The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-10-19
WEBB QUOTES RAIDS
10 the Discontinue of Thos.
Settle his Opponent.
Va DO Proved That Settle Voted for the Amend.
msnt in Order TO DiSfranchise White
as Well as Black lIIterates.

as well as Black llIlterateS.
In Buncombe there is a joint discus
sion between the Democratic and the
Ring Tail candidates Mr.. Thomas Set
tie is the Republican candidate for the
Senate. When the amendment was sub
mitted he was out of line with his party
in this State, and in supporting the
amendment he wrote some letters that
gave his Republican associates particu-
lar fits. Now that he has gone back and
has become one of Pritchards stumpers,
he'd give a great deal to take back much
that he said. But the record is in black
aud white and he cannot escape. Mr..
Charles A Webb. the Democratic can
didate for the Senate, is scoring a strong
argument by quoting Mr.. Settles letters
about the amendment. The Asheville
Citizen gives the following account of
the opening debate between Mr. Webb
and Mr.. Settle:
''Mr. Settle discussed the amendment.
He said the Democrats had advocated
and adopted the amendment: and in do
ing so had provided that the white man,
whether he can read and write or not
should forever vote; that the grand
father clause provided for them. He
said the Republicans had opposed the
amendment and had declared on every
stump that their reason for doing so was
the fear that the grandfather clause
would be stricken out and the remainder
stand and that thereby the uneducated
white man would be disfranchised He
asked Col. Lusk if that was not true.
Col Lusk said: Yes, I voted against
the amendment because | thought it I'M
constitutional, and because | was afraid
it would disfranchise illiterate whites
MIR. Webb then called number of Re-
publcans by name and they all said they
voted against the amendment for the
same reason. He then asked Col. Lusk
il he would vote for any man for any
office who believed in disfranchising the
uneducated white man, and Col. Lusk
replied that he would not. Jim Morgan,
Jumbo Thompson and other Republi
cans when asked the same question said
they would not vote for any such per-
son. Mr.. Webb then, amid much excite
ment, asked every man in the audience
who would not vote for any such per-
son, and who voted for the amendment
for that reason to raise their hands. and
every person. Democrats and Repub-
licans, Immediately raised their hands.
Mr.. Webb then charged that Mr.. Settle
had voted for the amendment on the
ground that he (Settle) believed in an
educational qualification for all voters;
that Settle had said he didn't believe
ignorant voters, white or black, should
vote, and that for that reason Settle
voted for it, because the effect of tia
amendment would disfranchise them all
alike Mr.. Webb took his seat amid in
tense excitement.
MIR. Settle began his reply by saying
he voted for the amendment because he
wanted to get rid of the negro vote, that
he was tired of the negro in politics and
had longed for the time when the
race question would be removed from
political discussions and that he had
united with the Democrats for that pur
pose. He did not yet deny the charge
made by Mr.. Webb that he was in favor
of an educational qualification for
voters. His speech was then along the
lines of his speeches heretofore made at
Hendersonville and Waynesville.
mir. Webb in his rejoinder pulled
from his grip bundle of copies of the
Asheville Daily Gazette, and to prove
his charges against Mr.. Settle on his
amendment views, read the interview
given by Settle to ]. r. Norton, editor
of the Gazette and published September
IL, 1899.
He also read letter from Collector H.
s. Harkins in Gazette of September 81
1895 And also read interview from Col
Y s. Lusk on same question in Gazette
of September 81, 1899. And also letter
from j. b. Summer in Gazette of Sep
tcmber %, 1899.
He then said this testimony was all
from Republicans and told his audience
Tat if they kept their word they would
not vote for Mr. Settle because he had
proven his charges.
Mr. Webb also spoke with telling eff
feet of Mr. Settles conduct in turning
his back on the negroes who had four
times elevated him into office, twice as
solicitor and twice TO Congress. He
said Settle while in office had received
more than $40 in money as salaries and
fees, and that he owed every dollar of
il to negro votes; that Settle believed
i'm voting down east when he was can
didate; that Settle accepted office from
. negroes down there, but for some unac
countable reason Mr. Settle, when he
came to Buncombe, forgot these things
and was guilty of base ingratitude in
turning his back upon those who put
him into office Mr.. Webb was greeted
with great applause when he took his
seat and his friends we're we'll pleased
With the manner in which he acquitted
himself in the first tilt with the eX-Con.
eressman.
mir. Settle was clearly disconnected
i'm his rejoinder and tried TO break the
effect of Mr. Webb's speech by talking
about rings, fraud, etc.