The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-05-15
REPUBLICANS GATHER
Alleged TO Be the Best Republican COnyen-
ton Ever Held in North Carolina.
THE CLAIMS Of STATE CHAIRMAN HOLT
IL IN Asserted That senator pritehnrd
VIII Head the List of DeIc.ntcSnt
Large To the National Convention
A Split In the populist Camp on
the Question OF Fusioms

Raleigh. n. c.. May 4-SpeclaD-
About l,2O0 Republicans are here, rep
resenting every county In the State
The tension OF feeling last night was
great and there came very near being
a row between the Pritchard and Holton
and the Russell and Dockery men. The
Dockery men say that the Russell con-
ttngent Is insufeIably arrogant. The
latter has q big silk banner with his
portrait, to be brought in the convention
nall ut such time as 1t is thought will
increase his boom.
The caucus Of quarreling Republicans
lasted until o'clock this morning. The
Fritchard men say they got Holton
down and that Pritichard is to name
all five of She Central Executive Com
mittee. to assist tIolton in his work as
chairman. The Holton men say that
he and no. Pritchard is in the saddle and
that Pritchard had to give way. Ii is
an old quarrel ana II long one, and the
caucuses of publications have their
hands full in Shaving off a row. 1t WAS
claimed by the Pratchard men that in the
agreement reached in the caucus last
night no frivolous contests were to b<
made for votes in the convention to-
day, and that a committee would allow
only meritorious ones 10 be considered
This HoltOn absolutely denied and said
the PritchaId people wanted 10 lei them
selves down easy. He says they tried TO
make ii appear yesterday that he had
said he would himself make up the Toll
OF the convention.
The Republican State Convention did
not meet until nearly l o'clock this ar
ternoon. 1t Is perhaps the best con-
Vention ever held In North Carolina.
State Chairman Holton in a speech said
the party would sweep the State this
year. committee on credentials was
appointed. and the convention adjourned
in thirty minutes. 1t did not reassemb,c
until o'clock, so numerous were the
contested seats. 1t is the belief that
the convention will not adjourn before
late tomorrow night 1t Is asserted
that Sens ior-elect Pritchard will head
the delegates at large 10 the National
Convention. The greatest interest is
In the nomination for Governor. The
names of Oliver Dockery, Daniel Rus
sell. James Boyd, James NJ Moody and
v S. Lusk Will be placed before the
convention. Mr.. Lusli is to be per-
manent chairman. The offices of Lieu
tenant-G overnor. Treasurer and Secra-
tary OF State are to be left open to
be filled by the PopuliSts whenthey
hold their State conventions. or If the
latter decline; to ill them. the boiling
Populists who are now afiliating with
the Republicans will do so. There was
a meeting Of these boiling populists
with Republican Conference Commit
tee to-day, and they all relinquishcd
their demand that they he allowed TO
name the candidate for Governor
Spier Whitaker WAS chairman OF their
committee. and he withdrew as soon rs
this backdown occurred. He says the
Fopulists in the Eastern part of the
state, save those in Vance county
follow him fully and endorse his course
1t Is quite clear that the mass ofthe
Popullsts are backing Senator Butler
in the disposition that there shall be no
sion corporation with the Repub-
leans unless the latter pledge themselves
10 vote for free silver men only.
There was no regular session of the
convention tonight. Two hours were
devoted TO speech making. Among the
speakers was Rev. DIR. ID. 4. Long. pres
ident of Antioch College Chio Senator
Pritchard received an ovation. ANY
mention of the name of Mckinley was
loudly applauded.
The mention Of Dockery as the cand!-
date for Governor caused the greatest
demonstration of the evening.
Tho Populists who are in rebellion
against Senator Butler are much in
evidence here. 1t is asserted by Buffers
friends that they are only a handful
They appointed committee, composed
of Spier Whitaker. chairman: NJ. L.
Wood, j. n. Morgan, D. H. Gill. Il. r.
Garrett. r. a. Cobb and j. X. S. Sase.
Whitaker is Il bitter opponen: OF But
ler's. 1t is no secret that he des!es TO
get the fusion nomination for Governor.
So say the Butler men. The Latter as
sert thas only eighteen OF these rebel
lious Populists are on hand and that half
of these are from d. ii. Gill's county.
Vance. Gill claims that seventy-fivc
counties are represented in his move
ment and 10000 Populists. He and his
crowd are working a big bluff. Cobb,
one of them. said to me THAI they were
demanding the right to name the Gov
ernor. but would doubtless recede from
that II suitable arrangements were
made
MIR. st. John. of the Seaboard Air
| Line. is now making trip over the roa
| between Rutherford and Ashville. mo
doubt seeing what can be done in the
way of building u link there. or course
Ashville and Rutherford people will
have to put up the money for IL.
Prof. Patiah, of Wake Forest College
delivers the annual address at shaw
University here tomorrow, He has
just declined $4,000 profgssorship a,
the University of Chicago.
Republican State Chairman, Ho,io,