of Charles A. Cook, of Warren county, stating that Repub licans at some precincts in that county were wrongfully deprived of the right to register and vote." An editorial m The Observer of the same date, commenting on this, says: iir. i u ; m mnn c i nnt in thrv OTVn. and 'his candor is an Invitation to everybody rUe to come from under cover. As to ,tbe charges filed against him, as stated to him bv Senator Ransom, it is clear that they originated witn tno gutea mi. Settle." . A , rTX ti, Achavitla corresnondent Of LO x.i- - - .,.., Charlotte Observer, January -., ir.', isays: . ...... "Concerning the statement that ena tor Vance told Carter that he would uot -.,,.tir fthafmpf tho ronfirmation of Mr. Simmons, Captain Carter is reported by The Altizen toaay as saying mai i'u ; .iti a f Ar Vnnpfl whit course be ir tended to pursue in the matter, the Senator replied that he had sail that he would vote agamsi .-ir. riuiuiuu-. i . .ll.l V- -n nn) anv ftthor T flllOCr.T t inn uiu ii.t .... . - who would, and thousrht that there was Senator further eald he was so unwell ,uv, n tr hi coniirmauon. i n- that he would probably not rfmnia in Vn-hintrton durinc tb winter, and mi. mwmmt mr - nn. II l rami -- - - - - E General Carr's Letter Favor ing a Currency Based on Gold, Issued by the Na tional Banks In 54th Congress, Mr. Chas. N. Fow ler, a Republican from New Jersey, in troduced a bill to regulate the cur rency of the United Mates. In a speech made by him before the South ern Rankers' Association, in Atlanta, Ga., on December loth, 1SI7. fie declar ed that" Lue purposes of his bill were r e , 1 l . First, the permanent establishment of ! iue goiu sianaaxa, ana on tnis ne sail: "Ji'L us here and new reject the fal lacy that there can be a double stand ard or measure of value: and unequivo- il j. i v . . :. cany ueciare mat Dimetainsm. national or international, is as impossible of ac- j brighter daily that Mr. Rryan will ! complishment as the dream of perpetual' elected President of the United States, . : m m m i . v i i It hfVitv I tn mt'T n n lhat Sfnatfr. uiuuuu. - i -e i us litre nnu au ,i . - - place a single standard, the standard of. whose term is mi years should b f the civilized world, the gold standard, as Iected from this State who is in entire nnr firif fnnriilatiftn ttnnn Second, the retirement of all United States government bonds no'w payable in coin and the substitution in their platti of government bonds payable in tnld Third, the withdrawal of all existing paper currency and the sunstitiuion deemable in gold, and the nse of the Ksetsj of the hnnus n pollntrral to en able them to largely increase the amount . Fourth, the redemption of the entire paper currency provided for by his bil n trdd Ho nlco m.ndA a r ptv PTtPnnPrl sneech in Congress advocating his measure which is published in the Congressional Record of March 31, 1S'J7. This cur rency bill is a much more radical one in favor of the gold standard and in plac ing tba currency of the country nnder the absolute control of the national banks than the currency bill recently passed by Congress, and which is so severely denounced by the National Democratic platform adopted at Kan sas City. In the Atlanta. Ga., Constitution, of fo owing letter, written by general S Cnrr who was then, ant .lotit nf tho Firct National Rank of buiiam, advocating the Fowler bill: CARR ENDORSES FOWLER &CIIEME. "Durham, N. C. Dec. IS, 1807. Mr. George R. DeSaussure, Secretary Southern Bankers' Association, At lanta. Ga. My Dear Sir: T am of the opinion that the plan of currency reform out- 1 1 1 .1 II ... 4 "1. a 1 . . V ti'sin-lr nieui!'r of Onirre for New Jer.e.v, IIIIPH II V I lit' 11(1 II. l.Jlill - . m .,..fl in.1 s tl fi Tl iff " 1 ff.l f .oci.tion or Aimiiii. ai if "-im tun itinJ-Kit or i mupr tn i'o f:on. i a wi olutlon of Ihe reen I "Jwmorrmty Voliry lo fnfurtr," xin- ctirr-nejr .iflion. ... .1 tVI-n It -mrm ffnp i"mt "Mr. f'or-r rtmn fnn.lm mil th t- j,.,, mft-r fr$inriM Uon th .. '' ,r thT 5ZTrn "" 2 Iff rH.lW mn m tma tit tHmtr tion, require better bankinc acconr.no dations than we enjoy. The truth i. we must have better facilities or we j. virtually ruined. Thr proTilti" of th National Hank Art, as at prcnt c- u stitutod. do not affotd th ccMnirui tioa we need and imui have. Th Fow ler bill, iu my iudjrment, do, hr! at the same time f-iriiihe thf r-Mir.trr i rood, sound. .ife bunking clrmlateo.. elastic in its operation and FIRMLY FIXED UPON A GOLD RASIS This letter was writira a Httl more thnn one yar after the defeat of Mr. Rryan. and whn thero ws a fni majoritT against is in Nortfi Caroiun of 40,hV, and it looked a If thrc wonhl nevrr !h another opport'initT fo a Democrat to hold a re-pmible ofti e ia North Carolina, either under Stat or National administration. The elec tions in 1MS and ) have eecured th election of a Democratic United States Senator, and the projects are urowinc . . , . , . v . . , ...tn t .. harmony with Mr. Bryan. The fore going letter of General crr uimon strates that he is entirely out of har- mony with him on the great question of finance and currency. Simmons and the Gross In come Tax Bill (Extract from Judge Alle-n to Webster Weekly.) With reference to what is aid Vn your article by yourself and Senator 1uidsay, in connection with Mr. Simmccis' posi tion upon the proposition to impose, in addition to an ad valorem tax, a tax upon tho gross income of railroads, I n informed the following ar the facts: Karly in the campaign of 1.S, it -w.i. after "cotnfrenxv bttwewi mcmbe;- of the State Executive Committee, bMi3Twi to Ims necessary to the tmccesa of th white supremacy nwvement, that all r-merits and intwests in the party ia the State should be brought together in earn est support of tba Democratic ticket. Certain property int erects, rnciuaing -uae, -1 v V o. . Vu Y C ; ..tT 11 IS nOW. tiJO.Xi iur . un, -.' r. - discriminating against their interests. In order to sati-sfy these jple, it was agreed, as a result of this -on irrm ie, tliat Governor Jarvis should make a trip through the State and attire t)ics propeTty hddcr-s that If tho Deni'KTatic party was restored to poorer they fhwlt have fair treatment. Vpn rovenior J,irvii' jfturn from Mio vls.:t be wns asktsl to prepare a rticlj l to l tiU ihe!, ind which wa puMiOie.1. in tlie Dcnvoratic IIrwi-hjfc thnt y.irt f oml"JTiiur a m Wlecoeiit f the aunnrm I ill- A n 4- v , - " ......