The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1897-11-05
MessrS. Hughes and Figuers at
the Opera House,
And Mr.. Padgett at the Stock Yard
and Cotton Mill, Address In
telligent Audiences.
The Issue Presented In a Clear, Forci-
BILE Manner by the Speakers.-Th
Negroes Have Organized
For Reform.

Hons. H. P. Figuers and Geo. Il.
Hughes spoke to large and en-
thusiastic Acknowledgment
every honorable vocation and pro-
fession in Columbia-at the Opera
House last Friday night.
Mr.. Figu ers was the first speaker,
and he presented the issues in a
clear, candid and concise manner.
He said that few days before, in
this same place, he had been chosen
as the candidate on the Reform
ticket for Mayor, and he was ready
to say now, as then, that a nomina-
ton was not equal to an election.
The Reformers must put forth their
every energy until the polls close on
the 10th day of November, if they
would come out victorious.
He had read the "Peepul's" plat
form, and there was not a scintilla
or a word in IL about the 10 o'clock
or Sunday laws. They declared
they were not running in the in
terest of the whiskey men. "Are
they?" said Mr.. Figu ers. "There is
not a man selling whiskey or
gambler in town who is for me. and
there is not a whiskey man or gam
bier who is not supporting the other
ticket. If L should awake to-mor-
row and find all the whiskey men
working in my favor 1 would say,
My God, what have | done?'"
They said they were opposed to
the machine method of quietly and
secretly nominating men for city
Offices. when the Reformers met
here in this house and nominated
their candidates" Mr.. Figuers con-
tinued, they did present two
names for Mayor and three or four
names for aldermen from each ward,
and these names were selected by IL
committee representing every
portion of the town. The 'Peepul's
Party however, consolidated itself
into one 'peepul' at the courthouse,
and that one 'peepul got up and
read one name for Mayor and two
names from each ward for aldermen
and the name of Mr.. Yoest, who did
the reading himself, headed the
ticket. He (Yoest) was the 'peepul'
himself and the 'peepul's' nominal
ing committee.
Mr.. Figuers dealt with every
clause of the platform, and said the
whole thing was nothing but cheap
claptrap to catch SOME ignorant
voter.
He read Mr.. Lazarus card, which
had been published in the "Inde-
pendent" Mr.. Lazarus denied
voting to abolish the public school
system of Columbia, but said he had
only voted to abolish the Board OF
Education. That question had been
thoroughly discussed at the court.
house by Mr.. Hatcher, and the
record showed plainly that Lazarus
did vote to abolish the entire public
school system. Mr.. Lazarus must
have been very stupid himself OF
thought be was dealing with very
stupid people. He gave as hi:
prime cause for voting to do away
with the Board of Education. that
they had bought brOoms for forty
cents which sold for twenty, anC
paid thirty cents for coal oil which
sold for twenty cents. Do you want
to give authority TO a man, asked
Mr.. Figures, who, because 40 cents
is paid for a broom, will get mac
and vote to abolish the whole pub
lie school system?
1t was stated in card in the Sin
dependent" that Mr.. Ashton, chair
man of the finance committee of the
present board, had to have d man t,
make out his reports and the cor
poration paid for it, When thi
board took charge there was CT,
from all over the city of "embezzle
ment" and "shortages," and an ex
animation of the books was de
3 handed. Was it right that Mr.
Ashton should give up four or fiv
+, months of his time to make an eX
animation of the books? No! Tn
: board therefore engaged an eXper
(. accountant, and an eX6minatio
was had, and, as was well-knOwu
this examination had saved the cit
several thousands of dollars.
Mr.. Hughes Speech.
F., Hon. g. r. Hughes then spoke
I He took up the personnel of the tw
tickets. He said that Mr.. Yoest, b
\, virtue of his secluded life, could no
l be as well versed in laws as hi
; opponent, Mr.. Figures. He doubte
e if he were to ask Mr.. Ypest whs
oath a salOon-keeper bad to tax
when he procured a license to SCI
whiskey, that he could tell him, an
when it came to selecting the ma
II who can best serve the city, theT
# could be no hesitation. The car
: didates for aldermen on the RefOrl
ticket are all well-known bushes
: men; they were born here; the pei
d pie know them, and they know til
n town and its necessities. They wei
all honest, sober; hard workiu
- men, and had done more work
" one day than some of the men WI
l. are writing aud talking about thel
?. had done in their whole lives; the
where men who had never earned
g dollar by pouring liquid hell.tll
down the tbrOata of thairarfailOu