The Washington herald., 1907-05-19

and information about the dOings IN the
different sections Of my territory. This
led me 70 write news items for one Of
the papers published at Murphy. and
furnish the news Of the two counties.
and write editorials on certain political
subjects to which l had devoted my time
and study OF course. I landed in politics,
and attended town. district, and county
conventions. always as a reporter. and
often as delegate as we'll
At these conventions I frequently met
nomen Of Fiddler Beans a title which
he had earned by reason Of his devotion
to the violin. He played everywhere and
at all times at home. at places he visited,
and even on the road. Seated on his
blackboard he indicated 10 his old gray
freckled mare the direction in which he
wanted 70 go, then he threw the reins
over the dash, produced his fiddle, and
sawed away for dear life until he reached
his destination. lie owned a fine mill
about two miles from Murphy, and was
rated as one Of the prosperous business
men Of the county. Fiddler soon made it
plain that he considered my participation
in politics an impudent intrusion, for be
did not believe that foreigners had
right 10 NEEDLE iu the political affairs
Of the great State Of North "Care-olina,'
though they may have a right to vote
and I was a foreigner. If I made a mo-
tion at a convention he always had an
opposing motion ready, for he would not
stand FOR anything Sharp did. That is
what he called ne, although 70 was not
my name, bat sounded remotely Ike it,
one day he rode in company Of a friend
the door Of the church was tackled a no
tice. and Fiddler steered his horse up 10
it and read as follows:
Notlcc-Au citizens Of Persmmon Creek
Free Church neIghborh0od who are in
favor Of building a scho1lh0use on the
other side Of Persimmon Creek, will
please meet at this church on Thursday,
June g. lS71, at 10 a. m. sharp. The
Committee.
When ne had finished, he stopped long
enough 90 froWu az the A. N. Sharp then
turned 20 his friend and said: IT'S
strange we can't even have "a little school
meeting without having that d. Dutch
man in g."
Don't you see, YOU fool" iHterposed
his friend, "that A. N. Sharp is not the
signature OF any ones name. but goes
with the l1?' He knew perfectly well
20 whom Fiddler was alludine, and told
the story on him all over the country.
which caused the violin virtuoso TO quiet
down and let me alone thereafter.
At that time the Populists were very
busy in that section. not that they had
gained control OF political affairs, but
they were numerous enough and active
enough 20 give the old regulars many
a slecpless night and many a busy day
Senator William Streator then represent
ed the Senatorial district composed Of
Cherokee and Clay counties. The two
counties are entitled TO an addiroDal
member of the lower house. and by
common consent one county would get
the senator and the other the f0ater
Senator Streat0r was being quietly at
tackled by the farmer and Populist ele-
meut as a railroad senator, a title that
was "a serious drawback TO any candi-
date i'm the rural sections of .he State.
and the convention 20 nominate the
candidates fer senator and foater was
TO take place az HayesvilIc. the county
seat OF Clay County that summer.
q f-
Clay County in the person Of Col
Robert Beavens. Tho colonel was some
thing Of an aristocrat as far as ancestry
was concerned. but he posed as a friend
Of the downtroddan farmer. and was
known % be opposed to Senator Streator,
and 10 be working for his defeat before
the convention. I trained with the con-
seryatives. and Col Beavens was not "a
conservative. I had met the colonel fire.
Quently. but we were not friends
when we passed on the street in town. or
on the road in the country, he invariably
greeted me with a frigid stare. while
I invariably greeted him with a profound
bow and tie dofing Of my hat, both Of
which ciyilities irritated the colonel be
youd measure.
About six weeks before the nominating
convention I had occasion 20 drive over
to Hayesville, where I put up with DIT.
Clarke. then member Of the legislature
from Clay County ! did not go there
on politics, but was to get into it head
over heels on the second day OF my ar
rival It was a hot day. and I decided
10 spend il ON the veranda, smoking
and reading The trees and shrubbery
in the yard hid the county road from
view. but the gate could be seen from
the verauda. | had been reading an ac-
count Of q railroad disaster. when a
shadow caused me 10 look up. There
sat col. Beavens on his horse beckoning
me 20 come % the safe. He was all
smiles and bows.
Charmed % see you IN our neighbOr-
hood Quite opp0rtune, your visit May
I have the pleasure of entertaining YOU
at my house? Most important matter I
want 10 see you about. Can you come
this afternoon? Oh. your horse is out
i'm pasture. Let me send in a conveyance
for YOU
And so he ran on, scarcely giving me
time for "a reply 20 his questions but
I promised TO be ready by 3 o'clock
Promptly az the hour colored man ar
rived in a buggy. and took me spinning
down to the coloneIs plantation. dis
tauce Of about two miles. l made my
self comfortable on the veranda while
awaiting the appearance Of my host
Presently a servant brought out a little
stand, loaded down with inviting refresh
mcnts. a Carafe of whisky, cakes. sugar.
ice water. and cigars. While I was doing
Justice to the deliCaCieS before me. the
colonel came down stairs. carrying under
his arm a formidable bundle of papars
lie greeted me with the utmost cOrdiality
which. in the light OF past experiences,
I took with a grain Of salt. for l knew
that something was up TO cause him to
change his manner toward me so sud
denly and so completely, and did not
have to wait long for the denouement.