French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1916-1919, 1916-11-09
WEAVER ELECTED NATIONAL RESULT IS HANGING IN BALANCE

course-or something like that. Why.
said his school mate, "time and again
have known him to read Latin
for members of the class ahead of
him, stuff that he had never seen.
But he continued. she excellede III
mathematics and logic and can see
evidence of this today in his powers
of analysis and reasoning And his
quality of concentration is marvellous,
but not more so than his faculty for 1
understanding people,
For years those who know Zeb
Weaver have looked upon him as con-
gressional timber. The question was
often heard, "Why not run zeb Weay-
er for cOngress?" Nobody seemed to
know, except that somebody else
wanted to run more than Zeb did. but
there was sort of feeling generally
to be observed that sometime Zep
would run for congress.
In zeb Weaver: his friends declare
there is that rare combination of es-
sentials of successful presentation
the ability to match wits with those
who sit in high places and the quail
ty Of thinking as the people think, Of
seeing things as they see them, know
1IlS "lcI I1iCN Md1J di1O why IIlSS
want it. This is SO, they say, because
he is of the people that he would rep
resent. ZebulOn Weaver graduated at
Weayerville college when he was very
young-about seventeen-and then he
went to the state university to study
law After receiving his license. he
began to practice law in Asheville. He
! was not long in establishing himself
n oft "a oh itv Il
] gathered valuable clientage, but it
was not long before he attracted the
attention of the democratic leaders.
State Assembly Work.
It is Weaver's state legislative rec
ord about which his friends are espec-=
tally enthusiastic and in this connec-
has served four terms in the legisla-
twice as senate -he never 6nered'
himself voluntarily as a candidate for
| Office, entering each race at the earn
lest desire of the men of his party.
He was first in the house of repre-
sentat1ves in 1907.
During every session in which he
has served, both in the house and in.
the senate. Mr.. Weaver has been Sc
lected to serve on the most important
] committees. He has received the
highest Communications, in particular,
upon his work in the judiciary
branch, in efforts to simplify legal
procedure.
During the past session of the as
cembly he was one of senate's SUD-
committee of three, appointed by the
joint committee on appropriations of
the house and senate, which had act
i've charge of all appropriations made
| by the state.
His name appears as the author of
| important measures. especially of
refOrmative and constructive nature,
and he aided in the preparation of
most of the laws of statewide appli-
cation enacted while he was in the
assembly.
Passenger Rate Fight.
In the fight over the railway pas
/ senger rates in 1907, Mr.. Weaver was
member. of the railway committee
of the house and supported the COM
promise fixing the rate at two and a
! half cents per mile. ATterward he
introduced an amendment which de-
prfved the corporation commission of
it's rate-fixing powers and Iput bar
in the way of federal court interfer-
ence in the machinery of the state
government.
He was among those who fought
| long for and finally passed an anti
trust law with teeth"
The bill which resulted in placing
North Carolina with the prohibition
states, was partly the handfwork of
Mr.. Weaver, and headed in its en-
actment.
State Wide Primary Law,
| The part he took in Nthe statewide
primary law contest was conspicuous.
AS a member of the state senate, Mr..
Weaver was joint author with Sena-
| tor F. P. Hobgood, jr.. of Guilford
county, of the present North Carolina
primary election law; and he is gen.
orally credited by those who watched
the fight at close range with being
primarily responsible for it's final
passage by the general assembly. He
also did>effectiVe work in securing the
passage of the last corrupt practices
act.
He was an active supporter of what
was known as the Freight Rate act
of 1913 designed to reduce intra-state
rates and prevent discrimination
against North Carolina cities in favor
of Virginia cities. in the matter of in
ter-state rates. The passage of this
] bill, it is conservatively estimated. has
meant saving to the people OF the
state of 100000 annually, with very
direct benefits to the people of west
ern North Carolina, through reduc-
ton of rates on lumber, wood and
bark of approximately 20 per cent.
Mr.. Weaver's friends hold he is
largely responsible for the excellent
insurance laws that are now admins
tered in the state. In the last legisla-
ture the house passed a bill similar TO
the South Carolina law. Here Mr..
Weaver came in confict>with Senator
Hobgod and easily came off winner.
After he spoke against the measure