The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-10-29

ex-Congressman Grady nominated Mr..
]. w. Granger, of Lenoir, for secretary
of the meeting and the following mem
hers of the Democratic press as assist
ants: Messrs III. Il. G. Bryant, of the
Charlotte Observer; L. w. Crosson, of
the Wilmington Messenger; L. b.
Arendel, of the News and Observer; D..
H. THOMPSON. of the Wilmington Star;
C. J.. Stevens of the Newbern journal;
Mr.. Joyner, of the Winston journal;
II. B. Warner. of the Davidson Despatch;
Thomas Pence, of the Morning Post,
and J. Il. Robinson, OF the Goldsboro
Argus.
On motion of Hon. i. A. Woodard.
the temporary organization was made
permanent, when Ex-Governor L. }.
Jarvis was recognized and read the reso-
lutions as they appear on the front page
Of this paper.
Governor Jarvis made short speech
in support of the resolutions.
Mr. Walter ii. Neal, of Laurinburg,
was next recognized, and i'll seconding
the resolutions made one of the most
eloquent and forcible speeches that was
made during the day. He told of the
determination of the white men of Rich
mond and RObeson counties to redeem
the State, and pledged the support of
the sturdy Scotchmen of his section TO
the white mans ticket.
Mr.. w. f. Fountain, of Tarboro, until
recently the chairman of the Peoples
party State Executive Committee, had
been quietly sitting on the platform lis
tening to the proceedings. He arose and
addressed the president. In a moment
everything was still; people away on
the outskirts of the vast crowd made an
effort to get closer to the stand to hear
what Mr. Fountain was about to say.
Speakers and audience had to wait but Il
moment.
"It does me good" said Mr.. Fountain,
''to see the patriotism of North Caro-
liniauS aroused | arise to second the
resolutions just read, and i'll doing so |
desire to say that | endorse every word
in them. came here owing Il duty to
North Carolina and to her white people.
and stand with Major Guthrie and
heartily endorse every word of his great
speech, and only wish that | could make
such speech here TODAY. Whatever
may have been party affiliations i'll the
past, and whatever my efforts to plan
for and maintain party supremacy, L
stand in favor of white rule in North
Carolina and in favor of redeeming the
State from negro domination. / live III
the East. | am no politician but Il
plain business man. and | have no am
bition for office. ] have heard the
history drawn by Mr.. Simmons as to
the conditions in Eastern North Carolina,
and / stand here to affirm that he has
not overdrawn the picture, and l want
to say that no man accepts the situation
or desires to meet the issue with more
earnestness than myself. When | found
that this movement was really and truly
movement to rid my country from in
competent and corrupt negro rule. |
could hesitate no longer. and / am here
to tell you that EdgecOmbe, on the Sth
of November, will be found in line for
this reform. Business men with whom
l have come in contact have told me,
No we do not care to invest money in
Eastern North Carolina as long as these
conditions exist | would be untrue to
my section, untrue to my race, untrue
to myself and my country if
did not do all in my power
to avert these evils. | am ready to exert
my best efforts in favor Of white SUI
premacy and to do whatever / can to
defeat fusion; to defeat Geo.
II. White. the negro candi-
date for Congress. and to elect
the white mans ticket in North Carolina.
/ want to appeal to my former co-labor-
ers in the Peoples party to the white men
in the central section and in the Western
section of this State TO rise in their
might bury their prejudices and come to
the rescue of Eastern North Carolina by
voting for the white mans ticket
Mr. Fountains speech created Il SEN
Sation, and he was cheered over and over
again.
At the close of Mr. Fountains speech.
Mr. Donald Gillian. of Tarboro, was re-
cognized. He made Il most earnest
speech. telling of the conditions in East
ern Carolina and appealing to the white
men of the State to come to the rescue
of that section. 1--WE appeal to them"
said Mr.. Gillian. ito come together and
help us and we believe they are going to
do it; but if they don't, then we men of
the East must win the fight ourselves,