The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-07-17
DRUNK WITH POMPOSlTY
HE BOLDLY DEFIES EVERY
THING AND EVERYBODY.
DELEGATES TO THE STATE CONVENTION
The Russeltes Had the Convention but They
Divided the Delegation With the Pritch-
ard Pie Eaters-.A Regular Radi-
cal NeoJo POW Wow
cal Neglo Pow Wow


lican party met at noon yesterday in
Metropolitan Hall.
1t was, of course, primarily a negro
convention. 1t was a negro convention
not only in the sense that it was made
up of negroes, but that it was also con
trolled by negroes. The negro was in
the saddle and he gloried in it and boast
ed of it. Jim Young, IA negro. was boss
of the convention, was most enthusiasts
tically received by it and received it's
highest vote.
1t is true that white man was made
chairman, but it was largely from force
of habit, and very little attention was
paid to him after he was chosen. The
delegates stood up in the aisles, walked
about the hall, called to the men in the
galleries and ignored the chairman's at
tempts to preserve order
AS seen from the stage the convention
looked not unlike checker board with
ten black spots to one white. 1t was
onlyhere and there that a bald white
Uranium glistened among a sea of black.
woody noggins There was not a single
young white Republican among the del
egates.
The convention was distinctly an ag-
was warm and coats were pulled off.
The waving of many dirty handkerchiefs
gave the crowd the appearance of an
army with banners-banners that had
been through many campaigns in all
sorts of weather.
There were several things that stood
out prominently from the mass of yell
ing. wriggling. perspiring. dirty and igno-
rant individuals. One was that the
''nigger must have recognition" as it
was put time and again by speakers.
Another was that fusion wild our
Pop'list bredderin'' was in high favor.
The necessity for this was iterated and
reiterated. No secret was made of the
fact that it was offices and offices only
that the gang wanted.
Jim Young came on the stage early in
the session and after exposing his person,
in full regimentals, to the openmouthed
admiration of the other coons below re-
tired to the wings to hold confidential
confabs with his lieutenants, white and
colored.
BY the time Dan Young. temporary
chairman, called the convention to or
der floor and galleries were pretty well
filed. Negroes hung over the gallery
long goatee and eyes like a iemur occu-
pied box in solitary grandeur later he
occupied himself with yelling at the ora
tors to sit down. Tom Bailey, Loge
Harris, Father Abbott, Warren Hall
and few others were on the floor.
One precinct, and only one, in the
convention was represented by three
white men or at least by one done in
iron gray. one in red and one with his
mouth open too wide to admit of his color
being learned. Three precincts were al
lowed the honor of a white man an
nouncing their votes. Jim Young said
there were fifty white delegates. There
were not over fifteen, all told.
Credentials were called for, Debnam.
temporary secretary, yelling at the dele
gates to ''come on which they did. The
chairman announced that all precincts
except Wakefield and Myett's Mills were
represented. There being no contests
Tom Bailey moved that the credentials
committee be ''sllspensed'' with which
was done accordingly.
J. G.. l.. Harris was nominated and
elected permanent chairman without OPP
position, receiving a few perfunctory
cheers as he mounted the platform. In
taking the chair Harris spoke at some
length, saying he had been chairman of
many conventions and was gratifed at
the proof of confidence in him. He never
allowed gag rule. I'VE assemble, fellow
Republicans" he said, "after having had
the State in our power. partially since
1894, wholly since 1896. / have no
doubt that after our convention meets
fusion with the Populists will be ar
ranged and we will again sweep the
State" c'Now you talkin' Mr.. Harris.
Come on down de line.") While in
power we have adopted n fair election
law and the State is no longer slandered
by false returns. If the Democrats get
the next Legislature any Democratic
lawyer can draw a bill that will dis
franchise every negro in the State and
yet be constitutional. There may be
some here who have not gotten office
eyes, yes. "Now you comm to il Mr..
Harris.') "but you must not be dissat-
isfied." Here Mr.. Harris ripped the
veil of the future from floor to ceiling,
crying, under Mckinley the American
flag will float over every foot of soil on
this continent and Cuba, Porto Rico and
the Philippines will be ours" Not n
dozen men on the floor knew whether the
ID1lIppIneS are III the AIidDtIc. IdclHc or
on the moon. but everybody howled.
""The farewell address of Washington is
obsolete" the orator added. North
Carolina is the only State that has
colored Colonel. If the negro is fit to
fight he is fit to be an official. | want
him to get the credit of his bravery. l
want my friend, Colonel James IL.
Young and his regiment who are as
brave as any soldiers at Santiago. to
get credit in history for what they do
After Harris had finished G. \. HIM
ter was made permanent secretary and
Debnam assistant. Colonel Jecms
Youngr yelled the mob. Colonel
Jeems pranced on the stage twiring a
warlike mustache. Contrary to the eX-
pectations of Democrats ! am here. Be
fore / am through they will have com
FUNCTIONS to know why | am here. /
was asked why am not at Fort Macon.
/ enlisted to fight for the freedom Of
Cuba and to uphold the dignity of my