The French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1896-1912, 1906-05-17
About THE WANDERING TOMS
Mr.. Brooks Says Reports are Exag-
Grated Republican Methods
of Boosting Radical Papers.
News and Observer.

4OG
in Raleigh. Mr.. Brooks was returning
from the meeting of the Grand Lodge of
Odd Fellows, recently held in Colds
boro, and took ad Vantage of the oppor
tunity to stop over and tttake in" the
numerous attractions of the capita city
for the first time. He visited all the
departments (being presented TO the
state oficers), the State Museum, Pull
lens Park, the ~penitentiary and pulled
himself up the many flights of stairs to
the dome of the capitol, from which OBJ
servatory a splendid view of the city
was afforded.
Before leaving town MI. Brooks called
to pay his respects to the News and OBJ
server, of which he is an a%ppreclative
reader of long standing.
"What is the trouble with Mr.. Toms
and the other democrats in your county
who nave recently gone over to the re-
publican party?" asked a reporter.
t'Not a thing in the world" answered
Mr.. Brooks, "except the hope OF reward
prompted Mr.. Toms to take the action
he Las and it is believed that be writes
all these letters for the other disgrun-
tied fellows, thinking to boost himself
this as my individual opinion, but it is
practically the universal sentiment X
pressed among our people. since Mr..
Toms announced his withdrawal from
| the democratic party. He seeks to make
believe that his action has wrought a
great change of political sentiment in
Henderson county, by parading before
the public letters from some of whom
he calls prominent democrats, and hav-
ing them printed in republican newspa-
pers. The fact is these men whom he
is pleased to call democrats, three
fourths of them at least, have not been
with US for some years.
81. N. Russell, the first to follow
Toms, worked for MAJOR Moody, against
Mr.. Gudger, for congress, four years
ago, and two years ago conferred with
some of the republican leaders to ascer-
tain if they would nominate him for
sheriff. True, the democrats afterwards
nominated him for this office in the
hope of reclaimiu, the gentleman but
were unable to elect him and the scheme
has failed. He.wants Office and is will
ing to accept it from any party. he has
been the candidate of the democratic
party for sheriff only one time, instead
of three, as stated in the letter, bearing
his signature, announcing his recent
change, but he contested for this Office
as an independent candidate two or three
times before the democrats finally took
him up.
"Stepp and Burge, whom Mr.. Toms
offers the republicans as leading demo
Gratis are unknown outside OF their i'm
mediate neighborhoods and take no in
terest in public affairs. They are Toms
discoveries, and our loss of them il Civ
ing US absolutely no concern One OF
these men is quite young and the son oil
q recent I'VE to democratic princi-
Piles, so that he has had little oppOrtu-
nifty to convince himself of the right
eousness of the party he pretends now
to repudiate.
"But about the most ridiculous claim
and amusing communication Mr.. Toms
has prepared for the republican presss,
appeared in tho Industrial News on
Wednesday, purporting to have been
written by Mr.. M. C. ReddeD, who says,
too, that he has left us and will carry
@-1 - l.u-, a~l rnDrlNo@c
with HIM, 1t is the common knowledge
r of both democrats and republicans il
! Hendersonvllle, that Mr.. Redden ha:
not been with us since the Moody
Guger campaign in 1892, during which
Mr.. RedIen made u bargain with Moudy
lin q back alley in'the town of Hender
sonville) to support him, in lieu o
promised assistance, upun the rart o
Major Moody, in trying to secure thu
pardon of a son of MIR Redden, who wa
serving a term in the Federal prison a
Atlanta. Since hat time Redien ha
not affiliated with the democratic part,
in any campaign. Only one of Mr.. Red
den's sons has supp 'rtd u ticket a
h last two elecGIOnS THIS one Is 40
likely to be shaken by his father'sapos
tacy. Another of the Redeem boys be
came offended because the party, 4 year
q ago did not conform to his wishes in III
n selection of a candidate for sheriff all
n went over to the radicals, bag and bas
gage, at the next election The fact is
of the whole outlay reported to have de
,s serted our ranks, the party will los
less than five votes. Several of then
It as before stated, have been out OF h
fola for some time and a majority
is the remaining ones failed TO qualif
If themselves by the payment of poll-ta
this year."
Concluding his remarks, Mr.. Brook
said: ssThe democratic vote in Hender