The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-06-08
A RADICAL WRANGLE
The Question Convention or
no Convention.
COMMITTEE MEETS TODAY
THE RAMPANT FUSIONISTS
AGAINST A STATE CONVEN-
VENTION.
PLAN OF ORGANIZATION DEMANDS Il
Some Of the Politicians Strongly Favor Nc
Convention, but They Don't Know
How to Get out of Call
ing One.


mittee meets in Raleigh today, when a
dozen or more pie-eaters are expected
to assemble and take such action as
will tend to keep each one of them in of
flee and keep the State in the hands of
the negroes, il by any hook or crook
they can secure the support of enough
populsts to accomplish these two re-
suits.
The following pie-eaters comprise the
committee: A. Il. Holton, United States
District Attorney of Winston, Chair
man; III. l.. Grant, State Senator, de-
feated candidate for Sergeant-at-Arms
OF the United States Senate, and candi-
date for a position in the paymaster de-
partment of the United States Army:
Tyre Glenn, Postmaster of Greensboro,
n. c.. james III. Young coli, of RIA
leigh, ex-Chef Fertilizer Inspector and
Major of the new battalion of colored
troops at Fort Macon, and director of
the Deaf and Dumb and Blind Institu-
ton: Abe Middleton (col), Assistant
Doorkeeper of the House of Representa-
tives and applicant for Il position in the
Salisbury, Collector Of Customs at Will
mington; Sias Blount (col.), clerk in Re
corder of Deeds office Washington, ID.
c.; II. j.. Lewis, ex-Sheriff of Halifax
county, and Steward at State Farm, and
applicant for Revenue office, and candi-
date for Steward of the Insane Asylum;
Robt Hancock, deposed President A. &
n. G. Railroad Company, and defeated
candidate for Clerk of Court, Craven
county; +. L. Massey, late Deputy Rev
enue Collector and candidate for Con-
gress, now candidate for clerk in Collec-
tors office J. 4. Norwood. Granville
county, not yet placed; w. S. Clanton,
Charlotte. Assayer Charlotte Mint; j.
w. G. Long, Postmaster Mt Statesville;
III. S. Harkins, Collector Internal Rev
enue Winston District. The other two
members of the committee have recently
died, they were Il. s. Wolton, of Burke
and II. o. Patterson, Of Buncomhe.
At sunset last night five members of
the committee had arrived, they We're
James Ii. Young. who came up from
Fort Macon; Abe Middleton, Of Duplin;
F. T. Massey, Johnston; S. A. Blount.
Carteret, and II. S. Harkins, Bun
combe.
Several others came in ON later trains
and the probability is that every mem
Der of the committee will be represented
either in person or by proxy, except OF
course the two members deceased.
There is only one question for the com
mittee to tackle and that is whether
or not it will call State Convention.
Representing as this committee does, one
hundred and twenty thousand negroes
who care nothing for isues or party de-
carations, and twenty-five TO thirty
thousand Republican office-holders and
office-seekers who care even less for
party declarations or principles, it can
do as it beautifully pleases about call
ing State Conventions or other matters
Of such minor Importance, with the full
assurance of whipping them all in line
when election day comes.
The rampant fusion Republicans are
against a convention, the Russell crowd
is against it and a great number Of the
Pritchardites have been trying to find
some way to get out of calling State
Convention this year, but yet awhile
they have not been able to do so. it will
be remembered that DR.. T. j. Mott,
while Chairman of the Republican Com
mittee, declined at one time to call "A
convention. His action angered the Hol-
ton-Grant faction of the party and at
the next State Convention the plan of
organization was so changed as to make
it the duty of the State Convention to
call convention every two years.
This feature of the constitution of the
party faces the pie-eaters now. They
would like very much to undo this part
of their mean work.
They are regretting that the organza-
ton was so changed but they made the
change and now they must take their
medicine. There is no question but what
if the convention could do so without
violating the plan of organization it
would simply meet and adjourn and re-
~ on local pie-hunters in counties
and districts to get the white place hunt
ers and the negroes in line for another
deal for spoils.
Moreover, this crowd of office-holders
now assembled is awfully afraid that if
State Convention is held the masses
of the party who have not yet been
admitted to the pie counter will insist on
sending representatives, and that these
representatives, may insist on raising
fumpus IN the convention against the
spoismen.
These things make the salary -grahbers
qulyer, but they must face the music
anu Ntlii al tOhNthAlUll, hoping that W0eD
it meets they can get control of It and
choke off any faction that may not feel
inclined to join in with the brigade.
The bosses have no doubt but what they
can control, but they fear that a faction
of sufficient force may spring up TO dis
turb the plans of the fusion spoiIsmpn
But convention will be called to
meet some time between the 9Th and
the Goth of August, and that convention.
controlled as it will be by office-hoders
and their lieutenants, will declare in
favor of Rep.-Pop. fusion on almost any
terms that will enable them to keep their
noses in the trough.
Besides the members of the committee
already named there are several others
of the pie-hunting brigade in the city
Chas. A. Cook. recently nominated for
Judge Of the Second District. is here
A. II. Slocumb. candidate for Congress
from the Third District, is also in the