The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-09-06

yesterday by THE News and Observer.
1t explains itself:
Burlington, N c., Sept. 2, 1896.
cit having been disputed around here
lately about Thomas Settles having a
negro private secretary, Norris Corbet,
by name, whom / know, living in Cas-
well county, and as / had seen 1T IN
someprevious issue of the News and
Observer. I write to know if you could
furnish me the proofs of Settles hav-
ing a negro secretary.
snow, sir, if you can furnish me with
the proofs, it win be benefit to me,
and also politically. Several strong
Republicans relying on a letter (Which
I enclose), are saying we cannot prove
what we say. There is class of voters
in this town that could be easily turned
into the Democratic column by this
The letter enclosed to which the gem
tlcman refers is as follows:
blouse of Representatives
Washington, ID. c.
Reidsville, n. c., aug. %. 1896.
''My Dear Sir: Your letter was received
this morning. My. Secretary at pres.
emit is B. C. Sharpe, of Greensboro.
While Congress was in session | had a
great deal of clerical work to be done,
and had to employ extra help. Mr.. ID.
NJ. Vernon, of Leaksville, N. c., was one
of my clerks during the session of Con-
gress, and I also employed Mr.. r. G.
Blaine, of Washington. The statement
that have, or have had colored man
for my secretary, is untrue. M. N. Cor
bett, of Caswell county, had a place
connected with the political headquar-
ters of Mr.. Reed, which / secured for
him. Out if this circumstance, pre-
sumo, grew the statement that had
private secretary.
Sincerely,
"(Signed) THOMAS SETTLE"
The correspondent, whose name we
withhold. not at his request, however,
is quite right in wanting to be set
straight in this matter, after the eva
sive and misleading statement
made by Mr.. Settle in the letter to his
Burlington friend, which is furnished
TO us as copy.
The truth is:
First, that Mr.. Settle employed Nor
ris Corbett, negro, in his committee
room, which could hardly be properly
called 1.-THE political headquarters of
Mr.. Reed"
Second, that Corbett said that he
was Mr.. Settles private secretary.
Third, that Mr.. w. Cary Dowd, editor
of the Charlotte News, and Mr.. Walter
III. Neal, of Laurinburg, one of the
members Of the Democratic State COM
mittee, accompanied the special WASH
ington correspondent of the News and
Observer to Mr.. Settles committee
,son1,a and e.nxxy Co,.haff NTH bsc bof off
engaged in his duties there.
For further proof, that part of the
letters of the News and Observers
Washington correspondent referring
to this matter is reproduced here.
The first extract is taken from the
News and Observer of February 4th
last as follows:
There appears in the Raleigh cor
respondence of the Charlotte Observer
the following:
Congressman Settle said to-day
that there was no truth in the
statements that Morris Corbett,
colored, of Rockingham county,
was his private secretary. The
facts in the case, he states, are
that Corbett and another man are
employed by him to write address
es on the great mass of public doc
uments of the last Congress to
which his district is entitled"
what is said here is on the basis
that Mr.. Settle is correctly reported
above. If he is, he is spinning out
fossy denials in way that is quite
too previous and frolicsome. Against
this alleged denial, put the following
facts. When Corbett, the negro kick
ed on the ''wood-toting" job he was put
in the House lobby where he worked
six hours day; his job including the
weighing of ice, which it was thought
would fill the measure of his clerical
desires. But not so. He kicked again
and Settle went to the door-keeper to
do something better for him, and the
door-keeper sent the janitor to see
Settle to see if things couldn't be
Strengthened out some how. Settle
told the janitor that the negro was ed
ucated, was a school teacher, was one
of his main workers and asked the jam
itor could he not do something. The
ianitor said he would try, but he did
not see Settle again. Corbett soon left
the House lobby, drawing his pay for
part of last month. Then he went into
the Postoffice, and in the presence of
the ianitor, who will confirm this to
Mr.. Settle if desired, introduced HIM
self to the clerical force as Mr.. Settles
private secretary. Later the postoffice
officials confirmed this to me. More
over, this morning / called at the post
office and was told that Corbett had
rot. only introduced himself as Settles
private secretary, but had ordered his
tCorbett's) mail to be put IN Settle y
Lox. which had been done. Moreover,
lie had called for and gotten Settles
speeches, signing for them, and | saw
his signature in receipt. In the post
office he is thoroughly recognized as
settles private secretary, and only on
that basis has Settles speeches and
mail been delivered to him, and his
mail put in Settles box, and all this
was Stated to me this morning by a
post-office official. IL more proof Is
needed gentleman this morning
.,alled in Settles committee room, and
found there three negroes and no ono