Evening star., 1898-11-08
of the organizing of the defense of the city
against possible negro uprising.
Ready for Business.


Ready for Business.
At the outset one stalwart old democrat
advanced to the bar and asked If it were a
business meeting. Being answered in the
affirmative he said he was ready for tNsi-
ness and unstrapped belt from his waist
and laid a. big navy six shooter on the
desk at which the audience appiauded.
Several speeches were made, the most
prominent by eX-Representative Waddell
and Mr.. Bellamy the democratic candidate
for representative in Congress. Mr.. Wad-
dell said it no time to mince words.
The hour for action was arriving, and un-
less the whites gained supremacy at this
time they would nave the same fight to
make two years hence. He said the whites
must go to the polls determined to carry
the election, cost what 1t might. He had
heard that the negroes We're preparing, in
spite of the agreement. to vote a county
ticket. He did not believe it, but If it We're
true, they must be told at the polls they
could not vote it, and If it came to the
worst they should be driven away by force.
He said the temper of the people was now
aroused, and to a pitch which might not be
attained later Mr. Waddell advised all
white men to go to the polls, and "go
heeled." If they could be mounted it
would be better. The moral suasion of
mounted men was great.
Political Campaign Strategy.
AT this point the chairman of the meeting
made a statement. He said it was under
stood that the employers of white labor
should close their establishments et9c-
ton day. The employers of colorcd labor
should keep their men at work Mr.. Bel
lamy. made an appeal to the white men Of
all parties to stand together. and said that
North Carolina expected every man to do
his duty. He was very cautious in his re-
marks. Mr.. Bellamy then read the statute
hi hi
polling place. That MEATS carrying guns
on your shoulder" internoIated another
citizen. 1T does not refer to nther kinds
of guns With this tie stalwart democrat
of the navy siX-shooter waved his gun
in the air, amidst the applause of the audi
ence
Then the serious work of the evening
commenced. The chairman called upon the
captain of each ward to name twenty-five
men to go to each precinct in every ward
and to stay there all day. The captains of
the wards busted themselves with this duty
and the names of the men We're read aloId.
lhey included some Of Wilmington'S rnost
prominent men. There were not enough
white men in the two colored wards the
first and fifth, to man the polls and men
We're assigned from the white wards to fill
the vacancies. 1t was suggested that. as
the law prohibited the carrying of rifles to
the polls. it might be advisable to leave the
guns that night at nearby residences. No
action was taken upon this suggestion. The
announcement was made that maps .'shov
ing the road to white supremacy were be-
ing made and would be ready on the NOR
row. This was explained to me privately
to mean that these We're maps of trateaic
positions to be taken by the white men In
case of an outbreak. The meeting was
conducted in the most systematic manner
and was entirely free from passion. The
managers proceeded coolly and IN most
matter-of-fact manner to plan for every
exiSency which might interfere with car
rying the county ticket for the democrats.
No Effort at ConceaIment.
No interference with the congressional
ticket was suggested. After the meeting I
remarked to one of the leaders that the ex-
pressions We're very outspoken. 'It is too
late for attempts at concealment" he re-
pied. 1--WE have got to carry this election
one way or another, and there IS no use
mincins words about It," N O. NJ
RALEIGH N. c.. November s.-The cleo
uon is progressing quietly. The whites are
voting the democratic ticket more solidly
than ever before. Many white republicans
are voting the democratic ticket. The out
look Is good fer peaceful termination of
the day.