Asheville daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1890-1900, 1894-04-23

MEETING OF DEMOCRATS
GATHERING AT COURT HOUSE
SATURDAY EVENING.
Good Crowd Despite The Weath.
er-Speeches by Hon. James H.
MerrimOD, Locke Craig, Eux ID.
Carter aud others.


Carter aud others.
Saturday evening was cold, drizzly
and disagrecablc, but Notwithstanding
this there was crowd of good size in
attendance upon the Democratic meeting
in the court house. Chairman Tilson
called Eug. d, Garter to preside and the
meeting opened with the address of Hon
Jas. II. Merrimon. The speaker laid
down first the proposition that the
Democrats are in the midst of political
conflict with the Republican party of
the city of Asheville. The conflict is be-
tween the Democratic and Republican
parties, and there isabsolutely no middle
ground: Said he: What is known as
the Patton ticket is strictly aRepublican
ticket, and the Martin ticket is the
Simon-pure unadulterated Democratic
ticket This thing called Citizens
ticket is sham and counterfeit. Who
ever heard of the Republican party being
tor Reform, taking that to mean to
make things better, unless it was out of
office and wanted to get in They are
trying to get the people to think they
are against politics in municipal cleo
tions They have sung this siren song
till they have made some good respect.
able Democrats believe that the Demo
cratic party is too rotten to furnish
good men for Mayor and Aldermen of
the city There are some who are hank
erng after the Republican party and
for my part hope they will go there
aud stay. There are men who are enjoying
the emoluments OF office at the hands of
Democrats, yet do not attend Demo
cratic meetings but 90 into shops and
stores and stab the party in the back.
| And the grayheadcd portion gets up in a
| Republican meeting and announces that
the Democratic party is composed OF
| 'yepers.' This is nice talk for such Dem
oCrats.
"Docs anybody DENY that the city has
had Republican administration for the
last year? Has anybody heard the head
of the Reform ticket open his mouth for
| Democracy:
II want the election to be absolutely
fair. don't want it said of either side
that it had done an unfair thing. 1t the
Democrats must 90 down, let them do it
honorably.
"Will you remember what the chair
man of the Reform convention W. W.
Jones said about Mr.. Martins incxpc-
rcnce and his coming from the Brushy
mountains? Mr.. Martin is today as
good lawyer as the chairman of that
meeting, and as much citizen. | am
satisfied that in the secret rccesses of his
heart the chairman OF that convention is
ashamed of what he said of Mr.. Martin.
"a man in this city, | am informed,
says he was approached and assured
that il he would come in and vote tor the
Patton ticket, Patton would hereafter
affiliate with the Republicans. So far as
Patton is concerned, it was not neces-
sary to make that promise, for be has
been a Republican always. don't
blame him for being there. The Repub-
lican party is a great party. 1t has
shrewd men, and it is no child's play to
tackle it even in Western North Carolina.
Then the more is the shame. the digrace,
the dishonor that men who have been
built up by the Democratic party should
betray it, In closing Judge Mcrrimon
expressed the hope that every Democrat
would swear to win in the contest.
Locke Craig, esq, spoke next and
urged the Importance OF this election to
the whole district, besides giving Il lew
pertinent and vivid "reminiscences of IL {
old rcsel voir, rock quarry, graded school
system, knitting mill, etc. He was
amused at the claim that the Reform
meeting was a Democratic meeting
with Bill Deaver in the amen corner
occupying the chief seat in the syna.
goguc" His talk was personal and ex
ceedingly warm.
: T. w. Fitzpatrick was called out, and
: said he couldn't speak but wanted to
: thans the Democrats for letting him
: come back home"
: ]. X. Rich was induced to say a few
words. and cited those who object tC
the Democratic ticket because of the
way it was put up" to the one, two
three manner in which the Reformer:
: had done their business. He also referred
to the report as to the deal between thu
head of the Reform ticket and the Re
publicans
Eug. D. Carter followed with rct
hot speech that dealt considerably will
the Reform mayoralty candidate.
The meeting closed Sith the admoni
= tion from Julius Brooks that this is tn
time when every laboring man, and es
!, pccially Democrats, with a spark OF pa
triotism, should come up and do hi
!, duty