Western Carolina Democrat and French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1913-1915, 1915-06-17
DIFFERENCE AMONG DEMOCRATS
THREATEN BIG SPLIT IN PARTY
LACK OF CONSIDERATIONS GIVEN ADVOCATES
AND THE APPARENT SURRENDER OFFICERS TO Med RAY
THREATEN TO DISRUPT THE DEMOGRATIC PARTY

Hendersonville is the vortex of
q great political turmoil.
The situation is probably with.
out a precedent In the history of
Hendersonville, which makes
speciality of political fights of va
.rious kinds.
The turmoil is not petty differ
ences between two or posing po-
itical parties but strife for the
survival Of the fttest preeipitated
by three elements in the demo,
cratic party against the solid
front of the republicans with an.
alleged bank fight to goad on po-
litical differences.
There are several issues In the
political war and a number OF
them are receiving considerable
consideration.
History of the Differences.
The history of the bitter Ray
and Shipman factions is familiar
tc Henderson county people.
About three months ago move
ment was put on foot for 'eciti-
zens " ticket for Hendersonville.
A ticket was tentatively named
hut the ring democrats and a
few republicans talked it to death.
But a number of those behind the
movement were not satisfied when
the municipal election was held SO
split their tickets, some swapping
around to the extent that three re-
publican commissioners were
elected.
The Board DeadlocFs.
+ When the new board went into
pcwer on June 3 with three dem
odfatic commissioners and three
republicans and a democratic
1fayor holding the balance of
power, the question Of dispens-
ing pie arose and the democrats
felt that. under the rules Of the
game they were entitled to the
spoils and the republicans admit
ted it but they wanted to have
something to say as to the person
mel of those who should be seated
around the pie counter. With
this in view the board proceeded
to select the appointive officers
with the result that they couldn t
reach decision since the repub-
licans wouldn't give the demo-
Gratis an opportunity to tie in or
der for the mayor to. east the de-
Gliding vote. They struggled but
with the result that three demo-
Gratis would vote for one man and
two republicans for another and
one republican for the third man.
therefore the mayor couldn't cast
a deciding vote as there was no
tie. s..
The business Manage Movement.
1t was decided to abolish the city
manager plan of government and dem
ocratic friends of Preston F. Patton
circulated a petition asking that the
managers Office be continued and that
Mr.. Patton have due consideration for
the place before he left for Greenyille
S. G., to accept the Office of road SUI
Eervisor for Greenville county. The
board held special meeting to con-
slider the petition on Friday night and
. number of addresses were heard
with reference to the Office, the con-
tents of the speeches being given be-
low. The republican commissioners
wanted to consider the plan but the
democrats employed tactics whereby
they would not. have to vote down the
petition which it is said they had de-
! clared they=would do. After the speech
making was over the democrats voted
to defer further consideration of the
petition until the regular meeting in
July, the mayor untieing the vote
and killing the movement since It
would require immediate action to de-
mand Mr. Patton's consid deratfon as he
was to leave before July for his new
position.
They LOnged for the Recall.
The meeting was well attended
mostly by supporters of the manager
plan movement. The action OF the
board threw fat in the IRE" of the
democratic camp. They stepped ont
side the hall and many of them longed
/ for a recall provision in the charter
They had nothing else to do but swear
that they would never forget the deed
and had given their last political sup
| port to the democratic officers some OF
whom went out and laughed at the
clever tactics en1ploged. Many OF
! those attending the E.eeting favcre
the movement for citizens ticke,