The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-06-11
SECOND DISTRICT CONVENTION.

To the Editor: In your issue of to-
day, under Weldon special of June
s, i find the following strange state
ment:
The Congressional convention to be
held at Goldsboro the 23rd is consider
ed by leading Democrats of this coun-
ty to be ''snap affair." in the inter
est of some particular candidate. The
Halifax county member of the execu-
tive committee did not know anything
about the calling of the convention
and had never been notified to meet
for that purpose. Chairman Robin
son is being severely criticised"
At the meeting of the executive COM
mittee of the Second Congressional dis
trict, held in Rocky Mount on May 81,
under call of the chairman, duly issued
to every member of the committee
the member for Halifax county includ-
ed, and which he duly received-the
matter of candidates. was not dis
cussed at all.
The member of the committee for
Halifax county was not present at the
meeting of the committee, although
he had received the same notice that
brought the other members present
together neither did he favor the com
mittee with an excuse for his absence;
nor was he represented by proxy. What
was the committee to do? Was it to
adjourn for the absence of the COM
mitteeman for Halifax county, or pro-
ceed to business?
The committee in session canvassed
the affairs of the district with care
and caution, and it is to be presumed
that they were governed accordingly
in calling the convention for June %.
Was it not the prerogative-the duty
of the committee to call the conven-
ton? How else could it be called? For
what purpose, then, are the motives of
the committee impugned and its at
tending members besmirched, and
Chairman Robinson being severely
criticised by leading Democrats of
a county whose committeeman for the
district, though duly notified, (the
statement of your correspondent to
the contrary Notwithstanding did
not even attend the meeting of the
committee-almost at his very door?
Moreover, one of the duties of the
Congressional convention is to select
delegates to the National convention,
which convenes on July Z, in Chicago.
July 7 is close to June 23rd, and Chica-
90 is some distance away. 1t takes
considerable time and money to get
there; delegates should, therefore, in
reason, have a little interim in which to
supply themselves with the necessary
finances, get their business at home ar
ranged so as to permit of their alb
sence, and provide against numerous
incidents appertaining to the trip:
all of which the committee took into
consideration in calling the conven-
ton for June %.
And now, why I am selected for
"severe criticism by leading Demo-
Gratis" up in the good old county of
Halifax, whose Congressional COM
mitteeman did not take interest
enough in the honor conferred upon
him to concern himself in the least in
the called meeting of his committee,
is passing strange. 1t was my duty
as chairman, to call the committee
together 1t was the committees pre-
negative to call the convention. This
duty has been fulfilled and this pre-
negative exercised.
Sincerely,
JOSEPH f. ROBINSON.
| Ch'm'n. Dem. FIX. Com. Second Con-
| gressional District.
/ Goldsboro, n. c., June 10.