The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1896-05-19
REPUBLICAN STATE CONVaN-
TON.

- ~~
A Skeleton Ticket Put Out With Rus
sell for Governor--Much Dissatisfac-
ton.
Monday and Tuaeday witnessed the
gathering OF the first sections of the
various Republican factions of the
State. BY Tuesday night many of dele
gates we're here. The Russell ~headq1aT-
tiers were established az the Park Hotel
aud the Dcckery heaCq larters at the
Marlborough. Moody, Boyd, and other
candidates were scattered around pro
miscuously. On Wednesday the first
gun was fred by the Fourth District
Congressional Convention, which as
sembled IN Metropolitan Hall. S Xseen
delegates were present. E. A. johnson,
the colored lawyer, was Chairman,
and Doc" SorrelI Secretary. n. Q.
| English, of Randolph, ?. 7, Massey, of
Johnston, and Rev. r H. W. Leake,
colorcd, Of Wake, were nominated for
Congress. The name Of Massey was
withdrawn, and on motion of john Il.
Williamson, cOlored, who works IN
Coz motion with pretty much all the
parUlee, Prof N Q. E rglish was nom
! mated by reclamation N II Hicks,
)lOred. Of Vance county, introduced a
resolution favoripg fusion, but the
convention adj }urued without action
on it.
Thursday was the day for the S5a.e
Convention, and by the morning Of
that day it began to look like a crowd
would be on hand. Nearly all the Re
publican politicians, white and black,
were on hand, ard it appeared that
most of them we're delegates. The ab-
sence Of farmer delegates was QIite
noticeable. Tle crowd was made up,
with a few exceptions, of white and
black politicians and town delegates.
1t was a noisy crowd, and many OF
them made frequent pilgrimages to the
Fayetteville and Morket street saloons
to wet their whistles. The Russell men
were enthusiastic, hut the D0ckery
delegates were confident.
Somewhere in town another scene
was being enacted. 1t began Wednes-
day, it is said. A small coterie Of Pop
ulists we're making Rome howl. The
chief actors in this sideshow, which be
gan its performances many hours be
fore the big Republican tent was opened
to spectators we're: Clerk of Court Gill,
of Vance county, and four or five other
citizens from Vance, Rev. Mr.. Babb, of
Perquimans, Col. T. B Long, of Bun
combe, one or two from Montgomery,
one from Alexander, and possibly a
few others. Col. Long said he wasn't
10 the meeting, but if he wasn't, he was
trying to sell tickets on the outside.
The reason we cannot give any pOlitIve
information about the size of the meet
ing is owing to the failure of the actors
to give out 4, fl lite information. From
POpulists, who were present for the
purpose Of preventing snap Judgment
being taken, we learn that the turnout
was very small. We would not devote
more than a line to this sideehow, but
for the fact that it took action and
agreed to fuse with the R pIblicans in
State, Congressional and county affairs
and to divide the spoils. The result is
that the Republicans put up a skeleton
State ticket, leaving blanks to be filled
by the PJpulist State Convention, if it
chooses, and, of course it will pay noat
ton to what the sideshOw did, unless
there Is a wonderful change, based on
good reasons. TIE very fact that the
Populists did not come to this great %
caucus is proof that they are IN the
middle of the road.
The State Convention was called to
OF or at IL o'clock m. Thursday. Chair
man HOlUon made a little speech and
then appointed the following commit
tee on credentials:
Q. A Reynolds, of Forsyth; Geo. Il
Smethers, Of Haywood; Wheeler Mar
tin, Of Martin J. j. Wood, of Halifax;
j. D. Holland, Of Harnett; f, D Jones,
of Chatham; James f. Wray, of Rock
ingham r. B r I~ssell, of r ,beson; J.
w, Boyer, of Cabarrus.
The convention then adjourned until
4 o'clock. But the committee on Gre
dentials failed to settle the contests I'M
til Friday, and Thursday night was
taken up by speakers who had to ex
pIOde. The committee on credentials
had TO deal with contests from Craven,
Cumberland, Edgec }mbe, Halifax,
Franklin, Mecklenburg, P~erqIimans,
Union, Wake, Wilkes and Wilson.
After much mixing up things the com