Carolina watchman. [volume] (Salisbury, N.C.) 1871-1937, 1932-07-28

- that ne is gone, he will b<
appreciated at his true worth, as one
of this worlds rue noblemen. | knew
Mr.. Bruner all my life and l always
admired and revered him. Sometimes
disagreed with him in opinion, but
in doing SO l always felt that possibly
might be wrong, knowing as l did
that while he was slow in coming to
a conclusion, when once his opinion
was formed, he adhered to it with an
undertaking and inflexible fixedness of
purpose. He was a just man in all his
dealings and conscientious and truth
full always. In politics, he was always
true to his convictions and to his par
ty principals-but he was anything
but a time-server. He had a perfect
horror of d~uplicity. AS an instance
of this, | remember once, when l
was in the Legislature, a petition had
been forwarded to the Governor re-
questing the appointment Of a certain
man to an important public position.
Mr.. Bruner was importuned to sign
the petition, and did so reluctantly,
but being convinced that he had made
a mistake and hat the man was un-
worthy, he would not be satisfied I'M
til he had cleared his skirts of all re-
s%Ponsibiity in the matter. He mott
fled the friends of the candidate that
he wished to withdraw his signature
from the petition. The reply was that
it was too late, the petition had been
sent to the Governor. He then wrote
to me to call upon the Governor and
ask him to erase his name from the
list of petitioners. l complied with the
request, and | now remember that the
Governor was very courteous and
made the erasure instantly with his
own hand"
For more than half a century Mr..
Bruner was at the head of the "Watcb-
man,. A bold and fearless advocate
of the rights of the people, he wrote
with great force and fidelity of ex-
preston, and always with conserva-
and great good sense. The high
mindedness, the inflexible and uni
v~ersally recognized integrity Of the
man, added to his prudence and fine
judgment, gave weight to his coun-
sells and rendered him always an in
dividual and an editor of influence.
pronounced views and great deci-
sion of character, he was yet the most
amiable, genial and kindly of men, at
all times characterized by a degree of
iberality and Conservatism that won
him respect and friendship even from
those who might differ with him in
of Church or State. With but
one hope or purpose-to serve his peo-
pie and State, faithfully and honest
steered his journal from year
70 year. from decade, to decade, from
morning of one century almost
to the morning of another, until he
made himself and his paper honored
landmarks not only of his w town,
but throughout North Carolina. The
editor of the Manufacturers Rec
ord" has said-'No other North Car
DINA journalist of earlier days had the
prescience to see and the ability to set
forth what the future of that State
be made because of its i'm
mense and varied natural resources.
in the center of a natural dis
trict surrounded by vast forests and
by fertile lands, Mr.. Bruner saw that
the State had within itself every need
ed natural material for the creation
and continuance of diversified indus
tries, and while a young editor he be-
gan to study these intelligently, and to
give such publicity to them as his cir
culation permitted. Scrupulously hon