The French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1896-1912, 1907-04-04

With rsfarence 10 al approaching split
in thesparty.v Therecord of The LeRis-
lature IS generally approved and the
masses, with possibly q few exceptions
are satisfied. "The boys In the trench
esq are not going TO be dra 0n into an
unseemly struggle in an effort to pro-
mote the interests of any man or set of
men seeking political preferment at the
expense of party harmony and public
policy. And the sooner their position
is understood the better it will be for
all parties to the controversy, if in real
ity, there be any difference worthy of
attention. The writer has discussed
these things with q goodly number of
Democrats from various sections of the
State since tie adjournment of the Gen.
eral Assembly and ~nine-tenths of them
have given expression to the sentiment
herein expressed.
The rank and file of the Democratic
party csnnot understand why petty
quarrels in the Legislature should be
continued after that body has disbanded
and the members thereof returned to
the bosoms of their families, where adj
miring friends may applaud and the
radicals abuse on account of measures
enacted, from honest motives, for the
public good. They are not going to
recognize any faction, clique or 'com-
bine,' if you please, when the time
comes to select delegates to represent
them in the next Democratic State con-
v0ntion and those aspiring to honors at
their hands might do we'll to take cog
nizance of this rather probable contin-
gency becoming involved in quarrel
with friends and associates over petty
~jealousies that may have arisen while
the Legislature was in session. The Dem
ocratic party will continue to stand or
fall upon principle and individual ex-
ertion can not sway it from the path of
rectitude. It has no boss, dictator, or
"prognosticator, " and those who have
attained prominence in it's ranks here
tofore have always been in sympathy
with the needs and demands of the mas
SEES of the people and were not creatures
of demagoguery or unholy alliances.
The people are still in the saddle and
have no idea of surrendering to any
financial or political combination. All
this talk about ~radicalism, ''conserv-
atism," and q split in the party ought
t cease. If this thing is persisted in
some people may be deluded into the
belief that there is actually something
in the suggestion.
The Democratic members of the re-
cent Legislature are to be commended
for their honesty of purpose and Adel-
ity to principle. The pledges of their
party were largely redeemed and the
ieterests of the people for another two
years have been safely guarded. Then
why continue this silly twaddle about
wildcat propositions and radical lead
ers? Everybody seems agreed that no
dangerous legislation was enacted and
''the folks at home' are wondering why
some Democratic newspapers and their
correspondents, assisted by a small
number of radical" and conservative"
politicians, seek to keep up an unwar-
ranted quarrel, which grew out of GER
tain differences between members in
the General Assembly and should have
ended with the adjournment of that
body. The folks want peace and are
determined upon having just that. And
they will meet the "disturbers'' at
"Philippi," if that be necessary, to
register an emphatic. protest against
this effort to involve their party in an
unnecessary disturbance. Better let
well enough alone.
Yours very truly
Nj. L. SHIPMAN.
March 26, 1907.