The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1900-11-01

OF suppressins Republican votes. The
statement of John 3. Hussey involves
The Hon. Robert NJ. Furman and the
Hon. A. {. Avery, and is given below.
In order that it may he seen who John
q. Hussey is, | publish below Il state
'iheht by A. '. Dockery, assistant secre-
tary state Republican executive com
lllIttee III the campaign Of 1897, and
round in the papers.
In justice to myself. l publish below
certain endorsements of myself which i
ma among the papers fled in this CON
test; one being from all the Democratic
State officials, another from the entire
membership Of the Supreme Court, and
another from all the Democratic mem
hers of Congress; also letters | find in
the papers from the late Judge X. f..
Armfeld and the Hon. Robert w. Win
ston, then judge of the Superior court.
This whole controversy was in 1851.
Since then / have been twice chairman
OF the State Democratic executive com
mlttee. in 1898 and 1900. and during
those years l have never heard of any
charge made against me that reflected
upon my personal character by any Dem
ocrat. until now that | am aspiring TO
the position of United States Senator.
During those years the FusioniStS have
charged against me the same things that
they have charged against the whole
Democratic party of the State. but out
side of charges with reference to the
election in North Carolina made by our
political opponents. no man, III all my
life. has ever made a specific charge
against me affecting my honor in the
slightest, so far as L know. If any
man has such charge, l challenge him
to bring it forward.
l prize character more than | do posi-
ton or wealth. and l wish to say TO the
people of the State that, while | WOnid
feel it a great honor to represent this
State in the Senate. l would not care
for the place if had to obtain it by the
destruction of the private character Of
any man.
If Senator Vance died feeling unkind-
~ towards me, as his son says he did.
knowing a 1 do the reason for his oppo-
Sition to my confirmation. l did not en-
terrain any such feelings towards him.
nor do l entertain any such towards his
memory. .
(Copy1
To Whom it May Concern:
The undersigned states, upon oath,
that he was present at a conference be
tween F. NJ. Simmons, chairman of the
tee of North Carolina. Il. NJ. Furman
and Hon. A. c. Avery, Associate JUS
tice of the State Supreme Court. in
Raleigh, n. c., at committee headquar-
tiers. September, 1892. when what is
known as The Simmons Secret Circu-
not by invitation. but i'll newspaper
capacity. The circular was written by
Mr. Furman, the Democratic candidate
for State Auditor. acting during the
campaign as assistant and adviser to
the chairman of the State Committee.
From what TRANSFERRED. affiant believes
that the circular was the suggestion and
inspiration of Judge Avery. Its object.
as then stated, was to meet the diff
Guilty involved in Il recent decision of
the Supreme Court (Harris vs.. Scar
borough. 10 n. G. Reports. which
tically requiring a new registration of
voters in the State. In addition to the
great apathy. there was 4 formidable
revolt against the Democratic party. and
general apprehension of disaster was en-
tertaned by the Executive Committee.
1t was believed, and so stated in the
conference aforesaid. that a new regis
traton under the circumstances would
be fatal to Democratic success in the
State. To obviate this. THE Secret
Circular" in question was prepared and
as its terms indicate, was issued as a
confidential communications. only in
tended for the instruction and guidance
of Democratic county committees and
election officers As Justice Avery was
leaving the committee room, i'll response
to Il message summoniDg him to the
dpath-be Of Chief Justice Merrimon. he
impressed upon the committee the import
ance' of the gfeatest secrecy. both in the
printing and delivery of the circular. in
dicating about what time it should be
issued and saying. in substance, that If
the Republican committee got wind of
il. it might rebound and do more harm
than good.
Speaking of this circular and the eff
feet of it to Hon L. +. McComaS. then
secretary of the National Republican
Committee. affiant said it would cost
the Republicans and Populists thousands
of votes. and. in his opinion. would of
set practically the revolving element in
the Democratic party. In atlantis onin-
ion. from what occurred antecedent. dur
ing the preparation and subsequent to
its issuance, the object of the circular
was fraud.
(Signedp JOHN B. HUSSEY.
(CopyD
Raleigh. n G.. Jan. 80. 1891.
Hon. F. Nj. Simmons, Raleigh, n. c.:
Dear Sir-The charges filed against
YOU by MesSrS. Malloy. Wray and Cooke
as | understand them from reading this
mornings paper do an injustice to pub
lie sentiment ami ought to have no
weight among honorable men. | held
a Semi-otficial position as assistant Secre-
tarv with the Republican State ENecu-
five oflIlitltt III Tie VI TO-
in this State. and l believe l had the
confidence of Chairman caves. and he
is an honorable man. l wrote many
of the letters and had charge of the
printing. etc, and perhaps can speak
something to the point. The fight
against YOU in these atiidavit> is not of
true Republican origin. nor by such de-
sire. but of the Populst party's dying
confession of its own incompetency to
fool people at that election. During the
campaign the two committees (of the
great parties, acted as such committees
would have done IN any other state
Advantages were taknn by each of them.
and no sooner did your committee issue
the circular referred to by one Wray
Republican deputy collectorl than our
committee got copy of it and imme-
diately sent out twenty or thirty thou
sand circulars to counteract it, advising
our people to register at once under the
decision of Harris vs.. Scarborough. |