The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-08-23

The Plan of Primaries-ReneWed
Democratic Observation-Disclosures Rail.
road NewS-Current Notes.


Democratic Hopes-SisnifcaDt Rail-
road News-Current Notes.
Correspondence of The Messenger.)
Fayetteville, y. c., August II.
Local politicians are beginning now
to survey the field and organize the
forces, a cursory view Of which, in
| Cumberland county, will show that the
| contest may be a stubborn one, with
a good fighting chance for either the
democratic or republican ticket.
| In the election Of 1896 the republi-
can vote in this county was, in round
numbers. 2,100; democratic. 1900; pop
ulist, $50. This was a small vote, the
falling off being, it is claimed, chiefly
from the democrats. Although it is an
"off year." it is hoped that all the
stay at homes may be brought to
the polls in a great struggle to capture
the legislature and save the state. Be
sides this, it is a matter of fact that
some populists in almost every town
ship of the county declare their in
tention Of voting the democratic tick
ct. Finally, there are two factions in
the republican party, and the split is
a j to be unusually serious. 1t is re-
ported, on seemingly good authority,
that c.. c. McClelland, once a demo-
crat and former member OF the legis-
lature, now a 'middle-of-the-road'
populist, will be a candidate for the
sheriralty, in which case it is believed
that the present incumbent, Geddie,
will fight him to the bitter end.
In the congressional district matters
look rather more hopeful for us than
in 1896. Thomas is already developing
excellent qualities as an organizer and
a fighter, while Fowler rouse no en-
thusiasm among the populists, and is
repudiated by many republicans. There
is a very strong desire among the bet
ter and more influential republicans Of
the district to have the party repre-
sented in Ongress by A. H. Slocomb. of
this city-a man of ability and char
acter, and very prominent in business
circles.
Mr.. A. D. McGill, ex-member of the
general assembly and a leading poll
tician, proposes the plan of making
nominations for all the county offices
in the precinct primaries. 1t is certain
that the feeling grows every day
stronger to abandon the "cut and
dried convention, n put forward
men who are the approved choice OF
all the people.
The recent letter in The Raleigh
News and Observer, contributed by its
travelling correspondent, Mr.. F. B.
Arendell, is we'll worth careful read
ing. Mr.. Arendell, though a hustler"
is a painstaking winnower of the
wheat from the chaff in what he
CLEANS in the journalistic field, and he
assures his readers that he is speak
ing by the card" in the news scoop"
he had obtained on railroad matters.
| According to his article, a series of
railway links, with the South Atlantic
and Ohio railroad, from Stone Gap to
| Bristol, Tenn, the first in the chain,
traversing the great Cumberland coke
fields, the Cranberry iron beds and
crossing the Blue Ridge at Lost Hol-
| low, will form a grand trunk line, Which
| will weld itself at Li%ncolnton with
| the Carolina Central railroad and make
a straight shoot for Wilmington and
Southport. This extensive railway
| combination, Mr.. Arendell is assured,
is about to AXE substantial shape and
I be rapidly carried into effect. The
| benefits to Wilmington, as the Allan
| tic coast terminus of this great line,
| would of course be Of tr~anScendent i'm
| p%Ortance.
Judge and Mrs. Henry R.. Bryan, of
New Bern, are paying a visit to Ma
jor and Mrs. J. B. Broadfoot, on Hay
mount. Mr.. A. B. Williams, Jr., of the
Bank of Fayetteville, is at Red Springs
recuperating after an illness of several
weeks. Mrs. Herbert Letterloh has re-
turned home from a visit to relatives
in the western part of the state. Mr..
E. r. Kethan, of Savannah, now a
gallant soldier in the volunteer army,
is enjoying a short furlough with rel
atives in Fayetteville.
Captain Cobb, of the Lumber Bridge
light Infantry Company B, Second
regiment, stationed at Fort McPher-
SOM was here yesterday, shaking
hands with many friends, having been
at home for a, short time on sick fur
Tough. He is one of the oldest officers
in the service-and one of the best.