The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-10-12
Mr.. BECKWITH'S PROOF
THE FUSION CROWD SHOWN TO BE MIS-.
QUOTING HIM.
Hits from The sh ulcer. He Does not Mince
Words in Characterizing The
Statements.

To the Editor: The following commu
nication was rendered to the Caucasian
for publication, but was declined
To the Editor of the Caucasian: The
following certificate, taken from a re-
port of the speaking Of the Republican
fusion county candidates. at Auburn,
Wake county, October 3d. and publish
ed i'll The Caucasian of October 9th,
does me injustice:
I'VE, the undersigned, certify that we
heard b. G. Beckwith say in Il public
speech, at Auburn, on Monday, Octo-
Der 3D., that all the ballot box stuffing.
thieving and stealing Of votes had been
done by Populists. 2
(Signed) a. ID. H0NEYCUTT,
Chairman T. z. Elk Com, St. Mary's
Township" and others.
| desire to say through your columns
that / did not make any such wild as
sertion Those who signed the certifi-
cate are mistaken as to what said.
The following gives what was said:
Mr. Ham L. Jones, Republican, Fusion
candidate for sheriff. had said i'll his
speech on that occasion that Il. Z. BECK
with (calling me by name) and other
prominent Democrats in Raleigh, mann
ing one or twoJ had told him that Il
the Democrats got Il majority in the
next Legislature they would settle the
negro question by DISTINGUISHING them
and the ''poor whites as had been done
in South Carolina, Louisiana and Mis-
sissippi." After the candidates had
finished speaking / was called for. TO
sneak. by the people. and. after asking
II, TIop Win
was acting master of ceremonies, / took
the stand for the purpose of denying
the truthfuness of Mr.. Jones statement
in so far as / was concerned; and, hay
ing done so. / was proceeding to show
the absurdity of the charge that the
Democratic party ever entertained any
such purpose as Acknowledgement Of
the negro and poor white people, when
]. J. Rogers. Republics Minority Popu-
listic- Fusionist land God knows what
else). candidate for Register of Deeds
of Wake county, interrupting me. ask
ed: How about Democratic election
laws which steal from them their bal
lots?" I, turning towards him and
pointing my finger at him. said Nov,
this is a pretty question, coming from
YOU. If it We're true. It's the pot call
ing the kettle black when YOUR Pop
ulists (meaning j. J. Rogers and his
Republican-Fusion Minority Populists-
those whom the Caucasian and The
Progressive Farmer have held up 10
scorn and pilloried as worse than COM
mon thieves and scoilndrels) "have en-
acted of all the vilest. most thieving
election law ever put upon the statute
bookstore that opens wide the door to
fraudulent registration. And / was go-
ing on to say to him: "YOU are Il
nice one to talk about Democratic cheat
ing when YOU and your Fusionists. OPP
Grating under your immaculate election
law. cheated Y. b. Broughton out Of his
election and stole his seat in the Legis-
lature for a negro but before | could
proceed with my remarks to ME effect
indicated, / was again interrupted, and
by one of the pinks of Fusion--a cow
ardly fellow. whose name appears not
only as the Fusion candidate for Treas
urer of Wake county. but also on the
wrong side of the CRIMINAL docket
in Wake Superior Court. in a cause en-
titled Estate against Guy V.
Barnes and Others for LIBEL and
who had judgment prayed and entered
against him and had to pay fine and
costs to keep himself out of the work
house. / stepped off the stand to al
tend to him as all such should be at
tended to when the lie is carelessly
used, and thus ended my speech.
Let us see, now, what is the opinion
of The Progressive Farmer (which is in
no snse Democratic sheet of the elec-
ton law which | was beginning to dis
cuss when interrupted, first by j. j.
Rogers and second by this fellow
Barnes:
Progressive Farmer, March ., 81