The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1910-11-03

speakers spoke separately. Senator
Butler had twice as many TO hear
him as vent 10 hear 0verman. But
ier's speech vas 4 vote winner. and
was cheered 10 the echo.
The Charlotte Observers Unfair Re
port
The following Is a copy OF q letter
Senator Butler sent the Charlotte
Observer in regard 10 their unfair
report OF the meeting:
Hickory. y. c.. Nov. 2. 1910.
To the Editor OF the Charlotte OBJ
server, Charlotte, y. c.
Dear Sir:-You paper contains
what purports TO be a report of what
occurred at Rutherfordton on last
Monday. when Senator Overman and
| both spoke in that town. The re-
port is not only incorrect, but ex-
tremely unfair. The facts are that
there was a very large gathering of
people OF both political parties TO
hear the two speakers. ! learn upon
arrival that there was general de-
sire that there should be joint dis
cussion OF the issues of this cam
paign in order that the voters might
hear both sides and draw their own
conclusions. Besides, in as much as
[ had read in a number Of papers
that Senator Overman had been
making very serious and violent per-
al
orally very abusive, I felt that | had
a right to demand that he should
say whatever he had TO say about me
to my face and in the presence Of
voters, so that then and there
should hape an opportunity to reply
lied the Republican county chair
man to extend an invitation to SEN
ator Overman through the Democrat
ic county chairman for joint dis
cussion of the issues, and further de-
handing that he take that oppor-
tunity to say in my presence what
he had been reported to have said
concerning me personally. This in
vitation and challenge, after a con-
sultation between Senator Overman
and the Democratic county chairman,
was declined without giving any rea-
sons therefor. When the news of
this fact spread, I am informed that
there was much unfavorable COM
ment upon the unfair, not to say
cowardly, conduct on the part of
Senator Overman. At any rate, the
fact is that at least two-thirds of the
voters followed me to the Republican
place of speaking. The Republicans
had secured the opera house for the
occasion, but as it appeared that not
one-third of those who desired to
hear me speak, and who did not care
to hear Senator Overman since he
refused a Joint discussion, could be
accommodated, it was decided to
park.
None of these facts are stated by
the person who sent the report to
your paper. The reporter does state,
however, that Senator Overman made
a heightened speech entirely devoid
on this occasion, then It would, to
Judge from the newspaper reports
and from other reports which I have
received, be the first speech of that
kind that he has made in this cam
paign; and If this report is true, it
shows how cowardly Senator Over
man is, not to say in his speech at
| Rutherfordton, when l was present
in the town, what he was reported
to have said elsewhere. / under
stand that a newspaper desiring to
be eminently fair is at the mercy OF
those who send in news reports, and
believing that you would prefer to
have a truthful report, I feel it my
duty to call your attention to these
facts and trust that you will give
them space in your columns.
Very respectfully,
MARION BUTLER.