The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-02-20
A SAMPLE FUSION MISREPRE-
SENTATION.

The Hickory Times-Mercury, a Fusion
organ that in off years" talks decent
and in political years is solid negro
rule paper, publishes the following:
I'm Franklin county and in Franklin
township, several years ago, under Dem
ocratic rule, q Democrat magistrate APP
pointed Il negro by the name of JACOB
Perry overseer of public road. There
" one white man of road age
10 work under him and that was the
magistrates own son. So he worked UNI
der him all right. No fuss was made
about it.
when the 'Fusionists' got the county
and as no white man had to work under
him except this same son whose father
first appointed Jacob, they carried out
the will of the father and let Jacob Tc-
main rs overseer.
well, the Democrats got control OF
that county. Did they turn Jake outt
Did they put that poor white man under
white rule? Oh no: they just retained
that black Niger 1t has been over a
year since they redeemed the State and
gave it white rule. yet Jacob las they
now call him again is still overseer And
instead of having that one white man UNI
der him, Jacob now has three. The gen
tleman who called our attention to this.
lives in Franklin township and on or
about The 18th of last month. saw these
men working under Jacob. Get Your
gun. Joe. Physician, heal myself
We knew that there was no truth in
this SANDER upon the good people or
Franklin county, and investigated the
statement with this result: Never in
the history of Franklin county, while
the Democrats were in power, did Il
white man work under negro road over
seer About 1892 or 1898, on the recon-
mendation Of Mr.. W. II. Byrunl- the
board Of supervisors of Franklinton
township appointed Jacob Perry (col0,
supervisor of a section OF road about
three miles long At that time there was
not a single white man subject 10
duty living on the road, and Mr.. Byrum,
one of the best men in Franklin coun-
", recommended the negro Perry, who
owns his farm, because all the road
hands were negroes. In an affidavit,
Mr.. Byrum effectually disposes of every
charge made against him and the Dem
ocrats by the Times-Mercury. He says:
North Carolina, Franklin County.
wv. II. Byrum. being duly sworn, de
poses and says that at the tinle of the
appointment of Jacob Perry as road
oyerseer of a road in Franklinton town
ship there was not a white man on the
said road subject to road duty.
That his son became subject to
road duty in January, 1897, one month
after the Fusionists assumed control,
and has never worked under the said
Jacob Perry at any tine.
That there has never been AT any
time while the Democrats had control
any white man subject to road duty
under the said Jacob Perry.
'W. II. BYRUM.'
Sworn to and subscribed before me this
18th day of February, 1900.
]. s. NORRIS. y. j.
The following affidavit from the clerk
OF the court of Franklin county. shows
that at no time since 1896 have the MT
Jority of the magistrates in Frankllnt0n
township been Democrats:
North Carolina. Franklin County.
81, W. X. A. Williams, Clerk of the
Superior Court of Franklin county. do
hereby certify that as clerk of said court,
1t is my duty to administer TO justices
of the peace elected by the people. Oh
appointed either by the General Assem-
bly, or by me. the oathS of their office:
and that | am the custodian Of the
records of the appointment and qualifi-
cation of such justices of the peace, with
the length Of term the date of expiration
of commission, and date of qualification
Of such Justices. / further certify that
at no time since the general election
of 1896, has there been q majority of
Democratic justices of the peace in
Franklinton township.
Witness my hand and seal Of my
office this 18th day of February. 1900.
"W. X A. WILLIAMS,
Clerk of Superior Court. Franklin Co"
There is only one Democratic magi>-
trate IN Franklinton township out Of five
magistrates and the Fusionists are there
fore in control of the road MATTERS and
have been since 1896. Ii there are
three white men working under the ne
gro oyerseer as the Times Mercury says,
il is because the FusionistS have com
PEELED them 10 work under the negro,