The Asheville citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1885-1889, 1886-10-21
CARD.


seat in the Legislature and having pro-
missed to give to the public my reasons
for so doing. viii proceed to state them
in as brief manner as may be able
consistent with my sense ofduty to those
who nominated me and to myself as
well. As there are many who do not
know the facts connected with the his.
tory of this matter prior to my coming
off the track, it seems to me that it is pro-
per that they should be stated in order
that the good people of Buneombe may
be enabled to place a just estimate upon
the men who have been the chief actors
in bringing about the unsatisfactory state
of affairs that now exists and who have
succeeded in betraying and stabbing to
the vitals the cause of the anti-stOck-
law-men OF this county. AS is well
known on the 21st Of August last / was
nominated Withoutaa dissenting voice by
one of the largest fmass meetings that
ever assembled in his county, composed
alike of Republicane nd Democrats, for
+ q seat IA tie neat y sature;. and this
nomination or endorsement was given
me without solicitation on my part, and
] at once determined to make the, race.
Thismass meeting as its resolutions show,
was not in the interest or to esubserye the
cause of any political party, but for
separate and distinct purpose altogether,
to-wit Ito secure by legislation to the
people of this county the privilege of
determining for themselves at the ballot
box whether they will retain or reject
what is known as the No-Fence or Stock
Law, and further to allow tho people of
this county to elect their magistrates and
county commissioners After the nomi-
nations had been made:a committee COM
posed alike of Democrats and Repub.
icans was appointed whose duty it was
among other things to meet and fill any
vacancies that might occur by reason of
any of the candidates declining the
nominations rendered them. Mr.. L. N.
Wells the Republican nominee, who was
placed on the ticket with me for the
Legislature together with one or two
Others of the county candidates having
declined the committee met to fill the
| vacancies; and on motion of one of the
Democratic candidates on the county
ticket it was determined and decided that
the Republican members of the commit
tee should select Mr.. Wells successor.
This was done in order that there should
be no room for complaint on the part OF
the Republicans. and thereupon Mr..
Richmond Pearson's name was substitu-
ted by said Republican members for that
of Mr.. Wells, and after filling the Vacan-
cies for county offices the ticket was de
clared complete and Mr.. Pearson being
present accepted the nomination. I'm
mediately after the adjournment of the
committee Mr.. Pearson invited number
ofgentlemen-members of the committee
and others including myself, TO his Office
to arrange for the campaign. Mr.. Pear
son doubtless having his deps laid
schemes well matured as to how the
campaign should be shaped and as to
who should be selected to carry out his
behests, took the floor and led in nearly
or quite all the plans and suggestions that
were interchangeable among the first
things that Mr. 4. o. Patterson be made
chairman of the Central Executive Com.
mittee and Mr.. Bill Deaver secretary,
with power to associate such other per.
sons with them as they might deem pro-
per. l and doubtless others present
thought very strange of the parties nam
ed by Mr.. Pearson for this important
work, but it beiBgsdeemed discourteous
to oppose his motion in his own office
the appointments were not resisted
Being entirely unsuspecting and moi
knowing Mr.. Pearson as think know
him now, 1 did not for moment dream
that he contemplated bringing about the
results which his duplieity and want oi
fidelity to me and to the cause he pre-.
tended to espouse has accomplished.
This committee composed of Republican
Ex-Revenue officers and as 1 learn partly
or wholly stock-law men, proceeded to
organize and went to work diligently aftel
! thoir To
satisfaction in the Republican ranks with
nv nomination-going all over the coun.
tY and extracting written pledges from
leading Republicans to support Mr.. Pear.
son and suggesting and encouraging the
idea that there should be a straight Re-
publican put on the ticket with him
This was done in clandestine way en-
tirely unknown to me at the time and sc
far as can learn to any of the othel
i candidates. These men were working il
the interest as well as in the pay of Mr..
Pearson and of course had his sanction
and approval of all they did. / have
abundant reason to believe from inform.
alton derived from leading Republicans
and Democrats from every section of the
county that there was absolutely NJ
i objection to me as candidate aside from
that which existed in the breast of ont
Tom-ass- Jackass Candlerssand this swee
scented committee and their chief anC
boss Richmond the fifth. Nevertheless
their will must be done and they Sc
themselves to work to get rid of me
utterly disregarding and setting at def
ance the expressed viii of this very larg
mass meeting of good citizens who nomi
mated me. Not content with the mis-
chief they had wrought in this secre
and underhandea way, they attempted
to prostitute to their nefarious purpose
Republican meeting called to conven
ion the 10Th ofSept. for an entirely differ
ent purpose. The members of this meet
ing after having transacted the bnsines
for which they were called togethe
nea arly all left the room and Mr.. Peal
J, sons committee together with not NOR
: than a half dozen other persons, proceed
, ed without the least shadow of authorit,
and in violation of their obligations t
, the anti stock law cause and its candid
Lates, as we'll as against the earnest pre-
4 tests of all the leading Republicans an
representative men of that party,
nominate Mr.. Wells, who had decline
to run on to the anti stock-law ticket an
also to endorse Mr. Pearson thereb
ignoring the anti-stock- people, the
cause and MI self as their candidate
e The persons protesting against this III
:. authorized act were such men as A. 4
q Gudger, J. G. Davidson, DR.. /. A. Harr1
It w. II. Pressly, Jason Walker, Capt. v
L R. West. Quincy Madcap, Jack Worle,
r. Is. F. Buckner, 7. *. Davis, S. w. DaViC
n Ison, Jno L. Randle, !. E. Reed, L.
n Lanning, Lamar Gudger, Thos. Poo
y Dudley Craig, Jas. Craig, w. G.. Candl
" and many others of the true and homo