The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-11-04
THE SITUATION
MeSSrS. ROuntree and
Willard Nominated.
WHITE SUPREMACY

KelieVe the situation and the NOmf.
nees Endorsed-A GLORIOUS Of Ap.
prevail Among the Leading Business
Men
The political situation in Whining |
ION has been fraught with such peril to !
the peace and good order Of the COM
munity and the desperate determina-
ton Of the white men of the commun-
ity to rid themselves of an intollerable
state of affairs had assumed such grave
proportions that the deepest anxiety
was felt and the business interests were
seriously jeOpardized. In view of
the perilous situation involving life
and property, the business men Of
Wilmington set on foot a movement
to avert the calamity which was i'm
pending.
To SUI up, the situation was exceed
ingly grave. A bloody conflict between
the races was imminent, in which
many valuable and inOffensive lives
might be sacrificed. The thought of
terrified women and children flying
from burning houses and all the hor-
rOrs attending a riot of this kind was
appalling, moreover armed intervention
at the polls meant subsequent legal
proceedings in the supreme court,
upon C..arges of intimidation and
fraud. But the White people were des-
perate and determined that for veal
or woe an end should be made of bad
government and misrepresentation.
In this juncture and under strong and
urgent pressure by ONE of our most
eminent citizens, a letter was sent to
the governor in his capacity as leader
Of the republican party, signed by a
few conservative democratic business
men who were not personally offensive
to him. This letter calmly and con-
cisely stated the facts and on behalf of
the people of Wilmington deeply inter
ested in the peace and welfare of our
community, appealed to him to meet the
emergency in a patriotic spirit, and by
withdrawing the local republican
ticket. The letter closed with cOur-
teOus assurance that such a personal
and political sacrifice on his part would
command the grateful recognition and
approval of our business people. This
communication brought favorable re-
Spouse from the governor by telegraph,
c~onsenting to an interview with Messrs.
James Sprunt, e. K. Bryan, j. II. Chad
bOurn and Rev. DR.. p. H. HOge, who
Immediately proceeded to Raleigh and
accomplished after two lengthy con-
ferences the result already known,
which means the entire control Of
the county and city government by the
democratic party and taxpayers. The
committee wish it to be clearly under
stood that they went at considerable
personal sacrifice and at their own eX-
pense in the interest Of peace and hui
manity and good government.
The result of the visit of these gen.
tlemen to the governor was that Gov
ernOr Russell and Mr.. G.. 4. French,
another one of the republican leaders
here. agreed to use their best efforts
to prevent the nomination of a repub-
lican ticket in this county. The only
condition which the governor named
for this extraordinary concession was
that Messrs. Geo. l.. Peschau and J. t.
Kerr, the W democratic nominees
for the house of representatives, should
resign their places on the ticket, and
allow the business men to select two
representative men of their own choice
to be run in their stead.
All our readers are familiar with the
action Of the business men at their
meeting on last Saturday to receive the
report of Messrs. Bryan, Sprunt, Chad
bOurn and DR.. Hoge who had the I'M
d~erstanding with Governor Russell,
resulting in the resignation of Messrs.
Peschau and Kerr to the democratic
executive committee on Saturday night.
Pursuant to the announcement in
Sunday mornings Messenger that the
democratic executive committee, the
democratic campaign committee, andthe
gentlemen representing the citizens
movement would meet at the rooms of
the Merchants Association yesterday
at 10 o'clock to name two men to take
the places of Messrs. Peschau and
Kerr on the ticket, they met yester-
day at the appointed hour and place.
The following were the gentlemen
who attended the meeting.
Bryan, of the citizens committee spoke
James Sprunt, E. K. Bryan and Jun
JUS Davis.
Executive committee-COlonel T. W,
Strange, chairman, n Messrs. +. 2.
Skipper, B. F. King, Isaiah West, E.
F. Johnson. r. H. Davis. w. H. Biddle
Neil McKinnon. J. w. Cate, J. H. Bee
ry. w. B. McKoy. Sol Jones. d. j
Fergus. NJ. W. jacob, and w. McEvans,
C. II. CANCER and Colonel Walker
Taylor.
Campaign Committee-Messrs. Mar
tin O'Brien. c. H. Ganger. J.. G. l..
Gieschen. F. w. Ortmann, Gabriel
Holmes. II. C. Mcqueen, w. E. Worth
H. X. Nash, Iredell Meares. w. H.
Northrop, F, H. stedPan' and E. G,
PaTmele.
After a conference of the campaign
committee and the business mems com
mittee they unanimously agreed TO re
commend to the executive committee
the anne of George Rountree, ESQ.
and Mr.. NJ. S. Willard. for the nomina
ton for the house of representatives
At 1O:45 o'clock p. N. they reported
the result of their choice to the execu
two committee which was in waitiOS