The news & observer., 1897-04-24
STRONlCH ENDORSED
But Thanks the Convention for
Its Nomination.
THE SLATE GOES THROUGH
WITH WYNNE AND ROGERS NAM
ED ON THE TICKET.
AND THE wHOoPERs wAooP
But the Crowd Refused TO be Enthused
and the Hybredizers Firally HE
Themselves Away to
Their Homes.

Their Homes.
The tamest Republican convention that
has met in Raleigh for twenty years was
held in Metropolitan Hall last night. The
crowd of delegates was small, but in
the back of the hall a good crowd of
Democrats and others were assembled to
witness the christening of the new found
bugs of pie-hunters.
Loge Harris was proposed for chair
man, and nobody seemed to care whether
he was made chairman or not, feeble
aye responded to the proposition to make
him chairman, and he took the ''stick"
and raped the meeting to order. A. {.
Lehman and Frank Debnam were named
as secretaries and nobody seemed to care
whether the secretaries were Lehman
and Debnam or whether they were Wey-
ler, of Spain, and Gomez, of Cuba. After
awhile the following resolution was Of
fered:
"Whereas, The Independent Democrats
Of the city have nominated Mr.. Frank
Stronach for Mayor, and
"Where, 1t is for the best interests of
the people that the control Of the city
government should be taken out of par
tisan politics, therefore be it
Resolved, That we, the Republicans of
the city Of Raleigh in convention assem-
bled. endorse the candidacy of Mr.. Frank
Stronach for Mayor Of the city of Raj
eigh and pledge him our united and hearty
support"
Nobody seemed to care whether the res
olution passed or whether it didn't
pass, but after few moments of awk-
ward delay it was declared passed.
Then a motion was made to- endorse
Frank Stronach for Mayor, there was not
half dozen who seemed to care whether
this motion passed or not. but lit was
finally passed. with about eleven whoops
from Peter Cobb and few others. who
think they can scent policeman's places
under the newly proposed regime
The next thing in order was the NOM
ination of clerk. Mr.. Phil Then and
w. III. Rogers were placed in nomina
ton.
1t was really tiresome TO witness the
absolute Indifference on the part of dele
gates and spectators as TO which should
win. J. Rowan Rogers, the uncle of the
candidate, threw his arms in the air and
emitted several sentences pitched on a
high key endorsing his nephew for clerk
and declared that he (the said nephew
had voted the Republican ticket single
handed and alone when not another Re
publican had voted at his box, and that If
he (the said nephew was nominated.
both the nephew and himself would be
found pulling for dear life to elect the
ticket. The vote stood 3012 for Rogers
and 16Ia for Them Dan Young moved
to make it unanimous, and inasmuch as
there was not a soul in the house that
cared red dime whether it was unani-
mous or not, Loge put the motion and
declared it carried.
The next thing in order seemed TO be
nothing, and for several minutes the CON
vention appeared to drift about with
out anchor or rudder. Finally Loge an
nounced that it was for the convention to
say whether it desired to nominate can
didate for Tax Collector or leave it for the
Pops Lehman wanted to proceed
| with the nomination. Pat Stewart want
ed to turn the thing over to the Pops
Lehman desired to know if the Pops
had asked for the Collector and If any
| arrangement had been made to give it to
them; if so. he was ready to stand by the
deal.
tN
representative Pop. was present and
could doubtless inform them.
Kemp Merritt seemed to desire that the
Pops. should have it. whether they want
ed it or not.
Tonnoffski finally arose, and in regu-
lar auctioneer eloquence, said that the
Pops. would be much obliged to them for
the place, or words to that effect; and
while they had not done much confer
ring or considering, he would suggest
Mr.. II. \. Wynne as the candidate.
n colored delegate had already nomi-
| mated Jim Carroll, but Jim got lost in
the shuttle and never was heard of again
Wynne was declared endorsed or nomi-
mated both. either, or neither just as he
and his friends preferred.
A committee was then appointed to
wait on candidate Stronach and ask him
to appear and make a speech. The COM
mittee went after Stronach, and while
the committee was out, Tom Bailey call
ed Dave Sutton, of New Hanover SUIT
ton GRATED at length until finally the
darkies got tired-the whites had been
tired all the time-and began calling for
Stronach. Sutton finally wound up, and
Stronach came forward. He thanked
the meeting for it's nomination, declared
that he was rocked in the cradle Of indie
pendence; that he had many Of the best
Democratic citizens behind him, and that
if the Republicans would support him
he believed that he would be elected by
from $50 to 300 majority. Then he went
over it all again, and closed amidst a
volley of cheers that you could have
heard If you had been sitting in the back
row of the hall. Up to this point there
had been no enthusiasm, and the action
Of the meeting had fallen perfectly fiat.
So the front seat warmers called for
Young and Harris. Harris arose and
for over half an hour tried his level best
to arouse the crowd, but it was no 60
They would not be aroused. Lehman
and Young saw that something had to be
done, SO they put their wits together,
and after Harris had concluded Lehman
announced that there would be ratifca-
ton meeting Tuesday night composed of