Western Carolina Democrat and French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1913-1915, 1914-07-23
EDITORIAL OBSERVATIONS.
Contributed.
WATTS HAD COMPANY.

Folder who attends political conyen-
tons or participates in the conduct OF
partisan affairs. Those who disagree
with Mr.. Watts upon some matters of
| political import have been seeking 10
make the Collector the sole offender
Iot President Wilson's appointees lie.
cause he dared to exercise the priv
ilege and right of attending the re-
cent Democratic State convention and
voting his convictions. But he hal
plenty of company The collector for
the Eastern District. Hon. Josiah vii
liam Bailey, was on the ground aad
spoke loud and long before members
Of the platform committee, at the rep
resentative of the progressive meet
ing held few weeks previous. But
not a word of criticism do we hear CT,
Mr.. Bailey. Hon. W. c. Hammer, Dis
trict Attorney, of the Western Dis
trict, had the hardihood to appear as
delegate and voted his county for
the minority report on platform. His
action, too, has escaped notice. The
Honorable Francis D. Winston, United
states Attorney for the Eastern Dis
trict, participated actively in the pro-
ceedings. No objection has yet been
rendered against him. Marshal Webb
vent down from Asheville to exercise
his privilege as a democratic citizen
ct North Carolina In the convention
and was reelected member of the
State Democratic Executive Commit
tee. He has, so far, been permitted
to rest in peace" And then there
was Marshal Dortch, of the Eastern
District. Hon. Clyde r. Hoey, assist
ant attorney for the Western District,
Hon. Ernest M. Green, assistant at
torney for the Eastern District and "a
number of minor benefeiaries of
President Wilson's administrator
who have been made subjects of rid
tcule.
Evidence is lacking to justify the
suggestions of critical individuals thai
Collector Watts was more active in
the convention than other Federal
officials on the ground. The attempt |
to make Mr.. Watts the Escape goat |
is made for the deliberate purpose of |
creating strife amongst democrats. in
the hope of fostering Rooseveltisnn |
upon the people of North Carolina.
Mark the prediction and keep an ear |
to the ground.
Enemies OF the democratic party arc
laboring industriously to create the /
impression that it has boss. Marion
Butter and his henchmen related q
similar story along in the early nine- |
ties and succeeded in their purpose Of
dividing the party. Butler and his /
gang rode into power and darkness
covered over the State. The wicked Il
luled and the people moaned for four +
long, dreadful years. The men who
ere now dubbed as bosses" determirI-
ed in 1898 that wreck and ruin should
cease in Moth Carolina and united In
aethroning the deceiVers and pIunder-
ers, whose disgraceful conduct had
brought the State into disrepute.
Shall the democrats of North Carolina
so soon forget the experience of those
( ouDiesome times and become exer-
c1sed to the point of dividing over
petty matters of party policy? Crfti-
eisms of Mr.. Watts by republicans
nd independents are not offered out
Of any love for the State or regard
'or the Democratic party. Abuse OF
he Collector is part of a deliber-
ltely planned scheme to discredit the
Democracy aid create dissensions in
he ranks. While leading the fight
or temperance reform in the Legisla-
IRE of 1901, Mr.. Watts was all righfsE
ie was boss of the situation and did
he job well, The prohibitionists
Euded him ito the skies and the
hits declared him to be. "a mean die 8
ator. His views were then in ac, =
ord with the majority sentiment pre- s,
ailing in the State, upon the temper
ace question. and reflected those Of, 8
&c very men he is accused of renraa s
6nting IN political matters today. :
ut ne was all right at that time and. e;
lo1esses no. Change of heart now II
et ne Is classed political boss, who
MS and makes alive; machine pol ft
loian and menace to progressiy 3,
overnment. He has been selected az h,
&c target of the opposition to the 9,
enuine old brand of democracy hand re
! out by the recent Democrats =.
tate convention His comrades n II
ms on that eventual occasion. Jo-l ID