The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-10-28
MOODY Is FACING DEFEAT.
His Joint Debate With Gudger Opened at
RutherfOrtOn, Moody Coldly Received.
Especial to the News and Observer)

Especial to the News and Obseryer)
Rutherfordton, N. c., Oct. 27.-Hon.
j. NJ Gudger and Congressman Moody,
candidates for Congress in this
district, opened their joint debates
in this county at this place last Friday
afternoon.
Moody can't hope to make any head
way in this county this campaign. He
is much weaker in this county today than
he was two years ago. OF course it
must be admitted that there are some
few ''sore Democrats" who are not the
strongest Gudger men in the country
nevertheless they will vote for him and
are working to that end to a certain eX-
tent. 1t is quite certain that Gudgers
majority will be 500 at least in Ruther-
ford county.
Leading Republicans of this county
have made no secret in saying Gudger
would he elected, but that his election
would be contested on certain grounds,
which would be made known in due time.
Mr.. Moody opened the debate here.
He made his usual campaign arguments,
discussing national and State issues-the
former receiving great deal more atten-
expecting great applause, but instead
you could have heard pin drop.
Mr. Gudger was at his best. He told
about the 5000 negroes in this district
who sent Moody to Congress, saying he
would go to Congress by the vote of the
white people.
Gentlemen" he said, "all that man
Moody has done since he has been in
Congress has been to draw his breath
and his salary. l defy him to show in
one instance where he has done anything
else. (Applause.)
Moody talks to you about silver.
Why, fellow citizens. let me tell you
that man, Moody. voted for Marion But
Ter and Jeter Pritchard for United
States Senators when they were strong
silverites.
did you know, gentlemen, that
'Jeemes' Moody IS the only billion dollar
Congressman this district has ever had?
Yes, his Congress has spent one billion
doIlars-inst tNssa as much as any Dem
ocratic Congress has ever spent
Mr.. Gudger discussed and explained
the amendment fully-its purpose and
effect and said he wanted to know how
Mr. Moody stood on the matter.
did you know" he asked, that the
Republicans tried to pass a law in 1896
making it a fine and Imprisonment to
those who failed on or before certain
date to pay their taxes? He voted for
it. Did YOU know that the Legislature of
which Moody was a member turned down
an honest one-legged Confederate soldier
as Door keeper to make room for a
'nigger?' That solGicr is a Rutherford
county man-eXplain that to the people
of this county?"
The soldier to whom Mr.. Gudger re-
ferred was at The time he spoke sitting
beside Mr. Moody He looked at Moody
and laughed.
Mr.. Gudger continued: "You said
once voted for Pritchard ! deny it and
have challenged you to prove ito write
him and get the proof and show it to
the people. What did he write you
Moody? This is what he wrote: You are
mistaken about Gudger voting for me,
and the best thing l know for you to do
is to lie like hell and stick to it..
Mr.. Gudger concluded his remarks by
saving on the 4th of November he would
bury Moody-that he could dodge tie
issue. but that he could not dodge the
devil.