Evening star., 1898-11-08
IN NORTH CAROLINA
Light Negro Vote, But No Intimi-
dation Reported.
VERY QUIET AROUND TEE POLLS
Governor Russell Pleased Over the
Outlook at Wilmington.
SIGNIFICANT MASS MEETING
Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.


mington passed quietly. 1 made a tour of
the negro district. visiting the various poll
ing places, and found no signs of disturb
ances. The negroes were not in evidence
around the polls to any considerable ex-
tent. They came singly and in twos, de-
posted their ballots for representative,
state senator and judicial ticket and went
quietly away. The whites were in force at
each polling place, but there was no sign
of intimidation and no arms were dis
played.
Very few negroes were seen standing
about the corners and the negro quarter
was very quiet. I was told that this scene
was in marked contrast to the condition
which usually prevails on election day,
hundreds of negroes crowd around the
polls, noisy and demonstrative. Every
white man congratulated his neighbor upon
the quiet morning, and attributed it to the
preparations which have been made by the
whites for possible trouble. The negro
vote was light | was told at each precinct
showing a marked falling off from previous
elections, even this early in the day.
At $50 o'clock Gov. Russell arrived from
Raleigh to vote. He stated to me at the
depot that he wired a friend here yesterday
that he was coming to vote, danger or no
danger. 1t is well known, of course, that
the governor has said that in case of a
clash between the races he would be killed
as being one of the promoters of the repub-
iican negro organization.
Gov. Russeil's Chilly Reception.
Gov Russell, soon after his arrival pro-
ceeded TO the polling place at Dock and
Front streets. He was unattended, save
by group of newspaper correspondents.
Not Wilmington citizen went with him,
although there are white republicans here
in some numbers.
As the governor passed down the street
he was greeted with silence and cold looks
from his fellow-townsmen. Men stood in
the doorwayS and watched him go past,
but not three men spoke to him on the
street. Arriving at the polling place, which
was little shop on the river front, he was
met by the democratic captain of the ward
Are you going to allow me to vote?" the
governor asked. I'VE certainly are" was
the response. The governor then entered
and advanced to the ballot boxes. The
governor of North Carolina some one an
nounced to the register. There was no
challenge and the governor selected bal
lot from the negro who had them in charge
and read it.
This seems to be the republican ticket"
he said and handed the separate parts to
the poll holders, who deposited the slips in
the respective ballot boxes The governor
then returned to his hotel.
No disCOurtcsv was shown him at the
his hearing. The governor was solicitous
to know If the negroes Were being allowed
to vote, and when advised by the newSpa-
per correspondents that no effort was being
made to deter them, he seemed relieved.
Quict in Negro Quarter.
About noon 1 went through the fifth
wsrd. which is the other negro stronghold
of the city, visiting every voting precinct.
The utmost quiet had prevailed up to that
hour, quiet which was as oai>hing to tie
old inhabitants. who were accustomed.
they said. to scenes of turbulence in the
past.
AT II 80 the tally of the ballot sheets in
the first and fifth wards, the negro wards
showed the progress of the ballotng as
follows:
In the first ward 32o white men had
voted in a registration of III. The negro
vote cast was 800 in a registration of l. 40
In the fifth ward so white men had voted
in registration Of $50. The negro vote
was 53S in a registration Of I6S.
There We're not a half dozen negroes to
be seen in tha vicinity of the polls. L was
said that in former years they would gather
in hundreds about the voting places. There
is doubt that the rearoes have been
thoroughly overawed by the preparations
which have been made by the whites to
carry the election. In the streets of the
negro quarter they are not seen moving
about. Even the women are sticking close
to their homes.
The white men who are assembled at
every voting precinct to the number of from
ten to thirty carry visible arms. They
are exceedingly quiet in their demeanor, Go
not indulge in threats or loud talk and l
have not seen an indication of intimidation.
Negroes who come to the polls are given
free access to the ballot boxes and no inter-
ference is offered them. 1t became appar-
ent early in the morning that further dras-
tic measures would probably be unneces-
rV q tin Nyiat ths
fifth ward, in view of the precautionary
steps which have been taken in advance by
the whites.
Not Voting at I.auriHburg.
1 have just received a special from Lau-
rinburS. in answer to a query, reciting the
situation there. This town was the scene
of the great red shirt parade of last week.
and the county is negro stronghold. The
special states that the negroes are not ap-
pearing at the polls, and that only five re-
publican votes had been cast up to noon.
No trouble is anticipated there, and it IS
expected that the previous demonstrate tions
will deter the negroes from riskng "a clash
at the polls
A special from Newbern says that the
negro vote is being Dolled in full There
nave been no red shirt demonstrations in
Newhern, and the whites have made no at
tempt to keep down the negro vote, which
is heavily in the ma jority This is tne dis
Friday night and resolved to Carry thu
count for the democratic ticket
ominous Political Meeting,
Probably the most remarkable political
meeting which has been held in the limited
States in this campaign assembled in the
court house in Wilmington last night It was
certainly the most omnous and significant
gathering. Frankly stated, it was a meet
ing to devise ways and means for insurinp
the election of the white mans ticket in
Wilmington today, and to accomplish that
end by whatever means that might he
found necessary.
In the language of ex-Representativa
Waddell. one of the solid citizens of the
town. the election must be carried by the
democrats. whatever the cost. Preparations
for this have been going on weeks. Tast
nights meeting put the finishing touches
to the preparations, the most important he
ing the detailing of twenty-fv men to 90
to each polling precinct, to go armed and
to stay there from the opening to the
closing Of the polls.
1t was not mass meeting of shouters
but gathering of the men who are to take
the lea>- in any events which might occur
on election day. Among them were the
captains of the wards as the men are
designated who have been placed in charge