Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1892-03-10
wAnHAl1A, SOUTH CAROLINA, MARCH TO- 1892
Fun at the Mass Meeting.
columbia State, March 81

| OF Columbia VINO WenI away 1ToIi
the opera house last night rathe'
suddenly, all INDUCED in roar afte'
roar of laughter. They were abou
as badly asold' a set Of individual
as one ever sees, but for all that tht
joke was too good TO produce any
thing but hilarity, pure and simple
Of course it was all about thai
mass meeting :.ledby called By certain citi
zens for the purpose of nominating
sssome better man" for Mayor thar
had yet appeared in the race. AS 2
mass meeting it was a glorious sue.
cess; as to the purpose-well that
was forgotten. Listen how it hap
pened.
There was ssfull house" of al
classes of citizens when the hour
appointed for the meeting arrived
In fact there had not been such
fine mass meeting since the cana
matter was discussed and Mr.. Gums
suit condemned. Most of those
present came out of curiosity ar
had pleasant surprise.
There were onlyfa few who knew
of the ajob" that had been put ur
and they were discreetly quiet. The
majority were in a state of expect
ancy-they did not know exactly
what the s'bill of fare" was to be.
Finally, after several attempts tc
get a presiding officer, Col. J. @
Marshall, who came as a spectator
consented to act IS Chairman in all
earnestness. Mr.. w. H. Gibbes, Jr.
on the nomination of Mr.. W. T
Martin, was chosen Secretary.
Col. Marshall stated that unfortu.
nately he did not know the object OF
the meeting, having come only te
look on, and he would request some
of those who had issued the call tc
explain the object to the assemblage
Silence reigned supreme for a few
moments, none of the callers volun-
teering to answer.
Then, in a most earnest manner:
Mr.. Winthrop Williams rose and
said that it appeared to him that
such meeting was not in accord
with the usual Democratic methods:
and certainly had not the spirit Of
the primaries. In conclusion he cried
very forcibly, 81 move that this body
do now adjourn prolonged ap-
plause greeted this, showing the
popular sentiment, bpt it did not
prevent the fun that as TO follow
Before the motion could be put to
the house, Mr.. w. TFMartin was on
his feet asking Mr.. Williams to with
draw it for the moment, that Col
Tilman Watson had a letter he
wished to read. Cheers.
Col. Watson then stepped out on
the stage, and, stating by way OF
introduction that it was understood
that the meeting was called for the
purpose of nominating certain
widely known citizen, and that gen
tleman had handed him the following
card to read to the meeting, a duty
he should have discharged himself
COLUMBIA, S. G., March 9, 1892.
To the Public:
Many of my friends have informed
me that "the mass meeting" to be
held tonight was called with view
to force me to run for Mayor of the
city. l must respectfully decline the
honor, as have higher aspirations.
Mr.. Cleveland and Mr.. Hill are
both looking to me to accept high
Cabinet position. Possibly one OF
the other may be left out.
The Constitution only allows one
President, but by political chicanery
as in the case of Mr.. Harrison and
Mr.. Blaine, both may act in that
capacity.
In the event of Mr.. Hill being
elected Mr.. Cleveland may be Secre.
tary of State and he dictate and the
other sign.
Thanking my friends for the great
honor done me, / am, very respect.
fully, your fellow-citizen,
Col. J. MADISON Roach.
When Col. Watson had reached
the portion referring to Hill and
Cleveland there was laughter through
the house, and that was the first
intimation of the joke. When the
name was read there was pandemo.
mum, cheers and yells filing the
house. Simultaneously, too, every
man jumped from his seat and started
for the door, convulsed with laugh.
ter and feeling very much like he
had made 49, of himself. See
Out on the streets the crowc
gathered and it was discussed as the
joke of the season. Only one thing
remains to be told. The crowd be.
lieved the whole matter was a "put
up job" On the contrary seyera
well Known gentlemen had gotten W
the meeting, as already stated, in al
earnestness, for the purpose stated
but they could not turn the popular
tide. That was all. They were nc'
seen in the crowd around the dool