The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-07-16
NEGROES IN CONTROL
The Raleigh Coon is Assert
ing His Rights.
WHITE MEN NOT IN II
EXCEPT WHERE THE NEGRO
CARES TO TOLERATE HIM.
THE RESULT OF PRIMARY MEETINGS
Which so far as Heard from in Raleigh Send
Eleven Negro Delegates and Tour
Whites -There is Trouble
Brewing.
WHITE MEN NOT IN IT
THE RESULT OF PRIMARY MEETINGS

The net result of the Republican
ward primaries of Raleigh so far as could
he obtained mt II CLOCK last night, is
eleven negroes and four white men as
delegates to the Wake county Republican
convention. which meets iii this city
today. The negroes this time have paid
but little attention to the whites. 1T is
true that Loge Harris won i'll the First
division of the Fourth ward last night,
but it was after a hard struggle, and it
was charged by Ben Robinson that but
for "monkeyng' with the figures loge
would have been defeated. Harry Deb
nan and Joe Braan consented to let y.
II. Belvin get between them at the
county convention as delegates from the
second division of the Third ward, but
they do not hesitate to say that their
lilly white colleague will be II mighty
small potatoe when it comes to casting
the vote in the convention.
Kemp Merritt. another lilly white, will
play second fiddle to Andrew Davis and
S. b. Barber, two dusky citizens of the
Second ward. and Kemp Nj. will be toll
Grated only III CASE he htcpS hiS iIp but
toned ut the convention today.
This is we niggers' bizness,' SAID Il
prominent young negro politician last
night, land we are Just putin on Il
white man now and then as Il sort of II
compliment to them, but we are not
ywine TO let 'em walk off wild de coon
and leave de Niger watchin up de tree
no mo- We are gwine to hab ilttle
somethin' to do wild de ketchln' oh de
coon hereafter, an we are gwine 10
help skin i'm. too.
Three hundred pounds of Logan Har-
ris. frantic mob of coons of all ages,
that was audible TO the ears four blocks
away. and to the nose five, composed the
Republican primary in the first division
o. the Fourth ward last night. There
were seventy members of the primary,
beside the visitors in the room, and with
J. Loge present there was something of
Il crush.
+. Nj. Sorrell was made chairman
and Frank Debnam secretary. ginger
bread niger seven feet high. sat near
the door and announced each distinguish
ed parsonage rs he entered.
The secretary enrolled the names OF
those entitled to vote in the ward. lCgc
Harris and Il coon acted as tellers.
As the enrolling proceeded the secre-
tary would call out who is the gentle
man with the handkerchief around his
neck?" or "who is the gentleman next
to you?' The gentleman would give
his name with n flourish. At this juno
ture Il Niger with mutton chop whiskerS,
Il collar and Il cane approached DE
cha num-" who was compelled to take
his cigar smoke at second hand during
IL confidential whispering. Il 'ject to de
niggcrs of de To- wad crowdin our
meetin'." shouted Osborne Hunter and
instantly all the visitors from the lower
ward opened on him at once. Meantime,
j. G.. Il. Harris was shaking hands af-
fably with new corners. After rot
had been nearly precipitated several
times by negroes from other wards try
ing to enroll the list was completed.
Before the organization could be made
permanent, Il very black gem'mun with
spectacles and II mouth like catfish,
capered out before the chairman ani
began Il eulogy of "Mistah H. G. Harris
who introduced de fusion party in dis
deestrick." The orator was promptly
howled down and went over to apologize
to Harris for mixing his initials. In the
lull II patriarchal darby rose and remark
ed He nuthin' but Il rang-tang niger
from Gawgy nOhow."
The names of six men were placed In
nomination for delegates to the county
convention. Somebody moved 30 clcct
Loge Harris by reclamation. but it was
promptly voted down. The vote proceed
ed by roll call. All went well while
three or four men voted, but when some
body not belonging in the ward tried
to vote pandemonium broke loose The
seventy men present jumped on the
benches, crowded around the char,
waved sticks and all howled at once.
Chairman Sorrell called Ed. Johnson 10
the chair and jumped the game. When
order had been partially restored, one
grave old negro got up on Il beuch and
said solemnly, 'Why de h-ll don't you
hush" This restored good humor for Il
time. 1t did not last long. The friends
of the nominees formed around the
tcllers in a compact mass that the voters
could not wedge through. and when Il
name was called a friend of nominee
would vote before the man called could
announce his choice. Then the fun be-
gan. and the room became a mass of
! pushing. struggling. cursing men.
The chairman stood in his chair and
pounded till he split the table. At last
all had voted but the nominees for dele
gates. Harris, Johnson and Debnam
who were secretary. chairman and teller,
tried to quietly swap votes, but the
| crowd made them vote openly. George