French Broad hustler and Western Carolina Democrat. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1915-1916, 1916-05-18
Hon. Sol GaIlert Of
Rutherford is in
Race for Congress

TO the Democrats OF the Il Oon-
gressional District:
am a candidate for the Democratic
congressional nomination in the Tenth
Congressional district at the primary
to be held on June 3rd, and 1 respect
fully solicit your support OF my candl-
idacy.
With more than twenty-five years
active service for the Democratic
marty. during which time, in addition.
TO redeeming Rutherford County from
Republican rule. 1 have repeatedly can
.yassed every county in this district n
support of the nominees of the party
and have made political speeches in
more than one-half of the counties OF
the state. and have cry several
terms as a member of the. Democratic
State Executive Committee as we'll as
attended two Democratic National con-
,tions as a delegate from this district,
II think | can claim an u~nparallel ser
vice to the party in advocacy of my
selection to this position. In addition
to all this, l believe I am correct when
| say of all of those who were active
"a wrestling the state of North Carolina
from negro domination, l am about the
only Democrat west of Raleigh who
has not received recognition at the
hands of the party. Do yoU think /
an unreasonable in expecting that a
political party which has been gener-
Gus and kind to those who were associ-
ated with me in those trying times will,
now that the opportunity afford itself,
ibestow upon US the only political re-
ward l have ever sought
believe that it was Governor Vance,
and later On Governor Glenn, who pub
!Iicly proclaimed the doctrine that
The horse that pulls the pillow should
have the fodder" and it seems to me
that the people have So persistently
affirmed and ratified this doctrine that
II can with propriety refer to my polit-
Iical services. With all due respect to
the other gentlemen who have an
jnounced. their candidacy for this posi-
ton, none can point to similar party
services or more efficient results.
However, l do not expect you to be-
istow this nomination upon me solely
on account of my party service. Were
I not able t. demonstrate my ability
to wage an aggressive campaign for
election and to properly fill the office,
after election, l would not offer myself
for this nomination. Realizing that
it is the desire of the Democrats Of
this Congressional district to nomi-
mate the strongest man with the pur-
pose of redeeming the district n re-
tanning it. in the Democratic column,
where it belongs, 1 want to call atten-
ton to some reasons why my eandi-
dacy should commend itself to you.
| In the first place, l could organize
the Democrats of the district so efici-
emily that the party would poll the larg-
est possible vote. My long experience
as an active worker in the party and
the many victories of the party in cam
paigns which have been managed by
me ought to commend me for this
work. None of the other gentlemen
who are aspirants can lay claim to any
experience which would qualify them
to efficiently organize the district for
the election campaign.
In the second place. l would be able
TO give my entire time to the cam
align for the success of the Democratic
party and would not be compelled to
consume any time at all in defending
my public record, because, not having
been an office-holder, l have no public
record to defend. Some of the other
gentlemen who are aspiring to this po-
.SAIAOA hdNS DSSh hOAOAAS Ol1S 1Ol IL
time, and, naturally. their public opin-
ions and official conduct are subjects
which might be criticised and, if criti-
cised would require time to defend,
which time ought to be consumed in
irromulgating Democratic principles
instead of defending personal views
upon public questions or official acts.
1t seems to me, as an available candi-
date. for this year, this should be =
Estrong ground for my nomination.
In the third place, my long expert
ence in debating public questions and
making Democratic speeches upon the
political issues has been greater than
that of any other aspirant to this nom
ination. 1t has been my pleasure and
privilege to debate public issues with
some of the strongest Republican cam
paigners of the district and state\and 1
Ihave always been able to give a good
account of myself in political debate.
Therefore, if the Democratic nominee
SHOULD be allowed the privilege of de-
1bating public issues with the Republi-
can nominee, and I should be your
choice, l would be in a position to cred
litably maintain the principles and pol
cies of our party. What record have
the other aspirants to this nomination
which could give you the same assur-
ances, should either of them be nom
mated?
In the fourth place, the Office of con
gresham is the only political office I
have ever aspired to fill. For many
years 1 have been trying to prepare
myself to fittingly Occupy that Office, in
the hope that the Democratic party,
which 1 have served so diligently and
-
for that position. In entertaining this
hope, 1 nave made a study of political
and economic questions and have be-
Lcome acquainted with the administers
ton of the affairs of the national gov
eminent. During the course of this