The French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1896-1912, 1906-03-08
eUDGER BLOWING HIS HORN.
Congressman Would Have the Peo.
pie Believe HE is the
Whole Show"

Mr. Gudger has issued two page clrcu-
lar letter to enlighten his constituents whom
be calls 'tmy people" and addresses it to
My dear Friend" whom be undertakes to
convince that he is entitled to third nemi-
nation for congress.
While we are not disposed to criticise
harshly Mr.. Gudger's letter, We do feel it is
misleading aud should be reviewed little
In the light of plain facts, so that the peo-
pie may listen more attentively and distin-
guish the trne note of ''his own horn that
he do bloweth."
The first note that ''he tooteth" is "Free
Rural Deliverp," as if all the credit were
due him for the establishment of free rural
delivery routes in the 10th congressional dis
trict during his term of service. Why, Mr.
Gudger knows and he ought to know, that
my dear Friend" and ''my people" know
that the Post Ofice Department. under a
general law has absolute control of the mat
ter, and all that q congressman can do is to
file the petitions of the people in the de-
partment and urge that the route or routes
be established. No doubt Mr.. Gudger did
what he could But the record shows he
did not have good success, as this district
has fewer rural routes than any other dis
trict in the state. And it is q notable and
shameful fact that the states of Ohio and
Indiana get as much of the free rural apprO-
priation rs the eleven states which compris-
ed the Southern Confederacy. Evidently
the Buckeye and Hoosier congressman have
greater pull with Post Master General
COrtelyou and his subalterns than have the
Tar Heels and other southern congressman.
! INT Mr.. Gudger is not TO blame for this; he
has done what he could. There is no use,
however, of his ''blowing his horn about
something that there is SO little in.
The second distinguishsble note that she
tooteth" Is "Seeus and books" Yes, seeds
that the government buys and books that
the government prints, both according to
law, which the government divides equally
among the congressman to each of whom is
furnished secretary to send them out to
the people, all at the expense of the govern
ment. Why "blow his horn" about these
things? Do they not belong to the peoplep
And is it not the duty of a congressman to
have them sent to the people who may de.
sire themp Richmond Pearson, if we mis-
take not, Is tine only congressman from this
district who ever publicly notified the pee
pie that it would be necessary to obtain the
Endorsement of q member OF political com
mittee In order to get seeds.
The third note that "he tooteth," is
Buck Shoals and Mud Creek" He il
going to blast out Buck Shoals in French
Bread river for the purpose of draining the
low lands of Mud Greek, In order that ev-
erybody owning lands along the creek may
produce more corn. He has actually in
troduced bill to the effect and boasts of it.
He ought to include in that bill another
provision, in order that other counties in
the district might have some of ''the little
things which he deems important" Every
body is not favored with Mud Greek lands,
but there are quite few who have hill
sides and even mountain sides; therefore
his bill, to be fair. should also provide for
hillside bitches for the farmers. Does Mr..
Gudger believe such bill will pass? Does
he think that any intelligent man believes
itp Congress appropriates public money for
the improvement of rivers aud harbors in
the general interest of trade and commerce,
but not for the interest of few private in
dividuals. This is the spirit and intention
of the constitution, 30 that the products of
the labor Ia the field. factory aud mine may
find the best markets of the world at the
| least possible expense, thereby increasing
the natiou's wealth.
But the note that che tooteth" not, is
s'National Aid to Public Roads" It will be
remembered that Mr.. Gudger and Mr.. Ew-
art devoted much time to the discussion of
this question in the last campaign. But
maybe il has served its day and no longer
charms the people. Mr.. Gudger knew and
the people knew that no political party,
either State or National has declared in fa-
vor of such scheme, and they knew that
there was not shadow of q show of hope
of securing such legislation. The scheme
must have been abandoned for ''he toOteth
not his horn" on National Aid to Public
Roads.
The fourth note that che bleweth" is 8
confused one-a hard one for Mr.. Gudger
TO ''toot"-but evidently he would have
those who hear the sound thereof to inter
pref it as meaning that ne redeemed the
district from the republicans, in the cam
paign Of 1902. II worked and you work